Susan:  The program you are referring to is a research-based program that 
comes out of the University of Colorado in Denver called Nurse-Family 
Partnership.  I helped set up the program in our local health department and 
was a nurse case manager for a few years with the program.  It is probably 
one of the best (if not the best) program out there for teen parents and their 
families.  The only reason I quit was the nurse's salary is at the poverty level - 
couldn't afford to work for them!
The program consists of a structured curriculum covering the entire pregnancy 
and growth/development for the 1st 2 years.  It also contains adolescent 
development issues.  The "canned" breastfeeding information is good, if basic.  
I used to use a lot of the basic information that can be obtained for low 
cost/free from the government.  The most effective tool for I found for 
increasing duration was SUPPORT, SUPPORT, SUPPORT! and meeting the young 
mother at her level based in her reality.  Surprisingly, I did not have to do a 
whole lot of breastfeeding promotion - kids aren't dumb.  They know that they 
should be breastfeeding.  It was convincing her that SHE could breastfeed 
within HER lifestyle.  I swear some of them were testing me to the limit.  They 
would tell me they couldn't continue breastfeeding because...I would come 
back with some possible solutions to the scenario.  OK, a solution was 
accepted and we got to the new goal.  Still can't continue because...OK, new 
set of solutions, and so on!  Some of my moms were shocked when we hit the 
1 year mark and she was STILL breastfeeding.  
Ongoing support wasn't that difficult because the beauty of this program is 
that the nurse is visiting the mom weekly.  Not too much time was allowed to 
go by between visits.  Also, praise goes a long way in making the mother feel 
good about the effort she did put into breastfeeding.
So, I would recommend whatever educational tools these nurses have at their 
disposal and whatever their budget allows.  Nail polish parties go a long way 
towards getting breastfeeding information across in a non-intimidating manner!

Pam Hirsch, BSN,RN,IBCLC
Clinical Lead, Lactation Services
Advocate Good Shepherd Hospital
Barrington, IL   USA

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