AmeriHealth Caritas Foundation
Supporting NICU families and healthcare providers nationwide
March of Dimes, the nation's leading nonprofit in maternal and infant health, and the AmeriHealth Caritas Foundation have joined forces under our shared belief that all babies and families deserve the best possible start.
The AmeriHealth Caritas Foundation, through its mission to positively impact the life trajectories of children by preventing and mitigating adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), is bolstering the mission of March of Dimes and supporting our NICU Family Support® program, which provides education and support to families affected by preterm birth, birth defects, surgical or genetic conditions, or any diagnosis that leads to a NICU admission. Through NICU Family Support, the nation's premier program for NICUs, hospital partners can offer family education, staff training on family centered care, and an improved patient experience with the support of March of Dimes experts.
Not every pregnancy goes as planned, and unfortunately, far too many families—more than 14%—find their babies in the NICU. This time can be stressful and overwhelming for families. Through the NICU Family Support program, March of Dimes supports these families with resources and services, including mental health support, to help them navigate their NICU journey and prepare for the transition home. Having a baby in the NICU can increase the risk of perinatal mood and anxiety disorders (PMADs), which can impact positive outcomes for the baby and family. Across the country, March of Dimes NICU Family Support helps more than 50,000 families with babies in the NICU every year cope with this challenging experience by providing in-person or virtual access to support and education. In addition, March of Dimes also hosts special activities and events designed to help parents bond with their baby and form a support community with other NICU families.
NICU Family Support also provides professional education for NICU staff through on-going educational opportunities. Through these offerings, NICU staff are provided continuing education credits on the patience experience, family-centered care, quality improvement, and NICU best practices.
The AmeriHealth Caritas Foundation is supporting NICU Family Support to ensure as many families as possible receive the benefits of March of Dimes' services through this program. Together with the support of the AmeriHealth Caritas Foundation, March of Dimes remains committed to improving the NICU experience for all by providing exemplary care to families and medical staff through NICU Family Support.
Our partnership with the AmeriHealth Caritas Foundation is bringing critical support to families during their baby's NICU stay and helping them throughout the NICU journey until they can bring their newborn home.