Print Article
Home Nursing Agency programs educate expecting mothers for healthy pregnancy
2/6/2013
By Lisa Ritchey
“What should I eat when I’m pregnant?” “What experiences are normal?” “How do I take care of my newborn baby?” “How can I breast-feed my baby?” These are frequently asked questions by many pregnant mothers. Home Nursing Agency’s Women, Infants and Children and Nurse-Family Partnership programs serve as resources to not only answer these questions, but also to build stronger communities by helping women experience healthy pregnancies and making sure children have healthy beginnings.
Both are national programs provided by Home Nursing Agency as a service to the community. They are part of the agency’s continuum of care in Centre County that also includes home health, hospice, private duty home care, children’s behavioral health and pediatric specialty services. The Women, Infants and Children program is a federally funded program for pregnant, post-partum and breast-feeding women with children younger than 5 who receive nutrition education and WIC checks to purchase healthy food. Pregnant mothers receive education from nutritionists regarding a healthy diet as well as breast-feeding counseling.
What is unique about Home Nursing Agency’s WIC nutritional program? Our Centre County nutritionists are all internationally board-certified lactation consultants and have completed extensive education and successfully demonstrated skills that promote, protect and support breast-feeding. Additionally, WIC has a breast-feeding peer support program to provide support and education for women who choose to breast-feed. Mothers can also discuss common childhood nutrition concerns such as developing healthy eating habits, dealing with finicky eaters and preventing obesity. The WIC program serves about 5,400 individuals in Centre and Blair counties monthly.
The Nurse-Family Partnership program is an evidence-based community health program for first-time pregnant mothers. Developing a one-on-one relationship during home visits with a registered nurse, expectant mothers learn how to have a healthy pregnancy and prepare for the changes of motherhood. The nurse-mother relationship continues through the child’s second birthday and focuses on activities to promote child development, behavior and developmental milestones. Nurses also support the mother as she works toward meeting life goals while raising her child.
What makes Home Nursing Agency nurses special? Nurses, using a holistic, family-centered approach, work with mothers to address the medical, psychological, social, and developmental aspects of pregnancy and parenting. Nurses recognize and respect the unique strengths and goals of each family. As the largest provider of Nurse-Family Partnership services in the Commonwealth, Home Nursing Agency’s Nurse-Family Partnership has served more than 1,400 families in seven counties, including Centre, since the program’s inception in 2002.
To hear from families served by Home Nursing Agency, including families enrolled, visit the WIC page and Nurse-Family Partnership page on the Agency website. Income limits apply for both programs. Additional information also is available at http://www.pawic.com/ and http://www.nursefamilypartnership.com/. For more information on Home Nursing Agency, call 800-445-6262 anytime.
Lisa A. Ritchey is director of Home Nursing Agency’s Nurse-Family Partnership. She can be reached at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
