What's a Big Sis to do if her newborn baby brother cannot come home from the hospital immediately? Take a visit to the NICU!


In this episode we have the immense privilege of chatting with neonatologist Dr Terri Major-Kincade about her new children's picture book, 'Big Sis Visits the NICU'. Dr Terri has had over 20 years of experience working in several NICUs (or Neonatal Intensive Care Units), taking care of babies who are born prematurely, or those who are too sick to be cared for at home.

Having a child or sibling in the NICU can be a scary experience, but Dr Terri is passionate about making sure families (including siblings!) are able to stay actively involved and bond with their baby through that process.


For more information about Dr Terri Major-Kincade and her books, or to book a speaking engagement, please visit www.drterrimd.com




Resources for NICU Parents:
Below are some excellent resources that provide education,  support and community for families who have a child in the NICU

March of DIMES NICU Family Support  (https://www.marchofdimes.org/baby/the-nicu-family-support-program.aspx)

Hand to Hold
(https://handtohold.org/nicu-family-support/nicu-family-support-groups/?gclid=Cj0KCQjw8amWBhCYARIsADqZJoWGmBdOau5_o91lvwkrWarLxroPO4zQuLd1Lg-UOufOZRr0agsCh14aAv80EALw_wcB)

NICU Helping Hands
https://nicuhelpinghands.org/

Graham's Foundation
https://grahamsfoundation.org/

PeekabooICU.net
https://www.peekabooicu.com/

There's a thief on the loose, and he's stealing from ' the greatest bank in the world' - the Food Bank! Can Nelson and his friends stop the crook and keep the food bank stocked and running?

 In this episode we talk about food insecurity, its effect on child health, and some important resources that help to address child hunger.

Book:
'The Great Food Bank Heist' by Onjali Rauf


Resources:

Feeding America - Hunger Relief Programs
(https://www.feedingamerica.org/our-work/hunger-relief-programs)
Feeding America is a nationwide network of 200 food banks and 60,000 food pantries and meal programs. They provide food and support to over 40 million people annually.

Public Assistance Programs
(https://www.publicservicedegrees.org/public-assistance/food-security-hunger-help/)
Detailed information about food insecurity in America, with dozens of resources for anyone who needs help, along with eligibility criteria and steps for applying

No Kid Hungry - Find Free Meals
(https://www.nokidhungry.org/find-free-meals)
Resource Map: you can enter an address to find free, healthy meals being served by organizations in your community. You can also find these resources by texting the word FOOD to 304-304.

June 3rd-5th 2022 is #WearOrange Weekend!
While I am excited to wear my favorite color for three days straight, I am saddened by what it represents - National Gun Violence Awareness Day (June 3rd) and #WearOrange weekend commemorate the 40,000 people who die yearly in America from gun violence.

In this episode, we talk about:
-  the problem of gun violence in America,
- the impact of gun violence on children, and on children's health
- talking to children in the aftermath of a tragedy
- what we can do to keep kids safe

Book:
A Terrible Thing Happened - Margaret Holmes


Resources on Gun Safety and Advocacy:
Every Town: Solutions (www.everytown.org/solutions)
- Every Town Against Gun Safety is 'the largest gun violence prevention organization in America', and their mission is to end gun violence and save lives. Here you will find information on evidence-based policies to decrease gun violence, resources to support gun violence survivors, and much more.

Sandy Hook Promise (https://www.sandyhookpromise.org/our-programs/program-overview/)
- Sandy Hook Promise is a 'national nonprofit organization founded and led by several family members whose loved ones were killed at Sandy Hook Elementary School on December 14, 2012.' Sandy Hook's Learning Center offers training programs that teach students and educators how to identify at-risk behaviors and intervene to get help in order to prevent school violence, shootings, and other harmful acts. They also emphasize creating a more inclusive and connected culture in schools

Guns in the Home: Keeping Kids Safe
(https://www.healthychildren.org/English/safety-prevention/at-home/Pages/Handguns-in-the-Home.aspx) 
- See guidance from the American Academy of Pediatrics about keeping children safe when there are guns in the home