Nurse-Family Partnership (NFP) based at Memorial Hospital in Bradford County currently has 50 families enrolled in the program. Each year NFP brings these families together to celebrate the Holidays.

This year's event was held on December 6th at the American Legion in Towanda. The families enjoyed dinner together, followed by conversation and crafts. Santa was on hand to take pictures with the little ones.

"It is always our most favorite time of the year to be able to bring these families together; especially to see all of the little ones getting their picture taken with Santa," says Desiree Rockwell, NFP Administrator.

"We would like to say a special thank you to all of those "secret Santa's" out there who helped us make sure that each child went home with an new outfit and a new age appropriate toy. To see the excitement in the children's eyes (and in their parents' eyes) is why we do this," states Denise Cron, NFP Registered Nurse.

Nurse-Family Partnership is a national evidence-based, community health program that works with first time mothers to help them be successful. Each new mother enrolled in the program is partnered with a registered nurse early in the mother's pregnancy; she receives ongoing nurse home visits until her child turns two years old.

• Improve pregnancy outcomes by helping women engage in good preventive health practices, including thorough prenatal care from their healthcare providers, improving their diets, and reducing their use of cigarettes, alcohol and illegal substances.
• Improve child health and development by helping parents provide responsible and competent care
• Improve the economic self-sufficiency of the family by helping parents develop a vision for their own future, plan future pregnancies, continue their education and find work.

For more information about Memorial Hospital's Nurse-Family Partnership services, please call 268-2518 or log on to the hospital's web site at www.memorialhosptial.org.