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Steamboat Springs — Two-year-old twins James and Zakk Leftwich bounded for the jungle gym. Their parents, Chris and Rachel, were close behind, ready to help the energetic boys over precarious spots but giving them space to explore.

The Leftwiches are now seasoned parents, but they weren't always so confident. Like many first-time parents, the couple faced pregnancy, childbirth and parenting with many questions.

That's where the Nurse-Family Partnership came in. The program, offered through the Northwest Colorado Visiting Nurse Association, helps ease families into parenthood with regular home visits from nurses, who provide advice and information on everything from prenatal nutrition to potty training.

The Leftwiches, who enrolled when Rachel was 26 weeks pregnant, recently "graduated" from the program when the twins turned two. The family and nurses celebrated Thursday with pizza, mini cupcakes and gifts in the park.

"It was good having someone other than a doctor to call when the children were sick or when we had questions," Rachel Leftwich said while coaxing the twins to take bites of pizza.

Wendy Bower, RN, visited the Leftwiches every two weeks until birth and then once per week until the twins were six weeks old. Bower then visited the family every other week almost through the remainder of the program.

During each visit Bower weighed the babies, discussed stages of growth and development and addressed any questions the couple had about feeding, sleep and other issues.

"It's easy because she came to our home, and we didn't have to make an appointment," Chris Leftwich said. "It's very convenient."

The VNA's Nurse-Family Partnership program has one full-time nurse and two part-time nurses. The nurses typically work with about 50 families throughout Routt, Moffat, Jackson and Rio Blanco counties.

Since 2001, almost 200 mothers, ages 14 to 40, have enrolled in the program. More than 50 families have "graduated" or stayed enrolled until their child's second birthday.

Based in Denver, the Nurse-Family Partnership is a nonprofit organization that works with local health agencies nationwide to improve women's health during pregnancy to prevent premature births, low birth weights and other problems, while also improving a child's development after birth.

Ideally, families enroll in the program early in pregnancy so they can develop a bond with their nurse and get on track with good prenatal care, said Ann Irvin, supervisor and home visitor with the VNA's Nurse-Family Partnership.

"People are inclined to stay in the program longer if they enroll earlier," she said.

The program also helps new parents develop a vision for the future by encouraging them to continue their education, work and plan their next pregnancy. Nurses also give families resources to follow through with those goals.

The program's success is supported by 30 years of research that shows mothers who enrolled were more likely to find work and less likely to abuse or neglect their children, or to have drug or alcohol problems. Children involved in the program were also better prepared for school and less likely to have behavioral problems.

Whether it's a single mother needing extra support or a couple with a thirst for information to help them into parenthood, the Nurse-Family Partnership is a good option for any first-time parents, Irvin said.

"It's just got something in it for everybody," she said.