Missouri March of Dimes Named “Chapter of Year”

Earns Additional Honors for Family Support, Teen Parent Education

e Missouri Chapter of March of Dimes was named Chapter of the Year, Public Affairs last week at the 2012 March of Dimes Summer Staff Conference in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. The award was given in the medium chapter category for outstanding performance on two key advocacy initiatives: establishing a statewide prematurity task force and advocating for a smoke-free ballot initiative in O’Fallon, MO.

Lori Goser, NICU Family Support Specialist for the Chapter, was also recently honored for Excellence in NICU Family Support Programs. The award recognizes a NICU Family Support Program that has been exemplary in meeting program goals, supporting NICU families and staff, producing high quality results, and demonstrating leadership within the chapter, hospital, and among NICU Family Support sites.

Goser also was honored with the 2012 Leading Practice Award for a teen parent education program, which is part of the NICU Family Support Program at St. Louis Children’s Hospital. The project incorporates positive youth development strategies, empowers teen parents to become advocates for their infants, encourages teens to continue their education, and to follow up with community resources after discharge. The program was developed through a collaborative effort with March of Dimes, hospital staff, and community support. The award, one of only five nationwide, is given to programs developed by NICU Family Support sites that demonstrate innovation and significant results.

March of Dimes NICU Support:

• Provides information and comfort to families during the NICU hospitalization of their newborn, during the transition home, and in the event of a newborn death
• Promotes the philosophy of family-centered care throughout NICUs
• Offers activities for families including weekly educational parent lunch hours, sibling activities, bedside family photography, teen parent education classes, holiday activities, NICU family dinner nights, and bedside support.
• Distributes “Parent Care Kits” to families (almost 700 last year)
• Utilizes more than 100 volunteers as support staff
• Contributes to NICU staff professional development

NICU Family Support was launched at St. Louis Children’s Hospital in 2007 and continues to enhance family-centered care and support for families each year.