(ATLANTA, GA)— Every year thousands of Georgians pledge their support to March of Dimes during campaigns like WalkAmerica, Ride to Save Babies, and Georgia Society. Thanks to the money they raise, March of Dimes can fund research into the causes of premature birth and also provide support to families who have a premature baby being treated in a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU).  In an effort to expand its support of NICU families in Georgia’s hospitals, March of Dimes Georgia Chapter is currently accepting applications from Level II and Level III NICUs for special programs designed to enhance the services they provide to parents of babies in the NICU.

“The Georgia Chapter is pledging a total of more than $200,000 to 35 eligible hospitals to make the journey through newborn intensive care smoother and less traumatic for families,” said Brian Ziegler, March of Dimes Georgia State Director. “Most families don’t expect anything to go wrong, but unfortunately, approximately one in eight newborns are admitted to a NICU because they are born too soon, too small or with a birth defect.”

Currently the Georgia Chapter is offering four programs to qualifying hospitals. 

1) The NICU Family Support In-House Comprehensive Project addresses the needs of families throughout the hospitalization, during the transition home, and in the event of a newborn death.  The project is led by an in-house March of Dimes staff person and also provides hospital NICU staff with support and educational opportunities.  

2) A user-friendly kiosk on location at the supporting hospital, the NICU Family Support Information Station provides families with babies in the NICU with a computer and English and Spanish language print materials with extended information on premature birth.

3) A two day workshop led by clinically active faculty, the Staff Professional Development consists of an interactive, multi-sensory training program that contrasts the experience of the infant in a traditional environment to a developmentally supportive one. This unique program includes hands-on workshops on admissions, positioning, feeding, and families.

4) Through supplying hospitals with books to place in the NICU, the NICU Bedside Reading Program allows parents to read to the baby in the NICU, as well as to big brother and sister. Through the NICU Bedside Reading Program the March of Dimes Georgia Chapter is helping parents be parents to their new baby and facilitate critical family bonding.

The Georgia Chapter has submitted Requests for Proposals to Archbold Memorial Hospital (Thomasville), Atlanta Medical Center, Athens Regional Medical Center, St. Joseph's Candler Hospital (Savannah), Children's Healthcare of Atlanta @ Egleston, Children's Healthcare of Atlanta @ Scottish Rite, Coliseum Health System (Macon), Colquitt Regional Medical Center (Moultrie), Columbus Regional Medical Center, DeKalb Medical Center (Decatur), DeKalb Medical Center @ Hillandale (Lithonia), Doctor's Hospital of Columbus, East Georgia Regional (Statesboro), Emory Crawford Long Hospital (Atlanta), Emory Eastside Medical Center (Snellville), Emory Johns Creek Hospital, Floyd Medical Center, Grady Memorial Hospital, Gwinnett Medical Center, Hamilton Medical Center (Duluth), Henry Medical Center (Stockbridge), Houston Medical Center (Warner Robbins), Hutcheson Medical Center (Ft. Oglethorpe), Medical College of Georgia Medical Center (Augusta), Medical Center of Central Georgia (Macon), Newnan Hospital West, North Fulton Regional Hospital (Roswell), Northeast Georgia Medical Center (Gainesville), Phoebe Putney Memorial Hospital (Albany), Piedmont Hospital (Atlanta), Rockdale Medical Center (Conyers), Satilla Regional (Waycross), South Fulton Medical Center (East Point), South Georgia Medical Center (Valdosta), Southeast Georgia Healthcare System/Brunswick Campus, Southern Regional Medical Center (Riverdale), Spalding Regional Medical Center (Griffin), St. Joseph's Hospital (Savannah), Tanner Medical Center (Carrollton), Tift Regional Medical Center (Tifton), WellStar Cobb Hospital (Austell), WellStar Kennestone Hospital (Marietta), and West Georgia Medical Center (LaGrange).

All applications are due by 4:00pm April 2, 2007.  For more information on how to apply, contact the Georgia Chapter office at 404-350-9800 or visit marchofdimes.com/georgia.

NICU family support is an important component of the March of Dimes Prematurity Campaign, a multi year effort to address the growing problem of premature birth, which is the leading cause of newborn death in America.

To learn more about WalkAmerica, Ride, or Georgia Society and get involved with the March of Dimes visit www.marchofdimes.com/georgia. 

March of Dimes is a national voluntary health agency whose mission is to improve the health of babies by preventing birth defects, premature birth and infant mortality. Founded in 1938, the March of Dimes funds programs of research, community services, education, and advocacy to save babies and in 2003 launched a campaign to address the increasing rate of premature birth.

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