DENVER, COLO. (Sept. 30, 2021) — The National Service Office for Nurse-Family Partnership® and Child First honored Katherine “Kay” Kinsey with the Robert F. Hill Award for Exceptional Impact — the organization’s highest honor. The award was presented this morning at Re: Connect 2021, Nurse-Family Partnership’s annual education summit. In its second year as a virtual event, the summit provides the opportunity for Nurse-Family Partnership (NFP) nurses to learn and connect across the country.
In 2001, Kinsey wrote the first grant to bring Nurse-Family Partnership to Philadelphia and led the program for 20 years as public health nurse administrator until 2020. She also served as the co-director of the nursing-legal partnership for Philadelphia NFP and the Mabel Morris Family Home Visiting Program. These home visiting programs grew to serve 800 families each year and comprised one of the largest maternal-child countywide programs in Pennsylvania.
“Kay has dedicated the past 20 years of her career in service to Nurse-Family Partnership. She is a nationally-renowned leader in public health nursing, and a tireless advocate for public health nurses and families,” said Kate Siegrist, chief nursing officer for Nurse-Family Partnership. “Her commitment to improving maternal and child health will impact generations to come.”
“Twenty plus years ago, I wrote the first Philadelphia Nurse-Family Partnership grant. It’s been like “stone soup” ever since. The multiplicity of public health initiatives valued by this community has engaged thousands of families and services to improve the well-being of vulnerable women and children and their loved ones,” said Kinsey. “Thank you for supporting my passion for life-long learning, public health nursing and the vision to build trusting working community partnerships to make positive change happen.”
Kinsey is currently principal of the Kinsey Consulting Group, LLC, where she collaborates with organizations to sustain and improve the economic, educational and social fabric of communities. Her work focuses on addressing 21st century public health issues that include improving workforce diversity, retention and advancement, and opportunities for families and children to achieve life-long goals. Kinsey previously was a tenured professor at La Salle University School of Nursing where she held the Independence Foundation Endowed Chair in Nursing and Public Health.
Kinsey holds a bachelor’s degree in education and a school health professional certificate from Millersville University. In addition, she earned a bachelor’s in nursing, where she was Magna Cum Laude; a master’s in nursing in community health; and a doctorate in education, specializing in health professions, from the University of Pennsylvania. Kinsey received the Nursing Legacy Award from the University of Pennsylvania in addition to many other awards for her dedication to nursing and public health.
The Exceptional Impact Award celebrates individuals and organizations who have made a momentous impact on the National Service Office, its mission and vision for the future. Named for Robert F. Hill – Nurse-Family Partnership’s inaugural board chairman and one of the first recipients of the award – this award is given to those that have championed efforts to provide better opportunities for families, transform communities and disrupt the cycle of poverty.