MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE
2010 Regular Session
To: Public Health and Human Services
By: Representatives Scott, Clarke, Gardner
AN ACT TO PROVIDE THAT THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH SHALL ESTABLISH A NURSE-FAMILY PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM IN THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI; TO PROVIDE A DESCRIPTION OF THE PROGRAM AND THE MINIMUM COMPONENTS INCLUDED IN THE PROGRAM; TO PROVIDE THE GOALS OF THE PROGRAM; TO PROVIDE THAT THE DEPARTMENT SHALL ENCOURAGE AND ASSIST PUBLIC AND PRIVATE ENTITIES TO BECOME NURSE-FAMILY PARTNERSHIP IMPLEMENTING AGENCIES AT SITES THROUGHOUT THE STATE; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI:
SECTION 1. (1) The Legislature makes the following findings:
(a) The United Health Foundation (UHF) ranks Mississippi fiftieth in overall health, fiftieth in infant mortality with an infant mortality rate of eleven (11) deaths per one thousand (1,000) live births, thirtieth in immunization coverage with only seventy-six and five-tenths percent (76-5/10%) of children ages nineteen (19) through thirty-five (35) months immunized, and fiftieth in overall child well-being, continuing a series of five (5) consecutive years for the state being last in the nation.
(b) Programs that focus on improved pregnancy outcomes, child health and development and the economic self-sufficiency of the family have been shown to be beneficial to both children and mothers.
(c) Research has shown that the Nurse-Family Partnership program improves pregnancy outcomes by helping women engage in good preventive health practices, including thorough prenatal care from their health care providers, improving their diets, and reducing their use of cigarettes, alcohol and illegal substances.
(d) The Nurse-Family Partnership program also has been shown to improve child health and development by helping parents provide responsible and competent care, and 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.
(2) The Legislature declares that establishing a Nurse-Family Partnership program in Mississippi would be very beneficial to improving pregnancy outcomes, child health and development and the economic self-sufficiency of the family in this state.
SECTION 2. (1) The State Department of Health shall establish a Nurse-Family Partnership program in the State of Mississippi, in conjunction with the Nurse-Family Partnership National Service Office. The program is an evidence-based, voluntary, nurse home visitation program that improves the health and well being of low-income, first-time pregnant women and their children. The Nurse-Family Partnership program includes, but is not limited to, the following components:
(a) Eligibility criteria for the program include first-time pregnancy before the twenty-eighth week of gestation, and being eligible for Medicaid.
(b) Registered nurses, by making home visits to pregnant women, provide education, support and guidance regarding pregnancy and maternal health, child health and development, parenting, the mother’s life course development, and identifying and using family and community supports.
(c) Home visits begin in the first or second trimester of pregnancy, and continue on a weekly or bi-weekly basis until the child turns two (2) years old.
(2) The goals of the Nurse-Family Partnership program are to:
(a) Improve pregnancy outcomes by helping women engage in good preventive health practices, including thorough prenatal care from their health care providers, improving their diets, and reducing their use of cigarettes, alcohol and illegal substances;
(b) Improve child health and development by helping parents provide responsible and competent care; and
(c) 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.
(3) The department shall encourage and assist public and private entities to become Nurse-Family Partnership Implementing Agencies at sites throughout the state, and provide guidance to the entities about adhering to the Nurse-Family Partnership Model Elements. In addition, the department shall seek and apply for grants and other funds from public and private entities to provide funding for the Nurse-Family Partnership program in Mississippi.
SECTION 3. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2010.