Public Health Madison & Dane County

Navigating the Journey from Pregnancy to Parenthood

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A mother holding a baby and smiling.

Becoming a parent can be both exciting and overwhelming. Between the questions, the appointments, the changes happening to your body, the future, it's a lot to manage. There's a program that can help. Nurse-Family Partnership (NFP) offers free support for eligible families. We support families in finding health care and in setting goals and reaching them, we provide information about pregnancy, breastfeeding, and parenting, and more. 

The "why" behind the work: building a better future for our children.

The early years of a child's life are critical for long-term health and development. Research shows that families who participate in NFP often experience healthier pregnancies and babies, reduced rates of preterm birth, improved child development outcomes, and stronger parent-child relationships.

  • 35% Fewer cases of pregnancy-induced hypertension
  • 18% Fewer preterm births
  • 67% Less behavioral problems in children

It takes a village and we are honored to be part of it.

This program goes beyond the information and support. It's about building relationships. Nurses meet families where they are, in their homes, or elsewhere, offering the kind of personalized care that can feel like a friend. A nurse works with the family for the first two years of the baby's life. Don't take our word for it, here's some recent testimonials shared by real NFP families:

My nurse truly became like family. She knows my sister and my friends. I only wish the program was longer. But I know I'll be keeping her number and staying in touch.

It's a vulnerable thing to invite a stranger into your home for the first time. But as they keep showing up for you, you build trust over time. My nurse provided comfort without any judgement if I had dishes in my sink or laundry piled up. I want to make sure other people know about this program so they can get the same kind of support.

My nurse helped me advocate for myself when I was having some health issues during my pregnancy. I had been having some unusual symptoms, and my doctor had initially not thought there was anything wrong, but thanks to my nurse's encouragement I followed up and ended up going into early labor. She was there for me every step of the way.

We do have a waitlist, but we still encourage you to reach out. 

As of April 2026, the NFP program in Dane County is on a waitlist due to high referral numbers. We reach out to every family, but we may not be able to enroll everyone. Enrollment is based on the family's support needs in addition to the referral date, so we still encourage you to apply, the earlier the better. We have several bilingual nurses on staff for any Spanish speaking families and interpreter support for other languages. Just fill out a short form in English or Spanish or give us a call at 608-266-4821. 

For more information on all of our pregnancy related support, check out this webpage.

This content is free for use with credit to Public Health Madison & Dane County .

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