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American Public Health Association
133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition
December 10-14, 2005
Philadelphia, PA
APHA 2005
 
5152.0: Wednesday, December 14, 2005 - 3:10 PM

Abstract #117439

Time for Parents: March of Dimes Builds a Supportive Community through NICU Parent Education

Michele Provost, MSW, LCSW, Colorado State Chapter, March of Dimes, 1325 South Colorado Blvd, Ste 508, Denver, CO 80222-3320, 303-692-0011, mprovost@marchofdimes.com, Liza G. Cooper, LMSW, Chapter Programs, March of Dimes, 1275 Mamaroneck Avenue, White Plains, NY 10605, Susan Clifford, Chapter Program Support, March of Dimes, 1275 Mamaroneck Avenue, White Plains, NY 10605, and Scott D. Berns, MD, MPH, National Office, March of Dimes, 1275 Mamaroneck Avenue, White Plains, NY 10605.

Each year, over 400,000 babies are admitted to a Newborn Intensive Care Unit (NICU) in the United States. The hospitalization of a newborn in a NICU can be one of the most overwhelming experiences for a parent. For many families, the distress is compounded by their forced separation from home and community to be with sick newborns transported thousands of miles away. The Children's Hospital of Denver is one of the project sites for March of Dimes NICU Family Support. The Children's Hospital serves all metro Denver hospitals, the entire state of Colorado, and seven surrounding states. In 2003, approximately 40% of admissions were from outside the Denver metropolitan area. In an effort to build a community among these dislocated families, March of Dimes NICU Family Support holds weekly Family Information Meetings that center around an educational topic of interest. Although the families come from diverse backgrounds, cultures, socioeconomic conditions, and residence communities, they share the common experience of the NICU that transcends all other differences. Through the gathering of families, stories and understanding are shared, bonds develop, and a unique and supportive community is formed. This presentation will be the third of a panel and provides a detailed look at Family Information Sessions, what they consist of, and how they have been responsible for the formation of a new and supportive community.

Learning Objectives:

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

I wish to disclose that I have NO financial interests or other relationship with the manufactures of commercial products, suppliers of commercial services or commercial supporters.

[ Recorded presentation ] Recorded presentation

March of Dimes NICU Family Support: Incorporating and Building Communities

The 133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition (December 10-14, 2005) of APHA