This project was created by an occupational therapy student at the University of Alabama in Birmingham. That being said, it was also essential to include national resources. During the COVID-19 pandemic, everyone across the world was isolated. People began to use social media and various websites to connect with others. The purpose of providing NICU caregivers with national resources is to show that there is support and resources all over the United States.

Project NICU

Project NICU is an organization that offers programming designed for NICU parents. The goal of Project NICU is to connect with parents and provide resources during their NICU journey. Some of the programming and resources offered includes:

  • Virtual support groups welcomes all members of the NICU family (past and present). The meetings are casual, private, and led by a NICU graduate parent. For more information about these meetings, click here.
  • Virtual communities are available to assist parents with finding support and resources. Project NICU offers three different online groups to allow individuals to find the one that best fits their needs. For more information, click here.
  • Parent Mentors is a program designed for parents currently in the NICU. In this program, parents are matched with a veteran NICU parent who can help provide support and connection during their NICU journey. For more information about becoming or requesting a parent mentor, click here.
  • The NICU parent blog is written by a team of NICU parents, all with different stories. For more information, click here.
  • Project NICU resources offer various resources to ensure you find one that best fits your circumstances. For a complete list of resources, click here.

Project NICU. (n.d.). https://www.projectnicu.com/ 

Empowering NICU parents

Empowering NICU Parents is an organization created to empower and educate NICU parents throughout their journey. This site offers resources to support NICU parents, including:

  • Empowering NICU parent podcast provides education to NICU parents. The podcast is hosted by a NICU Nurse Practitioner who doubles as a veteran NICU parent. For more information about the podcast, click here.
  • The NICU Roadmap is a daily journal guided by a NICU Nurse practitioner to provide support and assistance during your NICU stay. For more information on the NICU roadmap, click here.
  • Free resources are available to NICU parents to educate and support individuals during their NICU journey. For more information, click here.

Empowering NICU parents . Empoweringnicuparents.com. (n.d.). https://empoweringnicuparents.com/ 

March of Dimes

March of Dimes is a non-profit organization that aims to advocate, provide programs, and educate for vital health equity to create a healthy world for every family, mom, and baby. The organization’s NICU initiatives offer many ways to assist parents with accessing the support and education they need during their NICU experience. The NICU Family Support program provides many different resources and services for parents, including:

  • Information and resources to cope with NICU stress. For more information, click here.
  • Information about common equipment used in the NICU. For more information, click here.
  • Information and education about the most common tests used in the NICU. For more information, click here.
  • Information and resources to guide parents through continuing medical care after their baby’s NICU stay. For more information, click here.

March of Dimes also has an app titled Compass. This app features journals and trackers parents can use during their NICU stay, a NICU glossary, community and resource library, postpartum checkup, and NICU family support partners. To download the app, click here.

Help US improve the health of all moms and babies. Help us improve the health of all moms and babies | March of Dimes. (n.d.). https://www.marchofdimes.org/ 

National Perinatal Association

The National Perinatal Association (NPA) is an organization that brings together people interested in perinatal care to share, listen, and learn from each other. This organization offers different programming opportunities for its members and other resources accessible to non-members. Some programming free to non-members includes:

  • Perinatal Mental health offers a complete list of resources, mental health tools, assistance with finding provider, and different helplines. For more information, click here.
  • Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) resources and information to assist parents. For more information, click here.

For more information on memberships and the NPA, click here.

National Perinatal Association . NPA. (n.d.). https://www.nationalperinatal.org/ 

Today is a Good Day

Today is a Good Day is an organization who supports NICU families. The organization offers different resources to NICU families, including:

  • The NICU advocacy checklist is a resource to help parents know what kinds of questions to ask. For more information, click here.
  • Today is a good day blog to stay updated on everything in the NICU world. This blog covers various topics to ensure parents can find what best relates to them. For more information, click here.
  • Navigate the NICU sessions are offered to NICU parents virtually to allow individuals to connect with others. For more information on these sessions, click here.

Today is a good day: Our neonatal intensive care unit – nicu family. Today Is A Good Day | Our Neonatal Intensive Care Unit – NICU Family. (n.d.). https://www.todayisagoodday.org/ 

To Write Love on Her Arms

To Write Love on Her Arms is a non-profit organization dedicated to presenting hope and assisting individuals with finding resources if struggling with depression, addiction, self-injury, and suicide. A unique thing about this website is it offers many resources and suggestions to promote an individual’s self-care activities. For more information, click here.

Self-care. To Write Love in Her Arms . (2021, August 13). https://twloha.com/self-care/ 

Mental Health America

Mental Health America is a non-profit organization that promotes an individual’s mental health and well-being. Their website offers many free resources to support individuals on their mental health journey. These various resources include:

  • Mental Health tests involve a quick online screen to determine if you are experiencing symptoms. For more information about the different screenings offered, click here.
  • A Do It Yourself Tool Kit includes activities an individual can complete at home to support their health and well-being. For more information, click here.
  • Connecting with Others offers different resources on an array of topics. Individuals can find the topic they are looking for and have quick access to resources to support them. For more information, click here.
  • Overcoming negative thoughts is a brief online activity that presents questions you can use daily to increase a person’s hope and control. For more information, click here.
  • Changing thoughts with an AI assistant is an activity that uses artificial intelligence to help individuals reframe negative thoughts. For more information, click here.
  • Resources in Spanish is an array of resources available in Espanol. For more information, click here.

Mental Health America . Mental Health America. (n.d.). https://mhanational.org/ 

NICU Connections

NICU Connections is an online website that provides NICU parents with resources and educational materials. Their website gives caregivers and parents information about what to expect during your NICU stay, what individuals you may see on your Childs NICU team, and more. Some of the resources and materials include:

  • For more information on your baby’s medical team, click here.
  • For more information on NICU terminology, click here.
  • For more information on navigating your feelings in the NICU, click here.
  • For more information on the resources the website offers during your NICU journey, click here.

Your connection point for your nicu journey. NICU Connections. (2023, July 31). https://nicuconnections.com/ 

Hand to Hold

Hand to Hold is an organization that aims to assist parents before, during, and after their NICU stay. Hand to Hold is a non-profit organization that provides services and programming to NICU parents at no cost. The organization offers different resources and services for parents, including:

  • NICU parent support groups are available to parents at any stage during their NICU journey. These groups are held on Zoom at different times throughout each month. For more information, click here.
  • Peer mentorship program, which matches current NICU parents with veteran NICU parents. For more information or to request a peer mentor, click here.
  • Hand to Hold NICU Babies Parent Support podcast is a podcast offered to all NICU parents. The podcast covers various topics, all targeted towards NICU parents. For more information, click here.
  • Online communities are offered to NICU parents on various platforms. Hand to hold has an app individuals can download to connect with other NICU parents. For more information, click here.
  • Educational Resources for NICU parents and families. For more information, click here.

Hand to Hold . Hand to Hold. (2023, September 19). https://handtohold.org/about/ 

Previa Alliance

Previa Alliance is a company founded on the lived experiences of postpartum depression or PPD. They advocate for maternal health and believe that every mother deserves mental health care as they navigate pregnancy and postpartum. At Previa Alliance, you can make an account and complete a brief 10-question PPD screening questionnaire. Your responses during this screening help identify if you are struggling with depression or anxiety symptoms. The goal of this tool is to help identify if you are struggling and help connect you with additional assistance. To start your screening process today, click here. Once you create an account, you will gain access to an array of resources including podcasts, publications, and more. To learn more, click here.

Home – Previa Alliance . Previa Alliance. (2023, February 23). https://previaalliance.com/