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Nurses working in the Nurse Family Partnership (NFP) program provide intensive home-visitation services for first-time, low-income mothers. The goals are to improve maternal health outcomes, child health and development outcomes, and to enhance maternal life-course development; however, many of the families face significant psychosocial and mental health issues that can impede progress achieving their goals. Because of the importance of the nurse-client relationship in achieving positive outcomes, these non-mental-health nurses must shift their approaches and techniques from a medical to a psychosocial model. In this article, we examine the role of the nurse in the NFP and present results of focus groups with experienced NFP nurses regarding their perspectives, challenges, and rewards in conducting this work.

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The lack of clarity in diagnostic classification and the lack of specificity of assessment devices deter accurate identification of children with Pervasive Developmental Disorder-Not Otherwise Specified (PDD--NOS). The current study was designed to assess the utility of the Personality Inventory for Children (PIC) and the Conners Parent Rating Scale (CPRS-48) in differentiating PDD--NOS from Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), disorders with overlapping symptom constellations. Subjects were 44 children recruited from a tertiary-care center with the diagnosis of ADHD or PDD--NOS. Results showed significant differences between groups on PIC scales assessing internalizing behaviors, social skills, and unusual affect and behavior. There were no group differences on the externalizing or learning scales of the CPRS-48. Discriminant function analysis using preselected PIC variables yielded a correct group classification of 92.7%. The PIC appears to be a useful tool in the differential diagnosis between PDD--NOS and ADD, while the CPRS-48, a commonly used screening measure for attentional and behavioral disorders, does not.

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The Nurse-Family Partnership (NFP) model is a well-studied and effective preventive intervention program targeting first-time, impoverished mothers and their families. Data documenting the negative impact of maternal depression and partner violence on the developing young child can be used to make a strong case for augmenting NFP programs to focus on mental health problems impacting the mother-child relationship. This article reviews the rationale for and process of augmenting an NFP program in Louisiana. Data on the prevalence of depression and partner violence in our sample are presented alongside a training protocol for nurses and mental health consultants designed to increase the focus on infant mental health. The use of a weekly case conference and telephone supervision of mental health consultants as well as reflections on the roles of the mental health consultant and the nurse supervisor are presented.