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The March of Dimes is helping to alleviate the emotional distress and confusion so common to families whose baby is born early or with another medical condition. Built upon a family-centered philosophy and incorporating NICU families into every level of the project, NICU Family Support is being rolled out through March of Dimes chapters nationwide. This service is currently being offered in 70 hospitals nationwide! Serving the mothers, fathers, siblings, grandparents and extended family of newborns admitted to the NICU, NICU Family Support addresses the needs of families throughout the hospitalization, during the transition home, and in the event of a newborn death.
NICU Family Support has multiple components that make it unique:
- A part-time March of Dimes NICU Support Specialist with professional NICU experience
- A volunteer parent-professional action committee guiding program selection, development and implementation
- A base of March of Dimes volunteers providing parent-to-parent support to families within the NICU setting
- Sensitive and engaging educational materials that introduce parents to the staff, equipment, procedures, and conditions that they may encounter in the NICU
- Customized programs to serve the needs of the specific NICUs and the populations they support
NICU Family Support information and resources are available to all families through the March of Dimes national website.
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NICU Family Support at Capital Health
Capital Health in Trenton is one of the nation's hospitals currently hosting this program. Capital Health Mercer Campus in Trenton is a level III Regional Perinatal Center, providing the highest level of care. The March of Dimes, Bloomberg and Ortho, have committed to this project. For more information, contact Christy Keppel, NICU Support Specialist, at 609-815-7353 or ckeppel@marchofdimes.com
Hispanic/Latino Families Module
This module addresses the emotional and informational needs of Hispanic Families within the NICU setting, through the transition to home and in the event of a newborn loss. All of the educational and support materials are in Spanish and there are translators and Spanish-speaking volunteers to support these families.
Comprehensive Photography Module
This module weaves photography throughout the NICU experience to provide lasting keepsakes for families. Each family receives a disposable camera, the nurses have access to a digital camera and printer to take photos for the families and each month there are family photo shoots. Photo albums, frames and scrap booking materials help complete this module.
Support Groups for families with premature babies:
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Parent to Parent, a statewide network of parents supporting families of children with developmental delays, disabilities, and special health needs can be reached at parent2parent@spannj.com or by calling 1-800-372-6510.
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UNITE, a grief support network for families who have lost a baby, can be reached by calling 1-888-48UNITE.
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http://www.p2pusa.org/ |
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