Women & Infants NICU Advisory Council

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About the NFAC

The NICU Family Advisory Council (NFAC), founded in 2006, is a vital and respected group composed of parents of former NICU babies and current NICU managers and staff. The role of the NICU Council is best expressed in its mission statement.

The mission of the Family Advisory Council is to form a partnership between NICU families and NICU staff in order to advocate for a NICU environment that is developmentally supportive and family-centered. The key role of the Council is to provide the perspective and voice of NICU families in the creation of policies and procedures that promote an optimal healing environment for babies and support families and staff.

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Join the NFAC

If you are the parent of a NICU graduate and would like to be considered for the NICU Council, please review the information below and fill out an application at the bottom of the page. Upon receipt of your application and once a position on the council opens, you will be contacted to schedule an interview.

Please note: Although our passion for our work on the NICU Council springs from how deeply our lives have been touched by our NICU experience, the NICU Council is not designed to be a support group. We strive to let our experiences inform our contribution in meetings, looking beyond the personal to effectively advocate for and represent families who are and will be in the NICU. We are not able to offer membership on the NICU Council to everyone who applies. The NICU Council tries to balance the Council's membership in order to have a variety of NICU experiences in the member families. If you have any questions regarding the NICU Council or the application process, contact us.

Membership criteria

Anyone who has acted as the primary caregiver (parent, partner, grandparent, etc.) for a baby who has been a patient at Women & Infants' NICU
Suggested timeline for membership: at least one year after discharge (at least two years when there has been a loss of a baby)
NICU staff (physicians, nurses, social workers, occupational therapists, etc.)
Must be able to attend monthly meetings and contribute ideas and suggestions based on prior experience
Maintain confidentiality

Joining the advisory council

Anyone interested in joining the Council is asked to complete an application form
Upon receiving your application, a member of the Advisory Council will contact you regarding your interest in the Council
You will be asked to meet with members of the Council for an interview
Invitations to join the NICU Council are pending the availability of a position on the Council
Please understand that we are not able to offer membership on the NICU Council to everyone who applies; the NICU Council tries to balance the Council's membership in order to have a variety of NICU experiences in the member families
When a position is available, you will be invited to attend an NFAC meeting as a guest
Council members are asked to complete the hospital's formal volunteer orientation program before attending the first meeting
There will be a two-year term of service commitment to serve as an advisory Council member
Council members can resign or request a leave of absence from the Council at any time

Monthly meeting schedule

There are nine meetings per calendar year. The Council meets monthly from 6:00 pm to 7:30 pm via Zoom. When in-person meetings resume, dinner is provided. The Council does not meet in July, August, or January.

Level of commitment

Tier 1 – Individuals who wish to attend monthly meetings only
Tier 2- Individuals who intend to have patient contact in the hospital via various volunteer duties
Council members are encouraged but not required to bring their skills and passion to the council through tasks ranging from proofreading to serving as an NFAC liaison on hospital-wide committees. (Tiers 1 & 2 Members)
Council members are encouraged but not required to volunteer at family-centered activities in and around the NICU during their term of service. (Tier 2 members)
A member's term of service begins with the member's first Council meeting
Members are expected to attend at least seven Council meetings per year

Application form

If you are interested in joining the NICU Family Advisory Council, please send an email to womenandinfantsnfac@gmail.com and include the following information:

Name
Email Address
Mailing Address
Phone Number
Which membership are you interested in: Tier 1: Individuals who wish to attend monthly meetings only OR Tier 2: Individuals who intend to have patient contact in the hospital via various volunteer duties
Tell us about your previous NICU experience and why you'd like to serve on the council

Initiatives

Holiday Photo Shoots & Celebrations

Holidays in the NICU can be difficult. We help families celebrate their first holidays with themed photo shoots and events.

Feeding Families

Nutrition is important for parents to remain healthy and strong for their baby. Our Feeding Families initiative assures no parent goes hungry by providing meals and grab-and-go snacks.

Books for Babies

Reading promotes parent-child bonding while enhancing brain development. Books are distributed through our Book for Babies program to encourage reading in the NICU.

NICU Family Fun Day

We host a Family Fun Day open to all NICU families, celebrating NICU graduates and their families.

Want to be informed when the next Family Fun Day is scheduled? Email us at womenandinfantsnfac@gmail.com and include your name and mailing address.

Email us

Make a Contribution

Host a Book Drive Reading promotes parent-child bonding while enhancing brain development. Host a book drive to support our Books for Babies initiative. For more information, email womenandinfantsnfac@gmail.com
Donate Supplies A NICU Stay can be financially challenging for families. Visit our Amazon Wishlist to purchase supplies to be distributed to families in need. Amazon wishlist link: https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/22DY2337FLU2F?ref_=wl_share
Support Our Initiatives We rely on the support of our NICU community to continue to make a difference for current NICU families. Help us make a difference by making a donation today!
Paint Night If you would like to attend the NICU Family Paint Night on Saturday, October 15, 2022, please fill out the donation form below. Be sure to enter your contact information, the amount for your ticket(s) (tickets are $50/per person), and indicate in the "comments" that your donation is to attend this event and we will add you to our list for the event!

Donate Today

Make a gift to support our NICU Family Advisory Council and provide our NICU Families with vital support during their stay at Women & Infants Hospital.

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