Children First Program
Children First is a free program for first-time mothers in Oklahoma that provides personal visits with specially trained nurses beginning early in the pregnancy and continuing through the child’s second birthday.
The goal of the voluntary, evidence-based program is to empower families to better care for themselves and their babies by providing information, education, health assessments, safety and developmental consultation, and connecting participants with available community resources.
Children First program services are provided through county health departments.
During the personal visits, nurses provide education on pregnancy, labor and delivery, and parenting skills such as feeding, bathing and toilet training. The nurses also support the client as she accomplishes life goals like completing high school, going to college, choosing a career or owning a home.
There are currently approximately 70 Children First nurses available for home visitation.
Initiating prenatal care in the first trimester and attending regular prenatal visits help to ensure a healthy pregnancy and increase the probability of having a healthy baby. By allowing a healthcare provider to identify potential problems early, the majority of pregnancy and birth-related health issues can be prevented.
The nurse home visitor remains in close contact with the mother’s Primary Care Physician through the course of the pregnancy, sharing pertinent health information to ensure continuity of care.
Eligibility and Enrollment
To be eligible, participants must meet the following requirements:
- First-time mother.
- Monthly household income at or below 185% of federal poverty level (the same income eligibility criteria as WIC and Medicaid).
- Less than 29 weeks pregnant at enrollment.
If you would like a Children First nurse to contact you with more information, please visit parentpro.org or contact the nearest county health department.
Children First was created by state statute in 1996 and funded with state appropropriations as Oklahoma's Nurse-Family Partnership based on the research of Dr. David Olds.
In February 1997, four pilot sites with 19 nurses were based in Garfield, Garvin, Muskogee and Tulsa Counties. By October 1998, services were available in all 77 counties making Oklahoma the first state in the nation to institute the Nurse-Family Partnership statewide.
As of June 2007, approximately 150 public health nurses are dedicated to providing Children First home visits. Training, consultation, monitoring and evaluation are provided by Children First program staff located at the Oklahoma State Department of Health.
Annual Reports
Program Contacts
Susan Wegrzynski, MSN, RN
Nurse Consultant
Phone: 405-426-8968
Connie Frederick, BSN, RN
Program Manager
Contact Information
Mailing Address:
Oklahoma State Department of Health
Children First
123 Robert S. Kerr Ave, Ste. 1702
Oklahoma City, OK 73102-6406
Physical Address:
Oklahoma State Department of Health
123 Robert S. Kerr Ave.
Oklahoma City, OK
