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Parent Groups (Perinatal Parents Association)

Perinatal Parents Association

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The Perinatal Parents Association brings together parents who have previously had their baby in Mount Sinai’s Neonatal Intensive Care Unit.

The group is a valuable resource to keep in touch with other parents, learn from their experiences and provide feedback to the hospital and the care team. Parents feel a sense of satisfaction in giving back to this community of families who have had a similar experience as they have.

We try and maintain an ongoing link between families by:

  • Our newsletter
  • presentations made by professionals about the growth and development of their premature children;
  • providing a voice for parents that helps shape hospital policies and programs (e.g. suggestion box, surveys, handbook, focus groups, presentations to staff and community groups);
  • family-to-family support programs (e.g. Parent Buddies and workshops);
  • developing and self maintaining our association (setting agendas, priorities, recruitment, fundraising, etc.) through the Parent Advisory Committee;
  • bringing together staff, parents and NICU grads to celebrate life at special events such as our annual NICU Graduates Picnic.

Parent Advisory Committee

Contact:
  • For information about the Parent Advisory Committe contact Kasia Pytlik, Social Worker and Program Coordinator, 416-586-4800 ext. 5213

parent advisory committeeThe Parent Advisory Committee is part of the Perinatal Parents Association. It brings together parents who specifically want to partner with the NICU clinical team to strengthen care and family support.

The group establishes new goals annually to set priorities and then meets monthly, except in the summer months, with the NICU Social worker and Parent resource nurse. Guest speakers are regularly invited to attend meetings to share their area of expertise. A list of upcoming sessions can be obtained from the PPA. Meetings are held twice a year with medical and nursing administration to identify issues and common working goals.

Over the years the Parent Advisory Committee has helped shape the experience for NICU families. They have contributed to shaping patient education material, attended international conferences to learn and share our models of care broadly, hosted workshops and participated in research.

Patient Advocacy

The Parent Advisory Committee plays an important advocacy role at Mount Sinai Hospital. Their experiences and voices help shape the future of care.

  • Two parents from the Advisory Committee sit on the Neonatal Team Committee. They provide a communication link between parents and staff, and provide a parent perspective on issues.
  • Parents are also involved in orientation for new nurses and ongoing in-services.
  • Parents participate in the Parent Group Program as veteran parents. This initiative regularly invites parents back to the group to share their stories and has become an integral component of parent support.
  • Networking with other regional parent support groups.