Working with a family whose baby is in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) can be challenging on many levels for everyone involved. Parents are experiencing tremendous stress and a roller coaster of emotions as they get to know their newborn and participate in their day-to-day care in an unfamiliar setting. The “Connections Program” from the School of Medicine at the University of Colorado offers a detailed guide of practical tips, entitled “How to Support Someone Who Has a Baby in the NICU.” These ideas may be useful to early intervention staff as well as extended family and friends of the baby. It’s important to remember that every family and baby is unique, going through an often overwhelming and very personal experience. Providing support is never a “one size fits all.” This tip sheet offers many suggestions that providers can use to offer support in ways that work best for the family. Download a PDF version here.
The ICC-Recommended Early Start Personnel Manual (ESPM) describes core knowledge and role-specific competencies needed for early intervention service provision, incorporating current research and evidence in the field of early intervention. Click here to access the ESPM. Scroll down to find the ESPM entry.
This resource is related to the following ESPM knowledge-level competencies:
- Identification and Referral (IR):
- IR4 (EIS): Knows resource options for services and supports (other than Early Start) in the county/area of residence.
- Evaluation and Assessment (EA):
- EA4 (EIS): Knows strategies that support parents/caregivers in identifying and articulating their concerns about their infant/toddler’s development and needs.
- Individualized Family Service Plan Development and Review (IFSP-DR):
- IFSP-DR3 (EIS): Knows community agencies and resources such as primary health care, infant/family mental health, social services, and parent-parent support groups.
- Individualized Family Service Plan Development and Review (IFSP-i):
- IFSP-i10 (EIS): Knows strategies that support parents in providing basic health, nutrition, and safety for infants and toddlers in natural environments.
- IFSP-i12 (EIS): Knows that cultural beliefs and practices of parents and professionals affect early intervention service delivery.