ICU baby is now hosting quarterly Lunch & Learns at three partner hospitals that use our NICU Empowerment Support Tools (NEST) program. Last fall, ICU baby expanded to Nicklaus Children’s Hospital, Mt Sinai Medical Center, and HCA University Hospital thanks to a grant from the Florida Department of Health. NICU families at these hospitals receive a bundle with our “My NICU Baby Book” and Milestone Cards as well as access to online information and support.

We added a Lunch & Learn on a quarterly basis to provide program facilitation, connection and peer support. All families currently in the NICU are invited to join ICU baby for a lunch where they will learn about the NEST program and how to get the most from it. They also have an opportunity to meet each other to continue the peer support facilitated by the meal to help feel stronger and more connected throughout their journeys.

The Lunch & Learn allows the families to receive guidance on engaging directly with the book, logging into and navigating the NEST online site, and downloading ICU baby’s App. During each session the NEST videos are viewed as well to help the families gain as much facilitated access to the vast resources available in the NEST by ICU baby program. The gathering also provides much needed support as families begin to open up with each other and process their experiences.