Katie: Giving Newborns "A Good Start"

By: Katie Couric
Topics: Field Notes

(CBS)

Joseph Epstein, an activist and leader of the French resistance during World War II said, "We do not choose to be born. We do not choose our parents. We do not choose our historical epoch, the country of our birth, or the immediate circumstances of our upbringing."

Every day in this country, over 2,000 babies are born into poverty. For their mothers – often very young themselves – the prospect of parenthood can seem scary and overwhelming, especially if they're facing it alone. As a single parent myself, I know first-hand how challenging it can be raising children without a second parent, as invested in a child's future as you are. I know it must be that much harder for those who are financially strapped and don't have an adequate support system.

But the Nurse-Family Partnership is lightening the load by sending registered nurses out to visit first-time mothers in high-risk, low-income households. For the thousands of moms in the program, that friendly knock at the door means help has arrived. Sure, they're health professionals. But the NFP nurses wear many more hats than the one that used to be worn by Florence Nightingale. One young mother I met in Brooklyn, New York for tonight's story told me her nurse was the closest thing she had to the mother she lost as a child. These nurses supply advice, but also friendship, comfort and confidence.

This program wasn't created by a philanthropist or a politician. It was created by a psychologist -- one who grew up in poverty. David Olds came from a broken home, but dedicated his life to fixing thousands of others'. Ask David what he calls the 30-plus years he's spent refining the Nurse-Family Partnership into the success story it is today, and he'll say, "It's a good start."

And that's what a countless number of newborns have, thanks to him.

14 Comments +

Add a Comment

See all 14 Comments


by chrisja11 August 8, 2007 5:12 PM EDT: Home visiting is finally receiving some much deserved attention as a viable support to young families. As part of our work in the child abuse prevention field, we've been investing in these programs for nearly 25 years (although on a small scale with a small budget). This year, Washington State determined to invest $3.5 million in evidence-based home visiting programs like the Nurse Family Partnership. We have seen how incredible these programs are at working with families to promote positive parenting skills as well as prevent child abuse and neglect. In addition, many of these programs also show their worth in the other outcomes that are achieved including increased school readiness, vaccination rates and literacy skills in children. It's high time that we started investing in family success right from the beginning instead of waiting until they fail.; Reply to this comment


by extralyte August 8, 2007 4:06 AM EDT: Wow...I can't believe the comments here. I am 35 year old mother of 3 boys. I'm an RN and my husband is a state trooper. Babies are HARD WORK. After my first baby I experienced post-partum depression, marital stress, sleep deprivation, frustration from lack of inexperience with babies, social changes, financial changes...I could go on. I was desperate for help and struggled through on my own (my husband just didn't "get it"...thought that women were naturals at motherhood). This program is to help women with newborns during a critical time! Nothing is more important than that. I will look to get involved myself.; Reply to this comment


by cokathy August 8, 2007 1:30 AM EDT: Katie,
Thanks for making the public more aware of the benefits of the Nurse Family Partnership in American society. I have been a nurse home visitor for the program for over 6 years. And I can say that Dr Olds has definitely done his research to help improve the lives of newborns, new moms, new dads and the family as a whole.
I have definitely seen the impact of the program with my own clients. Thank you for focusing on this topic for your program.
Kathy in Colorado; Reply to this comment


by cokathy August 8, 2007 1:24 AM EDT: Fathers are very much involved in the program-
Nurse Family Partnership.
I am a nurse home visitor and we advocate for father involvement at our visits.
Our goal is for healthier families.; Reply to this comment


by dan9111 August 7, 2007 9:11 PM EDT: madelinemc, that is a good plan, to include the whole family. Maybe it is not so bad. So you actually contact the father, when the mother is "single" and/or requests you to exclude him? And do you require proof the father is abusive, like arrest records, or what documentation? It isn't just the same old feministic she-says system, is it?

