ECHFS - Level II NICU Home Visiting Project (Project Hatch)
Project Description:
The purpose of this project is to work collaboratively with the Children, Youth and Families Department (CYFD), Early Childhood Services to develop, manage and coordinate activities related to the implementation of Level II Pilot Targeted Home Visiting services for children and families involved in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) Hospitals for the purpose of preventing child abuse and abandonment and promoting the continuum of parent-infant needs, essential to support healthy parent-infant relationships during the early years of the infants life both within the NICU and post-discharge. Background Parents naturally experience many kinds of stress after the birth of a baby. Stress can be amplified by many factors encountered during their baby's hospitalization in a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), such as the baby's appearance and behavior, exposure to medical lingo, advanced technology and the risk of their baby dying. National studies have demonstrated that newborns discharged from intensive care are at an elevated risk for child maltreatment. Preterm infants may be at higher risk of physical abuse after hospital discharge. Attachment disorders occur more frequently in infants with atypical behaviors, such as preterm infants, those with neurological problems, or infants of depressed or substance-abusing mothers. Neurologically impaired infants tend to display more screaming and crying. These behaviors can overtax parents' coping mechanisms and contribute to the increased incidence of child abuse. Non-accidental or inflicted head neurotrauma is the most common cause of mortality and morbidity in physical-abuse cases, and shaken baby syndrome (SBS) is the most common form of abuse. In New Mexico, there is a limited number of Hospitals with a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, making it more challenging for families from rural areas to engage in early parent-infant closeness during hospital stay. Recognition of these emotional stressors experienced by families with babies in the NICU is a first step in working to provide the crucial support and parenting skills needed for bonding and caring for their infant from admission through discharge and beyond. Home Visiting Level II Neonatal Intensive Care Unit program is designed to support the continuum of parent-infant needs, essential to support healthy parent-infant relationships during the early years of the infants life both within the NICU and post-discharge. GOAL: To provide Targeted Level II Home Visiting Services in the New Mexico's Neonatal Intensive Care Units by implementing research-based practices that prepare families to overcome obstacles and challenges to caring for their babies, themselves and their families. Supporting the Home Visiting philosophy to ensure that babies are born healthy; children are physically, emotionally and mentally healthy; children are safe; children and parents have nurturing relationships; and the family is connected to formal and informal supports in the community.
Keyword(s):
Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, At-Risk Families, Home Visiting
Core Function(s):
Other Direct/Model Services
Area of Emphasis
Health-Related Activities
Target Audience:
Professionals and Para-Professionals
Unserved or Under-served Populations:
Racial or Ethnic Minorities, Disadvantaged Circumstances, Limited English, Geographic Areas, Reservation, Rural/Remote
Primary Target Audience Geographic Descriptor:
State
COVID-19 Related Data:
N/A
