Nurturing Families Network (NFN)

The Nurturing Families Network (NFN) is an early intervention program that provides assistance to high-risk, first-time mothers. NFN's goal is to promote positive parenting and reduce the occurrence of abuse and neglect. It is a free, voluntary program that is offered in birthing hospitals and community-based agencies throughout Connecticut.

The program includes: (1) telephone support and referral services for low-risk families, (2) home visitation for high-risk families for up to five years, and (3) community-based parenting support groups for all families.

The program is funded by the Connecticut Children's Trust Fund.

NFN's mission is to provide first-time parents with parenting information and education and connect them to services in the community.

In 2008, NFN provided telephone support and referral services to 1,909 families, home visitation services to 1,162 families, and parenting support groups to 594 parents.

A 2009 evaluation conducted by the University of Hartford's Center for Social Research revealed that mothers who participated in home visits for at least one year made statistically significant improvements in community life skills (budgeting, accessing support services, involving support from others, etc.) as measured by the change in total mean score on the Community Life Skills scale (P<.001). They also made significant improvements in life outcomes in education (P<.01), employment (P<.001), and isolation (P<.001) after two years of program participation. In addition, women who participated in NPN made statistically significant improvements in rigidity, measured by the Child Abuse Potential Inventory Rigidity subscale, suggesting they have less rigid expectations of their children and less likely to treat them forcefully (P<.001 for one year participants, P<.05 for two year participants).