CPBF Parent-Partner Network (PPN)

CPBF has established a national network of parents who work or volunteer in NICUs across Canada, fostering collaboration and the exchange of information on quality improvement initiatives and projects.

This group serves as a valuable resource, enabling members to contribute effectively to their respective NICUs by sharing best practices and innovations.

Additionally, CPBF actively supports these parents in knowledge capacity building by providing education, participating and presenting at various professional conferences, meetings, and workshops across Canada, including Evidence-based Practice for Improving Quality (EPIQ), Family Integrated Care (FICare), and Canadian Association of Neonatal Nurses (CANN), enhancing the knowledge and practices within the NICU community.

CPBF advocates for the role of a Parent Partner to be on every NICU team at every hospital across Canada.

PPN activities include cross-Canada Zoom meetings several times a year, gathering (virtually or in person) at conferences, and making connections between parent partners across the country. Being part of the PPN is also a way to learn about opportunities for parent partners in committees, conferences, education, and other ways for people with lived experience to partner in healthcare. The PPN’s activities support parent partners in their work within their NICU.

Parent partner roles in NICUs typically include involvement in quality improvement, involvement in research, developing and delivering programs to support current NICU families (peer support, peer/staff education, holiday and gift programs, special events, financial support to families in need, fundraising, and volunteer programs).

Contact your NICU if you would like to be involved with their work as a parent partner! Hospital websites often list career opportunities and volunteer positions, but speaking to the NICU team directly can help identify unadvertised or new ways you can partner with them.

The Parent-Partner Network connects parents already working or volunteering with a Canadian NICU or in their capacity as parents with lived experience with the NICU.