Early Intervention Prevents Child Abuse and Crime, Promotes Health 9/17/2003
From: Geri Reinhart of LISBOA, Inc., 202-737-2622 ext. 119, GeriR@lisboa.com News Advisory: WHO: Mothers, nurses; Senators Arlen Spector, Hillary Rodham Clinton, and Barbara Boxer; and Dr. Risa Lavizzo-Mourey, president and CEO of The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation WHAT: Nurse-Family Partnership National Forum WHEN: September 18, from 12 to 3 p.m. WHERE: Russell Senate Caucus, Room 325, Capitol Hill EDITOR'S NOTE: High resolution, publication-ready photo(s) supporting this story will be available following the event for free editorial use: http://www.wirepix.com/newsphotos/USN -- Finding: More children under the age of four die from child abuse and neglect than from any other single cause of death for infants and young children (HHS). -- Finding: There is a money-saving, early-intervention program that reduces child abuse and neglect by 79 percent. On September 18, mothers and their nurses; Senators Arlen Specter, Hillary Rodham Clinton, and Barbara Boxer; federal and state policy makers; and Dr. Risa Lavizzo-Mourey, president and CEO of The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation will talk about how the Nurse-Family Partnership (NFP) improves health, reduces crime and helps families find their own strengths to become caring, capable parents. NFP is a voluntary nurse home-visitation program for low-income, first-time mothers and their families. For more than 25 years, NFP has tested and refined a model of care where trained nurses visit at-risk mothers from early pregnancy through the child's second birthday. The visits help families with prenatal care and parenting skills. NFP is the most rigorously tested program of its kind, and it has the strongest research to prove that child abuse and neglect can be prevented. Studies show that, supported by regular nurse-visits, NFP mothers are less likely to abuse or neglect their children, have subsequent unintended pregnancies, or misuse alcohol or drugs. They are also more likely to transition off welfare and maintain stable employment. As a result, their babies grow up healthier and are less likely in adolescence to commit crimes, use tobacco or alcohol, and engage in sexual activity. ------ For more information about the Nurse-Family Partnership visit http://www.nursefamilypartnership.org. Media requests for interviews and more information about the Nurse-Family Partnership National Forum, should be directed to Geri Reinhart at 202-737-2622 ext. 119. The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, the nation's largest philanthropy devoted exclusively to health and health care, has provided funding for the Nurse-Family Partnership since 1979. |