An analysis by a team at Birkbeck College, University of London, of thefirst year of the programme, launched by the government in ten pilotareas in March 2007 and rolled out to a further 20 areas in March 2008,found it was effectively targeting younger parents.
Eighty-eight per cent of families where parents were aged under 20 and81 per cent of families with parents from the ages of 20 to 23 wereenrolled on the programme.
On average, the parents rated the contribution of the FNP to theirfamily as 8 on a scale of one to 10. Family nurses reported that theyhad seen improvements in parenting practices, health, behaviour,relationships and maternal well-being.They also reported a good level ofengagement of fathers.
The FNP, based on a similar programme in the United States, providesintensive home visiting for first-time young parents, from earlypregnancy until their child reaches the age of two.
But there were concerns that the FNP is struggling to integrate withwider services. The researchers found local authorities and children'scentres often had a poor understanding of the role of family nurses andhow they differ from health visitors. The study said, 'It was difficultto see how managers could plan the integration of this programme withother services without that understanding.'
The study found children's centre managers were keen to integrate theFNP into their services but needed more guidance. Family nurses had beenable to get new parents to use children's centre services, such asteenage parents groups.
Further Information
'Nurse-Family Partnership Programme: First year pilot sitesimplementation in England' is at www.dcsf.gov.uk/research.
