March of Dimes NICU Family Support Program

One in every 10 babies born in the U.S. is admitted to a newborn intensive care unit (NICU) because of premature birth or another medical condition. Having a baby hospitalized in a NICU can be frightening, confusing and overwhelming for parents. In conjunction with its national Prematurity Campaign, the March of Dimes developed NICU Family Support to provide information and comfort to families enduring such an experience.

In September 2007, the March of Dimes chose N.C. Children's Hospital as the first hospital in North Carolina to implement its NICU Family Support Program, a family-centered program that uses parent-to-parent support to address the unique emotional needs of families who have newborns in the NCCC.

Guided by former NICU families and led by a March of Dimes staff person who has experience as a NICU parent, the program is built on a family-centered philosophy and addresses the needs of families throughout the hospitalization, during the transition home, and in the event of a newborn death. The program also offers a professional development component for the Division's faculty and staff, providing educational opportunities to help them sensitively support families on a daily basis.

Contact Us

If you would like more information about the NICU Family Support Program at N.C. Children's Hospital, please contact Tara Bristol, March of Dimes NCCC Family Support Specialist, at (919) 843-0552.