The Psychosocial Impact of COVID-19 on NICU Families
Visitation restrictions and limited access to mental health services due to COVID-19 have had a substantially additive effect to the stressors already felt by NICU families - who are at higher risk for Postpartum Depression, anxiety disorders and PTSD.

17 March 2021
Data suggests that poor parent mental health outcomes are associated with worse childhood developmental outcomes. In this presentation, we will learn more about the direct and indirect impact of COVID-19 on NICU families and explore strategies to provide family-centered care to support families during COVID-19 and beyond.
Objectives:
-Understand the potential long-term impact of hospital visitation restrictions for NICU families
-Identify strategies to provide psychosocial support for NICU families during and after hospital discharge
Kelli D. Kelley
Kelli D. Kelley is the Founder and CEO of Hand to Hold, a US non-profit organization dedicated to providing education and support for Neonatal Intensive Care Unit and bereaved families. A NICU graduate parent who suffered from psychosocial issues for years after her children’s early births, she now invests her time and talents to raise awareness about the high incidence of anxiety, depression and post-traumatic stress disorder among these parents and the long-term implications for the baby and family.
Kelli serves as Vice President of board of directors of the US National Coalition for Infant Health. She is a past President of the Austin chapter of the Association for Women in Communications, now Women Communicators of Austin, and a graduate of Leadership Austin.
Kelli received a bachelor of journalism degree from The University of Texas at Austin. In her free-time she enjoys spending time with her husband, children and friends, reading, cooking, listening to podcasts and volunteering with her daughter through the US National Charity League.
Event Details
Date: 17 March 2021
Duration: 1 hour
This webinar is free of charge.