Schuylkill County commissioners on Wednesday continued to give young families the best possible start when they approved another one-year contract with Community Prevention Partnership of Berks County (a Nurse Family Partnership), with a cap of $257,522.

The program aims to help low-income first-time mothers through home visits by registered nurses throughout their pregnancies until the baby is 2 years old. The visiting nurses provide the new mothers with support and care so they have healthy pregnancies, learn how to properly care for their babies, stay in school and become more economically self-sufficient.The nonprofit partnership has more than 35 years of research from randomized controlled studies that prove it works.The program, which began in Schuylkill County about 12 years ago, serves 75 local families, said county Drug and Alcohol administrator Melissa Chewey.The hope is that the program will reduce the need for Children and Youth agency involvement.Commissioners also approved a number of one-year contracts for that agency. They are:• Pinebrook Family Services, Allentown, for traditional foster care at a per diem of $46, tier four foster care at a per diem of $67.96, and adoption/child placement at a per unit rate of $4,000.• Glen Mills School, Concordville, Delaware County, for enhanced residential care at a per diem of $135.79.• Chor Youth and Family Services, Reading, Berks County, for traditional foster care at a per diem of $46.01; specialized family program at a per diem of $88.85 and residential treatment facility care at a per diem of $323.02.• Bethany Christian Services, Lancaster, for foster care level one at a per diem of $29.32, foster care level three at a per diem of $65.22, and foster care level five at a per diem of $123.• United Methodist Home for Children, Mechanicsburg, Cumberland County, for community based residential care at a per diem of $201.93.• Psychological Associates, Pottsville, for group counseling at a screening at a per unit rate of $240.• Youth Services Agency, Jim Thorpe, for ACT camp at a per diem of $152.50, ACT Penndel at a per diem of $153.30, and ACT weekend at a per diem of $155.50.• YES Academy, Mercer, Mercer County, for residential at a per diem of $271.45.• Pediatric Specialty Care, Lancaster, for room and board at a per diem of $140.80.