In January of 2005, the March of Dimes, Swedish Medical Center, and Premera Blue Cross launched the March of Dimes NICU Family Support Project, an innovative program that provides information and comfort to families with babies in Swedish Medical Center’s Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). The program also helps families during the transitions between units and home, and in the event of a newborn’s death. The March of Dimes NICU Family Support Project is the first of its kind in Washington State.

The program has several components that make it unique. A NICU Family Support Specialist, employed by the March of Dimes, works with families and providers. Lacey Yantis Blank, MA, CCLS, fills this role and helps with a variety of needs from getting parents explanations of complex procedures, to sending pictures of the baby to family members out of the area.

March of Dimes Parent Care Kits are given to families that include a keepsake journal, information on common NICU equipment and procedures, and information on parenting in the NICU setting.

A volunteer Parent-Professional Committee guides the program’s development and implementation, and a team of direct service volunteers offers one-on-one support to new families in the NICU.

The NICU Family Support Project is funded through the March of Dimes and the generous support of Premera Blue Cross.
For families with a baby in a NICU other than Swedish Medical Center’s, information is available on our website to help you through your stay. Families will also find a listening ear in our online community about premature babies and life in the NICU.  Additionally, March of Dimes has opportunities to connect with others locally through our Mission Families program.

To read a recent press release about the March of Dimes NICU Family Support Project, click here.