Did you know that Goodwill employs over 60 nurses that work with first-time mothers throughout central and southern Indiana? As a part of Goodwill of Central & Southern Indiana’s Nurse-Family PartnershipⓇ (NFP) program, these nurses aim to support mothers and families to provide the very best start for their children, during the earliest, most developmentally critical years.

Amy Falkenstein is one of those nurses and has been leading the team that serves families across nine counties in Southern Indiana for almost two years. Before joining the Goodwill family, Amy served as a nurse in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) for almost a decade, where she fell in love with the dynamic that exists between mothers and their babies and found her passion for helping moms and families. 

Describe your current role at Goodwill. 

Currently, I’m the Nurse Supervisor for the NFP team of nurses that serve Clark, Crawford, Floyd, Harrison, Jackson, Jennings, Jefferson, Scott, and Washington counties in Southern Indiana. I provide leadership and support to our team of nurse home visitors, making sure they have everything they need so they can best support their clients. I am very happy to report that recently, the NFP South team just became a full nursing team, meaning we now have eight full-time nurses serving our clients. It’s a very exciting time for the NFP South team!  

What is your favorite part about your work and why? 

I’d have to say my favorite part is the success stories of our NFP moms. Our NFP Nurses connect with their clients very early on in their pregnancy and stay with that client until their child turns two years old, so mom and nurse develop a very close bond. Not only do the NFP Nurses provide pregnancy and parenting support, but they also have the opportunity to help their client set goals for her own life, which could include earning a high school diploma or enrolling in college, becoming more financially stable, or securing more stable housing. Many of our NFP moms are experiencing challenges when they enroll in the program, but with the support of their NFP Nurse, we see them meet their personal goals, in addition to the milestones that ensure the health of the child. I’m incredibly proud of the positive impact our nurses have on the lives of our clients and their families. 

What do the next five years look like for you or your team or your area?  

In the next five years, we’re really looking forward to having more NFP Moms graduate from the program and continue their journeys of success with their families. The need for our program in Southern Indiana is continuing to grow as well, so I would like to see another full team of NFP nurses join us, so we can continue to provide a positive multigenerational impact for families in Southern Indiana.  

What is the biggest challenge in your work or role? 

The biggest challenge in my role right now is continuing to deal with the effects of the pandemic — both for our Southern Indiana team and the families we serve. Before COVID-19 hit, our nurses were supporting clients by visiting their homes but quickly had to pivot to telehealth once the lockdown orders were issued. Although we were still able to provide care and support to our NFP moms, we did see an impact from the isolation that was necessary to keep everyone safe. We’re very excited to now be able to begin conducting visits in homes again and though we continue to see some effects of that isolation, our nurses are absolutely prepared and have been supporting and guiding their clients through those impacts. 

What would you like others to know about your work or role?  

Goodwill’s NFP teams across central and southern Indiana work to change the world, one mom at a time. We empower first-time moms to transform their lives and the lives of their children in the process. By providing our moms with the confidence and tools they need, we not only ensure a healthy start for their babies, but we help them secure a life of stability and opportunities for success, both for themselves and their child. 

What would you tell someone who is thinking about a career at Goodwill (specifically with NFP)? 

Take the leap and don’t be afraid to investigate the opportunities that may come your way. Also, know that the Goodwill spirit is real and you will catch it! I’m so grateful that I took that leap and have the opportunity to lead and work with such a wonderful group of people that are actively changing the lives of those in their community every day. 

Thank you, Amy, for your outstanding leadership and dedication to Goodwill of Central & Southern Indiana’s Nurse-Family Partnership in Southern Indiana. To learn more about Goodwill’s Nurse-Family Partnership, visit goodwillindy.org/health.