You may find it difficult to discuss your feelings with even close friends and family members. The Parent Connection is a network of volunteers who have had babies in either the NICU or the Intermediate Care Nursery. These volunteers are trained listeners who will not judge you or make you feel uncomfortable for having fears, frustrations or other feelings. Their job is to help and support you in whatever way they can - even if it means simply giving you a phone number to use if you need someone to talk to. The Parent Connection has a core group of parent volunteers, as well as staff support persons from nursing, social service and neonatology.
Most volunteers live within a short distance of Iowa City.
In the future, the group would like to establish satellite volunteers who work with parents in their local communities. The Parent Connection is recognized as part of the UIHC Volunteer Program and is a member of Parent Care, Inc., a national organization dedicated to parents and professionals concerned with infants requiring special care after birth. Support Many of the volunteers routinely visit the nurseries to get acquainted with new parents. If you feel like talking when a volunteer comes by, he or she will be ready to listen. An informal support group meeting is held each week for parents and other family members with babies in the nurseries.