A Voice Beyond the NICU
Championing Excellence in Neonatal Follow-up Care.
The journey doesn't end when a baby leaves the NICU. Neither should the care.
Every NICU graduate deserves the opportunity to reach their full potential. CPBF is advocating for neonatal follow-up care to be recognized, adequately resourced, and standardized across Canada.
Every NICU graduate who needs follow-up should receive it, early, as close to home as possible, and as a funded part of neonatal care.
Why This Matters
Access to neonatal follow-up care isn't consistent across Canada. Eligibility, available services, and the distances families travel can vary.
Follow-up care helps identify developmental needs early and connects families with the right support as children grow.
Where a child lives should not determine their access to appropriate care.
Comming Soon
Mapping Access to Follow-up Care Across Canada
Explore where neonatal follow-up clinics are located and how far some families travel to receive care.
What We're Advocating For
Through A Voice Beyond the NICU, we're championing five essential pillars of neonatal follow-up care.
1. Early Identification and Longitudinal Monitoring
2. Family-Centred Developmental Care, Education and Intervention
3. Equity and Access
4. Quality Assurance and Accountability
5. Ongoing Interdisciplinary Education
Effective follow-up involves a coordinated team that supports the whole child and family.
Depending on their needs, this may include physiotherapy, occupational therapy, speech-language pathology, nutrition, and caregiver mental health support.
These services don't all need to be in one location. What matters is that families can access them and that care is connected.
How You Can Help
For Parents and Families:
Send a letter
Ask your provincial or territorial government to fund neonatal follow-up care for every eligible NICU graduate.
Ask Before Leaving the NICU
"Does my baby qualify for follow-up, and when is our first appointment?"
Other ways to help: Attend follow-up appointments, consider participating in research, and share our advocacy posts.
For Healthcare Professionals:
Support the five pillars, advocate for referrals before discharge, and share your program's needs with CPBF.