First Year Focus provides new mothers, their babies and their families with a comprehensive program that focuses on mental wellbeing and physical health.
WASHINGTON (March 11, 2025) — Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society (NMCRS) is pleased to announce a new program designed for expectant and new mothers entitled First Year Focus. The free program is open to pregnant Navy and Marine Corps service members and eligible family members and will support mothers and their babies throughout their pregnancy and a full year after childbirth. The program will be delivered by the NMCRS Visiting Nurse program and provides a variety of care, support services and educational resources with the goal of improving overall mental health of mothers during pregnancy and postpartum. This program is being piloted in select locations in the Midwest, the Mid-Atlantic and New England.
First Year Focus will work closely with enrollees to create meaningful connections and establish strong prenatal bonds, building trust and setting the stage for a supportive pregnancy journey, right in their own homes, virtually or both.
While the physical health of expectant and new mothers is important, their mental well-being is also vital. Of the approximately 100,000 active-duty and military spouses who give birth each year, one in three are impacted by maternal mental health conditions, which is twice the rate of the civilian population. The first legislation specifically addressing military mothers’ mental health was also included in the final 2025 National Defense Authorization Act.
“This unique, comprehensive program strongly considers mothers’ physical health but has a solid emphasis on their mental and emotional well-being as well,” said Capt. Rosemary Perdue, director of the Visiting Nurse Program, NMCRS. “Military life presents unique challenges, so First Year Focus addresses those issues, while also helping to mitigate the overall risks of serious mental and physical health conditions.”
First Year Focus connects families to meaningful resources, providing them with the care and support needed, through education, screening, raising overall awareness of mental and physical health issues and catching high-risk conditions early.Participants who enroll in the free program will receive:
- Personalized Support and Ongoing Care: Expert guidance and support from a registered nurse throughout pregnancy and the baby’s first year.
- Infant Feeding and Growth Monitoring: Individualized support for breast and bottle feeding and development tracking with regular weight checks and growth assessments.
- Customized Home or Virtual Visits: Flexible visits tailored to meet the unique needs and busy schedules of expectant and new mothers in the Navy or Marine Corps.
- Education and Resources: Connections to local resources and tools on pregnancy, childbirth, and early parenting, including a copy of the book “Settling in with Baby.”
- Collaboration with Other Providers: Coordination of care with healthcare providers.
First Year Focus also offers care and support for a full year after childbirth, providing ongoing guidance, health care and encouragement. For more information about this free program, please call 800-654-8364.