The program has three main goals:

1.  Providing information and support to families during the NICU hospitalization of their baby, during the transition to home and in the event of newborn death.

2.  Contributing to NICU staff professional development.

3.  Promoting the philosophy of family-centered care in the NICUs.

After careful analysis of NICUs nationwide, St. Luke's Hospital in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, was selected as a new March of Dimes NICU Family Support site in 2005.  This center of excellence has more than 400 admissions to its Level-II Regional NICU annually.  The NICU Family Support Specialist works with each family to provide support and information through parent education hours and activities such as scrapbooking, photography, sibling arts and crafts, massages for parents, and teaching relaxation techniques to families to help cope with the stress of a NICU hospitalization. 

For more information about this program, or if you would like to donate your time, talent or treasures to NICU Family Support at St. Luke's Hospital, please contact Jessica Phillips at JPhillips@marchofdimes.com. 

You can also visit the St. Luke's Hospital NICU Family Support site by clicking here.