Helping New Moms

A program to help first time moms is coming to Texoma.

Leslie Gresham is the supervisor for the Nurse Family Partnership at the Community Health Center in Wichita Falls.

NFP is a program that provides services to first time moms and their babies for the first two years of life.

"The nurse home visitors will go into the homes of the pregnant moms or new moms and we will find both a clinical aspect as well as an educational portion.  It's based on what the mother's heart desires. It's what she wants to know or what she wants to learn to help her be a successful mother," said Gresham.

NFP is a program that Gresham is thrilled to have in the Wichita County community.

"We are very excited to have this program to be able to serve and change the lives of first time moms to help with better outcomes in their lives for their children," said Gresham.

For expectant mothers to be involved in NFP, there is no cost.

The Community Healthcare Center isn't working alone, this program is in Texoma with the help of the

Texas Health and Human Services Commission and the North Texas Area United Way.

"We are the fiscal agents and we are the data collection part of the program," said president and CEO of the North Texas Area United Way, Gregory Shannon.

United Way was selected to manage a $4 million contract which was funded by a five year contract.

"It's an amazing piece to be able to bring to our community.  It's the piece, in our perspective that has been missing," said Shannon.

It's the missing piece in Texoma that will be available to first time moms in the near future.

"We're looking to serve our first population probably towards the end of September," said Gresham.

In addition to the Nurse Family Partnership program, sub-contracts were awarded to the Home Instruction for Parents of Preschool Youngster (HIPPY) and Parents as Teachers (PAT).

To see if you meet the requirements to be in the Nurse Family Partnership program, click

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, Newschannel 6