PREEMIE PARENT MENTOR PROGRAM
Our mentors provide encouragement and support to parents of preemies.
The goal of the Preemie Parent Mentor Program is to connect new preemie parents with others who may have shared a similar NICU journey. Allowing parents one-one-access with mentors via phone, text, email, or video chat.
The Parent Mentor Program is at the heart of our mission.
Peer to Peer Support
Our volunteer mentors and preemie parents, too, and have walked in your shoes but also recognize that your path is unique. Our mentors are here to listen, encourage and guide, as requested
Giving Back
Our mentors volunteer because they recognize how much peer support meant to them or wished they had access to it during their journey.
Mentor Expectations
It’s important, as a mentor, to know when to be a listener and when to draw from your own experiences. We allow the narrative of the parents we’re helping to direct the conversation, while also meeting the following expectations.
Timely response to inquiries.
As the Program Director receives emails and calls from parents, they will send them directly to the Parent Mentor who is the most appropriate match. When you receive an email, please follow up within 48 hours. If you are unable to do so, it is important to let the program director know right away.
Maintain a sympathetic approach.
Our goal is to be encouraging, gentle, kind, and empathetic. It’s okay to tell a parent that you’re not a healthcare professional, just as a parent who understands and, most importantly, a friend. If parents ask for specific details concerning a diagnosis or procedure, encourage them to talk to their doctors. If you are familiar with the diagnosis or procedure, you may tell them about your experience, but not offer medical advice.
Comfortable discussing your journey.
It is important when supporting others that you can speak about your own journey without becoming over emotional or breaking down, we provide care and comfort by example.
Attend training and conference calls.
An open line of communication with the Parent Mentor Program Director is necessary at all times to ensure that we are meeting parents’ needs to the best of our abilities, which is why we ask that you make ever effort to be present and involved.
Log parent communications.
As part of our compliance as a Parent To Parent Partner organization we have to keep timely and accurate logs of communications we have with preemie parents.
Acknowledge our role.
Mentors are here to offer support, not diagnoses or medical advocacy. We need to know when to lovingly guide parents back toward their child’s doctors/nurses. It is not our goal to provide medical advice, but to help parents who are walking a similar journey just a few steps behind where we are now.