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The process and promise of mental health augmentation of nurse home‐visiting programs: Data from the Louisiana Nurse–Family Partnership
Author(s) -
Boris Neil W.,
Larrieu Julie A.,
Zeanah Paula D.,
Nagle Geoffrey A.,
Steier Alison,
McNeill Patricia
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
infant mental health journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.693
H-Index - 75
eISSN - 1097-0355
pISSN - 0163-9641
DOI - 10.1002/imhj.20078
Subject(s) - mental health , general partnership , nursing , supervisor , intervention (counseling) , focus group , psychology , medicine , psychiatry , political science , business , marketing , law
The Nurse–Family Partnership (NFP) model is a well‐studied and effective preventive intervention program targeting first‐time, impoverished mothers and their families. Data documenting the negative impact of maternal depression and partner violence on the developing young child can be used to make a strong case for augmenting NFP programs to focus on mental health problems impacting the mother–child relationship. This article reviews the rationale for and process of augmenting an NFP program in Louisiana. Data on the prevalence of depression and partner violence in our sample are presented alongside a training protocol for nurses and mental health consultants designed to increase the focus on infant mental health. The use of a weekly case conference and telephone supervision of mental health consultants as well as reflections on the roles of the mental health consultant and the nurse supervisor are presented.