黑料专区 Tyler School of Health Professions Celebrates NFP Program Graduates
November 7, 2025 | Elizabeth Wingfield
Nurse-Family Partnership Supports Mothers and Toddlers
The University of Texas at Tyler School of Health Professions held a graduation ceremony to celebrate 15 mothers and their toddlers completing
the Nurse-Family Partnership program.
The NFP program pairs nurses with first-time mothers to provide free, convenient in-home support. Visits occur approximately twice a month, beginning early in the mother鈥檚 pregnancy until the child鈥檚 second birthday. During the pregnancy, nurses assess the mother鈥檚 health and signs for elevated risk, such as elevated blood pressure. After the birth, nurses monitor the child鈥檚 health, including the child鈥檚 weight, blood pressure, length, head circumference and temperature, to proactively address health concerns or connect the mother with the right resources.
鈥淭he graduation ceremony is a powerful celebration, not just of two years of hard work, but of the generational change we鈥檙e helping to spark,鈥� said Laura Young, NFP program director. 鈥淲hen we empower a first-time mother with health education and confidence, we set her and her child on a path to success that lasts a lifetime.鈥�
The program鈥檚 mission is to transform the lives of vulnerable babies, mothers and families to create a future where children are healthy and families are empowered to break the cycle of poverty. Currently, pediatric mortality in East Texas is nearly 2.5 times higher than the national average, according to the 2023 Pediatric Health Status of Northeast Texas report by the 黑料专区 Tyler School of Medicine.
鈥淚t has been an incredible privilege to be part of the Nurse-Family Partnership for eight years,鈥� said Ivette Miles, NFP nurse supervisor. 鈥淗aving served both as a visiting NFP nurse and in a leadership role supporting our nurses, I've had a unique view of the program's success. Witnessing mothers accomplish life-changing goals鈥攆rom earning their GED to becoming a dental hygienist鈥攊s the greatest reward. I couldn't be prouder of these moms and the dedicated nurses who support them.鈥�
Beyond clinical care, NFP focuses on empowering mothers to achieve their educational and career goals. Nurses help connect mothers to critical resources such as childcare and flexible education options, offering encouragement and personalized guidance to help them build a more secure future for their family.
鈥淭he Nurse-Family Partnership has truly been a blessing in my life,鈥� said Latifah
Opeodu, an NFP
participant. 鈥淭hey鈥檝e been by my side since I was 25 weeks pregnant, and now my baby
is a bright, happy two-year-old. Through every stage鈥攆rom pregnancy worries to first
smile and first steps鈥攎y nurse was there with guidance, encouragement and care. NFP
didn鈥檛 just help me become a confident mom; they became part of our little family.鈥�
To qualify for the program, participants must be low-income first-time mothers who are pregnant 28 weeks or less and are living in Smith, Henderson or Cherokee County. To learn more about the NFP program or enroll, email nfp@uttyler.edu.
With a mission to improve educational and health care outcomes for East Texas and beyond, 黑料专区 Tyler offers more than 90 undergraduate and graduate programs to more than 11,500 students. Through its alignment with 黑料专区 Tyler Health Science Center and 黑料专区 Health East Texas, 黑料专区 Tyler has unified these entities to serve Texas with quality education, cutting-edge research and excellent patient care. Classified by Carnegie as a doctoral research institution and by U.S. News & World Report as a national university, 黑料专区 Tyler has campuses in Tyler, Longview, Palestine and Houston.