Joy V. Browne, Ph.D., PCNS, IMH-E

The field of Infant and Family-Centered Developmental Care (IFCDC) has expanded to develop and provide rich and thoughtful approaches to supporting babies and families. Along with the development of these programs has come the evidence of positive medical and developmental outcomes to support their application in intensive care units. Seven evidence-based programs available to NICU professionals and family members will be presented in the Developmental and Family-Centered Care Track at the Gravens meeting this year. Representatives from these programs will provide an overview of the theoretical underpinnings, goals, content, and approaches used to deliver their approaches and, in particular, share the evidence on which each is based.

A significant amount of Developmental and Family Centered Care Track time will be devoted to discussion with and questions from the Gravens attendees who will benefit from understanding which, if any, of these programs will be most beneficial to the babies’ families and professional staff in their intensive care unit.