| NICU Family Support provides sensitive, comprehensive, informational and emotionally supportive materials and services to the parents of babies admitted to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit.
Project Overview
Each year, more than 49,000 Texas babies are born prematurely; many are admitted to Neonatal Intensive Care Units (NICUs). The hospitalization of a baby in a NICU can be one of the most frightening, confusing and overwhelming experiences for a parent.
To respond to the emotional and informational needs of families with babies in the NICU, the March of Dimes developed the NICU Family Support project. Along with helping families during the transition home and in the event of a newborn's death, the project provides NICU staff professional development and promotes a philosophy of family-centered care in Level III NICUs, which results in enhanced standards of care for infants and families.
Project Components
NICU Family Support has several elements that make it unique. First, there is a full-time project specialist at the site interfacing with NICU families and staff. Second, there is a volunteer parent-staff advisory committee in each site guiding the emotional and informational support elements of the project. Third, a standard “Parent Care Kit,” comprised of informational materials, is distributed at each site. Fourth, customized programs are developed at each site, in partnership with NICU graduate parents and NICU staff, to serve the needs of the specific NICUs and the populations they aim to support. Some of the customized programs include:
- Information and Support for Siblings and Extended Family
- Materials for Spanish-Speaking Families
- Antepartum Support and Preparation
- The Photo Keepsake Program
- Newborn loss and grief
- Transition home from the NICU
Project Sites
The March of Dimes Texas Chapter was selected as an expansion site and, in April 2004, NICU Family Support was implemented at Parkland Hospital in Dallas. Parkland Hospital was chosen as a site because of its ability to reach 1,000 families a year and because more babies are delivered there annually than any other hospital in the U.S. |
Texas Project Sponsor
The March of Dimes Texas Chapter is proud to recognize Texas Health Resources for the support and sponsorship of the Prematurity Campaign in North Texas. Along with March of Dimes, Texas Health Resources believes that every baby deserves a chance to be born healthy and full term.
Project Expansion
Between 2004 and 2007, the March of Dimes plans to expand NICU Family Support by establishing the project in 50 or more Level III NICUs, serving approximately 33,000 urban and rural families across the United States.
Learn more about the NICU Family Support project. |
