NICU Family Support at Capital Health System
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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. The service will be offered in more than 50 NICUs by 2007.
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 System in Trenton is one of the nation's hospitals currently hosting this program. Capital Health System's Mercer Campus in Trenton is a level III Regional Perinatal Center, providing the highest level of care. The March of Dimes, Pediatrix Medical Group, and Children’s Futures, a Trenton based public/private partnership primarily supported by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, have committed $210,000 to the project for a three-year-period which began in 2004.
For more information, contact Christy Keppel, NICU Support Specialist, at 609-815-7353 or ckeppel@marchofdimes.com
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.
Upcoming NICU Family Support Parent Hours
At the Captial Health System Mercer Campus
3/12 Your Baby’s Development, Nurses Lounge 3E, 6:30 p.m.
3/20 RSV: What you need to know, Nurses Lounge 3E, 7:30 p.m.
4/4 Safety in the Home, Nurses Lounge 3E, 6;30 p.m.
4/9 Early Intervention, Nurses Lounge 3E, 6:30 p.m.
4/18 Feeding in the NICU, Nurses Lounge 3E, 7:30 pm.
5/9 Parenting in the NICU, Nurses Lounge 3E, 6:30 p.m.
5/21 Reading your Baby’s Cues, Nurses Lounge 3E, 7:30 p.m. |
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Donating is easy online, by phone or mail / fax.
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