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Liza G. Cooper, CSW, Ellen Cutler, MPA, Susan Clifford, and Scott D. Berns, MD, MPH. Chapter Program Support, March of Dimes, 1275 Mamaroneck Avenue, White Plains, NY 10605, 914-997-4489, lcooper@marchofdimes.com
Each year, over 400,000 newborns are admitted to Newborn Intensive Care Units (NICUs) in the United States. The hospitalization of a baby in a NICU can be one of the most overwhelming experiences for a parent. Information and comfort is critical to these parents so that they can be empowered to be primary caregivers of their newborn. This is ultimately important because it can lead to emotional well-being and psychological adjustment for all family members. March of Dimes NICU Family Support was developed to respond to the emotional and informational needs of families during the NICU hospitalization, during the transition home and in the event of a newborn's death. Project rollout began in 2004 in 13 sites. March of Dimes chapters partnered with these sites and experienced various challenges and successes related to planning, implementation and evaluation. Challenges included issues of multiple stakeholders, multiple decision-makers, federal HIPAA and human subjects protection regulations, and diverse objectives. This presentation will describe NICU Family Support, summarize data obtained from project evaluation, and will provide particular emphasis on the instructive challenges of a national non-profit health agency forming multiple partnerships with hospitals to bring support to families. Solutions to these challenges, successes, and lessons learned will be delineated and explored, with future implications for the more substantial rollout of NICU Family Support, from thirteen sites, to fifty sites by 2007.
Learning Objectives:
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.