Nurse-Family Partnership NewsLink Spring 2019 | Page 21

Our program has a proven track record of helping to prevent or address health risks resulting from substance abuse, including opioids and heroin, while also demonstrating significant government cost savings. Programs like Nurse-Family Partnership are a part of the long-term proactive solution to the opioid crisis.

AMANDA’S STORY

Amanda first found out she was pregnant while unemployed, homeless and on methadone treatment. She eventually connected with NFP nurse Abby through the residential treatment center she stayed in.

After Amanda graduated the program she became an outreach specialist at NFP. Now she talks to vulnerable first-time moms in churches, community centers, homeless shelters and other facilities around New York. She encourages them to seek help and when they show reluctance, she tells them her story.

Read Amanda's Story

THE NEED FOR CONTINUED RESEARCH

Since the 1990’s heroin addictions that began with opioid use have increased from 20% to 75%. Women opioid users have increased from 17% to 50% and the age of the first-time heroin use has increased from 16 to 22 years old. This means the population of women who are opioid users and have the potential to get pregnant has increased.

Moms are given opioid prescriptions after birth and the rates they are being refilled is on a dramatic climb. It’s estimated that Medicaid alone will pay over one trillion dollars for treatment over the next 20 years to address this crisis. There is a dire need for effective interventions tailored to protect families since the epidemic shows no signs of slowing.

Research conducted by pioneers like our founder, Dr. David Olds, show the effects opioid use disorder has on parenting, relapse and neonatal abstinence syndrome. This research proves that this rampant crisis in our communities requires swift action paired with proven solutions for both treatment and education.

OUR COMMITMENT

We commit to support the most vulnerable moms who deal with addictions through an approach that is therapeutic and non-judgmental.

We ask you join us in our commitment to support all first-time moms. Help us by sharing Amanda’s story online through social media and amplify her mission of offering our program to more first-time mothers and parents.

Read our fact sheet to learn more about how NFP Nurses use their skills to help moms and children affected by substance use.

Nurse-Family Partnership

National Service Office

1900 Grant Street , 4th Floor,

Denver, CO 80203

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“SOMETIMES THESE GIRLS LOOK AT ME LIKE, 'WHAT DOES THIS LADY KNOW?' THEN I TELL THEM I WAS ON THE STREETS, THAT I SHOT HEROIN FOR 10 YEARS.”

– AMANDA

Help us meet our goal of reaching 100,000 new mothers.

If you know a first-time mom under 28 weeks pregnant and is low-income who is interested in a free personal nurse have her call or text us at 884.637.6667.