Squadron, at Nyu, Urges State to Expand Successful, Nationally Acclaimed Program

"Universal" Nurse-Family Partnership Would be Offered to All Eligible Low-Income Moms; Make NYS National Leader

NEW YORK— Today, State Senator Daniel Squadron, together with NYU’s College of Nursing and Wagner Graduate School of Public Service, called on New York State to implement universal Nurse-Family Partnership (NFP), a nationally-proven, evidence-based program that links first-time low-income mothers with a nurse home visitor from pregnancy through the child’s second birthday. Squadron bolstered his case with a panel of experts who discussed the merits of both expanding NFP, which has nearly 40 years of evidence behind it, as well as funding NFP, in part, with “Pay for Success” programs. 

“There's nothing harder than being a new mom. By supporting high-risk first-time moms, NFP pays huge dividends: it changes lives and saves money. The problem is that we are tiptoeing toward a solution that we know works, when we should be running,” said State Senator Daniel Squadron. “We have an opportunity to make NFP universal by funding it in part with the State’s Pay for Success program so that more moms get the support they need and taxpayers only foot the bill if the program works. I look forward to working with Governor Cuomo, my colleagues in the Legislature, and advocates to make Universal NFP a reality, and thank NYU and all the participants in today's forum.”

Under Universal NFP, every eligible mother would be offered the program before her third trimester.  It is estimated that universal availability would cost a little more than $100 million a year in new State spending.  But Universal NFP has the potential to be funded in part with “Pay for Success” in which private investors put up the funding and taxpayers only pay if the program works, as rigorously measured in State savings and lives changed.

“As an Edge Runner designated program by the American Academy of Nursing, the Nurse-Family Partnership is recognized as a great success to promote families, youth, and women’s healthy and happy lives,” said Eileen M. Sullivan-Marx, PhD, RN, FAAN, Dean & Erline Perkins McGriff Professor, NYU College of Nursing.

“Senator Squadron is doing a great thing in raising this issue,” said panelist and former Lieutenant Governor Richard Ravitch. 

"Pay for Success can help drive funding toward high-quality, effective programs that can measurably improve the lives of those in need," said panelist Caitlin Reimers Brumme, Director, Social Finance US. 

“The program was built on the best science at the time and continues to be updated with new discoveries,” said panelist Dr. Harriet Kitzman, NFP Researcher and Program Developer and Senior Associate Dean for Research, University of Rochester School of Nursing.

“Tooth decay is the most common chronic disease of childhood, more common than even asthma or childhood obesity, yet, it’s completely preventable. The key to successful prevention is starting early, ideally by age 1.  The visiting nurses of the Nurse-Family Partnership are perfectly suited to provide the preventive oral health information, guidance and referral necessary to reduce health care costs and help keep New York’s children healthy,” said panelist Amr Moursi, Professor and Chairman of Pediatric Dentistry, NYU College of Dentistry. 

“The strength and consistency of the evidence supporting the effectiveness of the NFP is unique and impressive!” said Dr. Judith Haber, Associate Dean for Graduate Programs at NYU College of Nursing, who moderated today’s panel. 

 “Thanks Senator Squadron for calling to expand Nurse-Family Partnership to generate positive outcomes for first-time moms and their children and strengthen communities in New York," said Renée Nogales, NFP National Service Office business developer for New York. "Too many children are born into poverty, and currently Nurse-Family Partnership is only able to reach a small percentage of New York families. Senator Squadron is looking at innovative ways to expand this proven program to give more children in poverty a brighter future."

Judith Haber, associate dean of NYU College of Nursing, moderated the panel discussion. The panelists were: Former Lt. Gov. Richard Ravitch; Andrea Phillips, VP, Urban Investment, Goldman Sachs; Dr. Harriet Kitzman, NFP researcher and program developer and Senior Associate Dean for Research, University of Rochester School of Nursing; Caitlin Reimers Brumme, director, Social Finance US; Amir Moursi, professor and chairman of pediatric dentistry at NYU College of Dentistry. 

Nurse-Family Partnership is a home visiting program that pairs specially trained nurses with high-risk first-time low-income moms from pregnancy until the child’s second birthday. There is nearly four decades of research behind it showing, among other results, a significant cut in abuse in the home; improved math and reading scores in 6th graders; and at least 50 percent fewer arrests of teens, and their moms, 15 years later. NFP also is proven to save government thousands of dollars by the time the children of its clients reach age 18.  Today, NFP serves 2,800 moms in New York State.