National Service Office awards recognize the exceptional commitment of NFP teams to improving the lives of families and communities
NASHVILLE, TENN (September 19, 2019) — Through its National Service Office, Nurse-Family Partnership ® (NFP) – a national program serving first-time moms and their children living in poverty – has awarded Tenacious Caregiver Awards to four distinguished NFP providers at the NFP National Symposium in Nashville.
The recipients are: Keisha Lucas, an NFP nurse at the Forsyth County Health Department in North Carolina; Manoucheka Chery, an NFP nurse supervisor at the Broward Regional Health Planning Council in Florida; Patricia Yoder, an NFP administrator at the Chester County Health Department in Pennsylvania; and Nurse-Family Partnership at Care Ring in Charlotte, North Carolina.
For the first time, NFP has expanded its Tenacious Caregiver Awards to include nurse supervisors, administrators and network partners as well as nurses. The awards are given to professionals who exemplify an extraordinary commitment to their moms and to the NFP model of service.
“There is no better word to describe these amazing caregivers than ‘tenacious,’” said Frank Daidone, president and CEO of Nurse-Family Partnership. “Through their personal dedication to our work, they have empowered young mothers and their families to make lasting change in their lives and build bright futures for their children and their communities.”
The Tenacious Caregiver Award for Nurse is given to an exceptional NFP nurse who exemplifies commitment to the NFP model and moms. This nurse achieved and maintained a full caseload and seeks to assist the moms to solve their own problems and be empowered to make lasting change in their lives.
Keisha Lucas has been an NFP nurse for 16 years and has completed more than 5,800 home visits to over 200 new moms first in Guilford County and currently in Forsyth County. She has guided her moms in finding solutions in their lives and inspired coworkers with her passion for her work.
The Tenacious Caregiver Award for Nurse Supervisor is given to an exceptional NFP nurse supervisor whose team is at or above funded capacity and has high nurse retention. This nurse supervisor maintains fidelity to the NFP model, while encouraging the team to achieve and maintain its caseload, seeks professional development opportunities for everyone and advocates for the team.
Manoucheka Chery is dedicated to the professional growth of her NFP nurses. Throughout her tenure, her team has doubled in size and has maintained a 100 percent nurse retention rate. At the same time, she has organized parenting groups, baby showers and graduation events to make families feel special. Her entire team worked together to nominate her for this award to recognize her exceptional leadership.
The Tenacious Caregiver Award for Administrator is given to the outstanding NFP administrator who is at or above funded capacity, has high nurse retention, and who finds and secures multiple, sustainable funding streams. The administrator also actively participates in the Community Advisory Board and advocates for the program at the local and state levels.
Patricia Yoder wrote the grant application that brought NFP to Chester County 18 years ago and has been instrumental in expanding support and funding for the organization. Over her 30-year career at the Chester County Health Department, she has formed collaborative partnerships with many community-based agencies and has advocated for healthier families in Harrisburg and across the commonwealth. She has built strong connections with policymakers, facilitated a site visit with a member of Congress and has made presentations at conferences, including a Childhood Begins at Home advocacy event.
The Tenacious Caregiver Award for Network Partner is given to an exceptional NFP network partner who is at or above funded capacity, has high nurse retention, high client retention and excellent graduation rates. The award is given to a network partner that pursues collaboration in the communities it serves, is a leader in innovation and stands as an example for others across the network.
Administrator Carolyn Mullins and nurse supervisor Tonee Marks accepted the award for Nurse-Family Partnership at Care Ring. Care Ring served more than 300 families in Mecklenburg County in 2018, and its nurse supervisors, nurses and administrative assistants have been instrumental in developing close partnerships with over 15 agencies that allow the agency to provide a warm transition to additional services needed by families. This local program was an early adopter of Telehealth. Care Ring has expanded its team from four to 11 NFP nurses, is at full capacity, and since implementing NFP in Mecklenburg County in 2009, has conducted more than 15,000 home visits serving more than 1,100 families.
Individual winners received an all-expense paid trip and the network partner winner received two all-expense paid trips to the National Symposium. All award winner recipients will be featured on the National Service Office’s Tenacious Caregiver Wall of Fame in the Education Center in Denver, Colorado.