Under the Nurse-Family Partnership program, the most well-developed nurse home visiting program in the United States, nurses conduct a series of home visits to low-income, first-time mothers, starting during pregnancy and continuing through the child’s second birthday. Registered nurses work closely with first-time mothers following a curriculum that focuses on 1) healthy behaviors to improve pregnancy outcomes; 2) parenting skills to improve child health and development; and 3) plans for the mother’s life (delaying second pregnancies, finishing school, getting a job). Initially visits are weekly, but then they taper to once a month through the child’s second birthday. This research brief outlines the impacts of home visiting programs on children and families.
This research brief is one in a series of research briefs on the impacts of early childhood programs published by First Focus and the Brookings Center on Children and Families. The full series includes briefs on State Pre-K, Head Start, Early Head Start, Model Early Childhood Programs, and Nurse Home Visiting.