Krystal was doing okay in her pregnancy. That was until six weeks before her child was due, she became very afraid at the thought of childbirth.

Krystal’s sister had been through our Nurse-Family Partnership (NFP) program with great success. Krystal decided the program could work for her and discovered she was still eligible, although she was nearing her due date. She was assigned to NFP Nurse Home-Visitor, Sherika, who was also pregnant.

"It really helped that Sherika was also pregnant," says Krystal. "She helped me get over the fears of labor by showing me videos and talking me through the process. Even now, when I see her out somewhere, I always speak to her and tell her how much she helped."

After Krystal delivered a healthy baby boy, her role as student shifted to teacher as Sherika’s due date drew near. “Krystal definitely turned into an educator after she delivered because it would soon be my turn,” Sherika said.

Krystal counseled other first-time moms in the NFP program, helping them prepare for labor and survive the “terrible twos”. Her son, J’Quan, now three years old, is enrolled in our Head Start program which prepares young children for success in school.
 
When asked what she would tell others about the program, Krystal said, “The nurses really do help you. The program gives you a boost in life and after seeing how they helped my sister, I sought out NFP for myself.”

Back to NFP testimonials >>

At the tender age of 16, Sarah hears the news that has changed the lives of so many teenage women across America: she’s pregnant. And like so many others, Sarah doesn’t have to look far to see how much her world is about to change.

Sarah was born to a teenage mom and has an older sister who gave birth to two children before she turned 20. So when Sarah hears the news, she wastes no time. She immediately visits her local health department in High Point, North Carolina, and signs up for a program for first-time teenage parents that she has heard about.

From watching the daily struggles of her mother and sister, Sarah knows that Guilford Child Development's Nurse-Family Partnership® (NFP) is exactly what she needs.

Sarah is matched with a nurse, Keisha Lucas, who will guide her through her pregnancy and the first two years of her baby’s life.

Sarah is quick to praise her mom and sister for doing the best they can as single parents in a small town, but she admits to Keisha, somewhat hesitantly, “I want more for me.” Keisha knows that this desire for a better life is the spark of hope that she must fan into flame.

Click here to view the full story in PDF format
(features photos and Sarah's experiences throughout the program)