Why is Nurse-Family Partnership only available to first-time, low-income mothers?
Becoming a mother for the first time is an event associated with a large amount of change in a woman’s life. It is hypothesized that such women would be more receptive to home-visitation services than women who had already given birth. Moreover, the skills and resources these mothers develop in coping with their first pregnancy and child set a pattern for their parenting of any children they have later. In addition, generally it will be easier for women to return to school and work if they plan and space their children. Serving low-income women allows a focus on families with limited resources who are more likely to experience increased risk factors. Each community determines their own measure of what constitutes low-income, often using the same local income guidelines as programs like WIC and Medicaid. “Proof of income” procedures, however, are discouraged as they create barriers for entry, if the client is refereed by Medicaid or WIC; income status has already been ascertained. Withi
