When Cieara Jake first connected with Goodwill’s Nurse-Family Partnership program, she was struggling with a number of challenges. 

“My depression and anxiety preceded my pregnancy, but being in an abusive relationship made it even worse,” Cieara said. 

She was not taking her prescribed medications because she was afraid it could harm her baby. 

“One of the first things we discussed was the importance of Cieara’s own health—including her mental health—to the health of her baby,” explained Donya Jackson, a Registered Nurse and Cieara’s NFP Nurse. “I encouraged her to take her medications.” 

When Cieara filed for divorce from her husband and moved back in with her parents, her life began to change for the better. Donya helped her secure high-quality child care for her daughter Laila and referred her to a domestic violence program where she met other women that she could relate to. 

“I loved meeting with my nurse,” Cieara said. “She was very supportive, knowledgeable and resourceful.” 

In addition to completing her bachelor’s degree in general studies, Cieara graduated from Nurse-Family Partnership in January 2019, when Laila turned two years old. Through the help of Habitat for Humanity, Cieara and Laila moved into their own home in July 2019. 

“Having Donya at the most vulnerable and dark times of my life was such a blessing to me and my daughter,” Cieara said. 

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