There has been decades worth of false claims that the system (divorce, domestic laws, etc.) has "reformed" to include fathers, when really it hasn't moved one inch from pure radical feminism. It is wise to know exactly what our tax dollars are paying for.; Reply to this comment


by madelinemc-2009 August 7, 2007 8:26 PM EDT: Dan911,
I am sick to hear of your being abused as a child, especially at the hands of the very adults that have the ultimate authority and responsibility for protecting the child.
I believe the CBS coverage inadvertently missed the full description of NFP. NFP works with the whole family, including the father of the child. The only time NFP doesn%u2019t recommend the father's involvement is when the father is abusive to the mother or the child. If mothers arbuse their children, NFP would take action in protecting the child, immediately reporting the incident to Child Protective Services.
Folks in the child abuse prevention field have found that mother's and other family members visited in the home prior to the birth of the first child is the most effective way of REDUCING the very abuse you suffered as a child. Please help other kids by advocating to prevent child abuse.; Reply to this comment


by dan9111 August 7, 2007 7:29 PM EDT: That is the oldest trick in the book. Blame the man. Truth is, the woman chooses pregnancy NO LESS than the man does. To act like single motherhood is her tragic accident, but his neglect, is entirely dishonest and irrational. Feminists use this propaganda on America's campuses ("women found themselves pregnant"). Plainly they do not want both parents to be equally responsible.

It is incredibly good that this program encourages the mother's health, etc., but that does not excuse ignoring the necessity of fathers. You can take their money for your programs, and try to excuse the abduction of his child, and suddenly it is still his fault. The radical feminist agenda has failed my generation. I am here saying it didn't work. Deliberate single mothering is violence.

There are plenty of ways you folks could help them get the father in the child's life, and talking to him like he is a criminal is not one of them. We do not need another generation of children psychologically damaged by feminist handiwork. The welfare/poverty/drugs cycle you mention has one big risk factor -- the absence of the father. Two parents are a necessity.; Reply to this comment


by armyrn1 August 7, 2007 7:03 PM EDT: To Dan911 & others,

I am a nurse in this program and just want the public to know that the fathers are included in the program if they so desire. We actually highly encourage the fathers to be a part of the program. We also give printed information for the fathers to read whether they attend the visits or not. The mothers are the main focus because what they do (diet, smoking, drugs) directly affects the infant before birth. They are also the one actually birthing the infant and bonding issues are discussed during the pregnancy. Breastfeeding is also encouraged since this is the superior food source for a human infant. Unfortunately, fathers are unable to breastfeed. Also unfortunately, the guys often drop out of the picture when they find out the girl is pregnant. (They want the *** but not the responsibility.)

Most of all you missed the whole point of Dr. Olds' program. This program is designed to encourage mothers to get an education and get good jobs or at least be gainfully employed if they don't pursue an education after high school. His program is focused on breaking the welfare/poverty/drugs cycle. You should go to the Nurse-Family Partnership website to become informed.; Reply to this comment


by dan9111 August 7, 2007 4:36 PM EDT: Khan7856, certainly there is enough father-hatred fueling the fire. What is needed is to get the child out of an inept unwed mother's hands! Not to assist them. You do not assist a child abuser. You get them away from the child.

Can welfare queens be reformed? I don't know. Not with their child in their hands, that is for sure. The child is a hostage -- I was one too, so the shame is on her, not on me. Just because a mother is incapable, this program shouldn't be trying to replace fathers, and certainly not blatantly pushing a sick feminist agenda.

If NFP really cared about children, they would consult with both parents, not just one. There is no "one hand clapping", there is a father, so find him! Using our tax dollars to encourage this one-parent illness is simply a way to reward mothers who profit from child abduction.; Reply to this comment


by oakishpines August 7, 2007 1:36 PM EDT: millions babies and small children starved and starving in u.s. wars

no market share

millions babies and small children fed or feeding in u.s. peaces

no market share

babies and small children have no place in market share

no market share

millions babies and small children suffer abuse for being naked lazy profane ignorant

no market share

millions babies and small children rewarded and adored for not being naked lazy profane ignorant

no market share

censor babies and small children!!!

free the press!!; Reply to this comment