Lewis, Thurston Counties Form Joint Nurse-Family Partnership Team

The public health and social services departments of both Lewis and Thurston counties will combine their Nurse-Family Partnership programs into a joint team that will serve both counties starting Jan. 1. 

The Nurse Family Partnership program allows registered nurses to make home visits to low-income, first-time mothers.

Thurston County has provided the program since 2004, but under the new agreement, the program staff will provide operational and leadership activities for the services in both counties.

That will include referrals, ongoing visits to clients enrolled in the program, data tracking and working with Lewis County providers.

Two additional nurses and a supervisor will be hired and based in Lewis County, according to a press release.  

“Our two agencies have been working closely on this transition over the last several months to make this as smooth as possible,” Danette York, director of Lewis County Public Health and Social Services, said. 

York said current Lewis County nurses involved in the program have participated in team meetings and training with Thurston County.

“This has allowed them to form a strong partnership and team of passionate and committed nurses to serve our communities,” she said.

York said both departments are committed to the partnership in the joint effort to serve area families.

“Throughout this transition, our goal has been to ensure that NFP services will be fully available to our Lewis County clients and referral partners,” she said.

Updates on available resources and contact information will be mailed to all clients and referral sources as the transition takes place. Anyone with program-specific questions can contact York at danette.york@lewiscountywa.gov or 360-740-2774, or Gretchen Thaller at Thurston County NFP at thalleg@co.thurston.wa.us or 360-867-2545.