Goodwill launches Nurse-Family Partnership in Puerto Rico
Goodwill de Puerto Rico, in partnership with the Nurse-Family Partnership national office and Changent, has launched the Nurse-Family Partnership program on the island, enrolling its first family and beginning in-home nurse visits to support first-time mothers.
The program connects registered nurses with low-income, first-time mothers from pregnancy until the child’s second birthday. Its three goals are improving pregnancy outcomes, enhancing child health and development, and helping families achieve economic self-sufficiency.
Initially, Goodwill NFP is operating in San Juan, Carolina and Caguas — municipalities identified as having the greatest need for maternal support.
Citing data from the Puerto Rico Department of Health, Goodwill noted that the Caguas region has the island’s highest premature birth rate at 13.1% and the highest low-birthweight rate at 10.7%. The nonprofit said these figures underscore the urgency of providing targeted maternal health services.
Puerto Rico also faces limits on Medicare and Medicaid funding, which reduces access to essential care for mothers and children, the nonprofit stated.
Goodwill NFP aims to close that gap by providing locally hired, culturally competent nurses who deliver services in the home. A Community Advisory Board of stakeholders and community partners is being formed to support implementation.
The model has shown strong results in Indiana, where Goodwill has operated NFP since 2011, serving more than 9,500 families. Outcomes there include 89% of babies born full-term, 85% at a healthy weight, 88% of mothers initiating breastfeeding and an 83% increase in employment among mothers older than 18.
“We’re thrilled to bring Goodwill Nurse-Family Partnership to Puerto Rico, building on a model that has transformed lives across the United States for decades,” said Kent A. Kramer, CEO of Goodwill de Puerto Rico.
“The research proves that providing early, consistent support to new mothers is one of the most effective ways to ensure children have a healthy start in life,” he said.
