43 A PARENT-TO-PARENT PROGRAM

Abstract

The University of Utah Intermountain Newborn Intensive Care Center has developed a unique support system for parents called the “Parent-to-Parent Program”. With the impact of the multi-stress experience for families and the ever present depletion of nursery staff energies to deal with the ongoing emotional needs of infants' families, it became evident that one of the most valuable resources in meeting the needs of families-parents who had gone through the NICU experience themselves-was not being utilized. Through volunteer visiting in the unit during evening hours, visits and calls to mothers in referring hospitals and pictures and letters to those parents unable to visit because of distance, the 30 members of the Parent Program offer ongoing support. Very positive effects have been seen when parents going through the crisis of the birth of a sick newborn can talk with another parent who had previously gone through the crisis.This group also has been involved in speaking to groups of professionals about their experience in the NICU in an effort to increase empathy and understanding among nursery staff. An ongoing blood drive for NICU infants has been organized, as well as a housing project to provide more economic and expedient traveling for those parents from out-of-state. They have been active in organizing trained baby sitters through the College of Health for parents of newly discharged infants. The graduate parent group is currently becoming involved in death and dying support systems and “peer groups”.