Comfort & Support for NICU Families

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Summary

NICU Family Support provides educational materials and support to 5000+ families whose babies are struggling in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU)

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What

Project Needs and Beneficiaries

Many babies are born too soon or have life-threatening complications. Few parents are prepared for these unforeseen circumstances, leaving many questions unanswered. March of Dimes NICU Family Support programs, located in all 50 states plus the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico, provides comfort and information with sensitive and engaging educational materials that introduce parents to the staff, equipment, procedures and conditions that they may encounter in the NICU setting.

Activities

Parent Care Kits, Bedside Reading program sponsored by Scholastic, Sibling Lending library, Transition to Home, Transport, Newborn Loss, Sibling Education Activities and Customized programs developed to service the speciflic needs of each NICU.

Funding Information

Total Funding Received to Date: $8,287
Remaining Goal to be Funded: $41,712
Total Funding Goal: $50,000

Additional Documentation

Resources

Why

Potential Long Term Impact

The overall NICU Family Support project will provide support and answers to almost 30,000 families this year better enabling them to deal with their baby's stay in the NICU and transition their baby to home.

Project Message

"I thank the March of Dimes from the bottom of my heart for NICU Family Support. It has helped parents of our babies to BE parents while the babies are still in the unit."
- Elayne McNamara, NICU Occupational Therapist, Shands Hospital

Who

Contact

Barbara Bruno,

1275 Mamaroneck Avenue
White Plains, NY 10605
United States
9149974466
Email:

Project Sponsor

GlobalGiving

Organization

March of Dimes
1275 Mamaroneck Avenue
White Plains, NY 10605
United States
914.428.7100
http://www.marchofdimes.com

Learn more about March of Dimes and the project team.

Where

Country

This project is located in United States and can also be found under Health.

For more information about United States, read the Human Development Report on United States or the Wikipedia entry for United States.

When

Last Updated

This project was last updated on August 25, 2009.

Date Added to GlobalGiving

This project was added to the GlobalGiving project catalog on March 06, 2008.

Latest Update from the Field

NICU Family Support is Reaching More Families

By Barbara Bruno - Project Coordinator for NICU Family Support, May 25, 2009 11:48 AM

NICU Family Support Information Center
March of Dimes NICU Family Support® continues to expand and is now in 74 hospital sites, representing every state across the country, Washington, DC and Puerto Rico. Through the project the March of Dimes is reaching more than 60,000 families with information and comfort during this time of crisis.
Part of the expansion includes the roll out of 13 NICU Family Support Hospital License Programs. Hospitals purchase a license enabling them to provide March of Dimes NICU Family Support materials and resources to families. NICU Staff also receive on-site training and ongoing guidance in program implementation.
NICU Family Support is also offered to hospitals through an Information Center (kiosk) for families. The Center provides internet access to the hospital’s web site, the March of Dimes NICU Families web site, the local March of Dimes chapter and ShareYourStory.org, the March of Dimes online community where NICU families can connect with others who have gone through a similar experience. The Center provides access to a co-branded CarePages/March of Dimes website, where families can post photos and create a personal website to update family and friends on their baby’s condition. The Center also includes NICU-related information sheets and booklets geared specifically to parents, siblings and extended family.
The goal of March of Dimes NICU Family Support is to provide information and comfort to families during the NICU hospitalization of their baby, during the transition home and in the event of a newborn loss. It aims to make the NICU experience more manageable for families.
Can you imagine a day when every baby is born healthy and strong? We can. But until then, March of Dimes will continue to champion the needs of Moms and infants, bolstered by the dedication and support of our volunteers and donors, and inspired by the wonder that is every baby.

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