Parent Care Program

Offering mental health support to parents of preemies.

Parent Care, a program providing professional mental health support, free to eligible families.

With the cancellation of all in-unit support groups and programs across the country due to COVID-19, we recognize there is an extra layer of trauma and isolation for preemie parents.

Through this special program, qualifying families will receive four online 45-minute therapy sessions conducted by mental health professionals, including clinical psychologists and perinatal mental health specialists from all across Canada.

Important: If you are currently in crisis please reach out to the support people in your life, and if necessary, call 911 or go to the emergency department of your nearest hospital.

Eligibility

who currently have a baby in the NICU

Whose babies were discharged home January 1, 2019 or after

Who are currently pregnant and have previously experienced preterm birth and/or a NICU stay

Who are trying to conceive after a pregnancy loss or NICU stay

"NICU parents often talk about how isolating it is to be in the NICU, and how hard it is to find someone who understands. We designed the Parent Care program to meet the mental health needs of these families, and to help them feel less alone.”

When we connect with families in our Parent Care program, they share their stories, they explore their feelings, and they begin the process of reclaiming their experience and identities. These sessions can be profoundly transformational and can set families up for a lifetime of more confident parenting.”

“By supporting parents’ emotional well-being, we are actually prioritizing children’s physical and emotional development.”

Meet our Clinicians

Tiffany Mitchell

Registered Psychologist (5506)

Alberta

Madeleine Stobbe

M.A. Psychologist (Cand. Reg.)

Nova Scotia

Veronica Harris

Registered Clinical Counsellor, MACP

British Columbia

Dr. Chanthalone Smith

Licensed Clinical Psychologist, PhD, C. Psych

Ontario

Leslie Ann Costello

Ph.D., L. Psych, CBT

New Brunswick

Kate Robson

Registered Psychotherapist (Qualifying), MEd.

Ontario

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Acsana Fernando Khan

Registered Social Worker

Ontario & Nova Scotia

**Offering therapy in Bengali, Hindi, Urdu; Punjabi (understand)

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Shakeera Baker

Parent Care Project Coordinator

Anna-Maria Tosco

Licensed Clinical Psychologist

Quebec

Application – COVID Care Program

Please note that all fields must be filled.

First Name

Where do you live? City:

Province

Please check the criteria that best describes your situation:

How many months have you been out of the hospital since your baby was discharged from the NICU?

By completing and submitting this form, I understand that my information will be reviewed by the Canadian Premature Babies Foundation, and I will be contact by a staff member via email.

I am providing consent to be matched with a therapist.

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I understand that the Parent Care program does not provide crisis support and I am not currently in crisis. (Please note that if you are currently in crisis, reach out to the support people in your life, and if necessary, call the emergency department of your nearest hospital.)

By submitting this form and requesting contact information for a mental health professional, you have read and agree that: We, the Canadian Premature Babies Foundation (CPBF), are pleased to facilitate a referral program to support parents with infants in the NICU, who have recently been discharged, or who have had prior NICU experiences and are currently pregnant again. Our aim is to connect these individuals with mental health professionals who are available to offer support via tele-therapy. These mental health professionals are independent of CPBF and are not under our employment. All questions pertaining to scope of practice and treatment should be directed to the mental health professional, as should any concerns. As CPBF is acting as the referral source and not providing any active support itself, no client relationship is created with CPBF once you connect with your mental health professional. If you choose to use the referral program, you accept that CPBF is not liable should any problems or issues arise as a result of your use of the referral service, including, but not limited to, your initial contact with a mental health professional (by phone or email) or in the provision of therapeutic services.

THANK YOU! YOUR APPLICATION HAS BEEN RECEIVED

Thank you for applying to participate in the Parent Care program. Your application has been received. Please note that the Canadian Premature Babies Foundation is offering this service on a first come first serve basis because there is limited availability of service. Your information will be reviewed by a member of Canadian Premature Babies Foundation and you will be notified by email about your eligibility, within 5 business days after receiving your application.

Please note that the timing for therapeutic service will vary, depending on availability of licensed therapists providing service within the city/province you live in. Appointments will be set by you and the therapist you have been matched with.

If you are currently in crisis, please reach out to the support people in your life, and if necessary, call the emergency department of your nearest hospital.

Thank you for your interest in the Parent Care program.

What you can do in the NICU