RUTHERFORD COUNTY, TN - Nurses for Newborns of Tennessee provides a vital safety net for at-risk babies in Rutherford County and across Middle Tennessee. Typically, the nonprofit program goes into action for a newborn after a referral is initiated... Catherine Birdsong, Development Director for Nurses for Newborns, told WGNS that registered nurses are sent into a wide array of homes and living conditions...

From helping new fathers care for a newborn who came into the world prematurely due to an auto accident, to assisting families experiencing homelessness, Nurses for Newborns works to ensure each client will one day have their own story to share... Today, that young lady is now 17 years old... In her free time, she volunteers to help others...

This is not a short-term program, and nurses walk alongside family members through what may have started as a tragedy but later turned into life... It is not uncommon for registered nurses who visit the homes to navigate an assortment of challenges along the way... 

Through regular home visits—often continuing up to a child’s second birthday—nurses conduct health and developmental assessments, provide breastfeeding and safe-sleep education, offer maternal wellness support, and connect families with community resources, helping ensure healthier outcomes for both newborns and parents during the most critical early years.

To be part of the Nurses for Newborns program, volunteer positions are available, along with employment opportunities for registered nurses. Residents and businesses can also make one-time or monthly financial contributions through the organization’s website, NursesforNewborns.org.

The nonprofit program supports families with premature or medically fragile babies, infants who required NICU care, teen parents, and mothers facing medical, mental health, or substance-use challenges. Through regular home visits—often continuing up to a child’s second birthday—nurses conduct health and developmental assessments, provide breastfeeding and safe-sleep education, offer maternal wellness support, and connect families with community resources, helping ensure healthier outcomes for both newborns and parents during the most critical early years.

The year 2026 marks the 25th anniversary of the Nurses for Newborns program and will be celebrated with an evening fundraiser known as A Night for Newborns this upcoming May. The “Night for Newborns Gala” is an annual fundraiser supporting Nurses for Newborns of Tennessee and its mission to provide free in-home nursing care to vulnerable families. WGNS will have more details on the event as the date approaches.

• Learn More, Volunteer, Donate and More: To make a referral, volunteer in any capacity, or learn more about the program, visit NursesforNewborns.org/Tennessee. 
• Listen to Podcast: You can hear the entire interview on the WGNS Podcast Page - Direct Link to Interview HERE.