The Empower Program™

Empower families with the knowledge and reassurance

The Empower Program is an early intervention, family-centered, multi-sensory, developmental care program for parents of babies born at less than 30 weeks gestation. Designed by both parents and health care professionals at St. Louis Children’s Hospital, The Empower Program provides families with the knowledge and skills needed to parent their premature baby in the Newborn ICU.

Detailed Description

Evidence supports that parents who quickly engage in the care of their babies in the NICU tend to be more sensitive to their babies’ cues and have better relationships with them in later years, which is a positive predictor for improved infant outcomes. Because of the altered mood states of many parents who deliver a premature baby, it is important to provide parents with information and education in a format that is repetitive and can be retained over time.

The Empower Program:

Uses multiple senses to aid in retention. Over the course of six weeks, and 3 separate parts, parents are given multiple opportunities to learn about their baby’s behaviors and appropriate parenting strategies through written word, pictures, video and hands-on training.
- Part 1 is given within 2 to 4 days of the infant’s admission to the NICU. Education is specific to infant cues and physical characteristics and provision of breast milk.
- Part 2 is offered 2 to 4 days after Part 1. Education is specific to nuzzling, skin-to-skin holding and reinforcement of Part 1.
- Part 3 is a little more flexible and is dependent on the individual needs of the baby. Typically, Part 3 is given 4 weeks after Part 2 (approx. 5-6 weeks of age). Education is specific to infant cues (as age increases over time), PO readiness, infant massage and reinforcement of Parts 1 and 2.
Is consistent with The Joint Commission’s requirement for patient-centered care and was supported by a community grant from the March of Dimes.
Was nominated for the Magnet Prize in 2007.

Ordering Information

The Empower Program™ consists of 5 components:

Master DVD with 3 parts (classroom or system license)
My Journey In the NICU notebook for families, including a page of NICU specific milestone stickers for the family calendar (additional notebooks and stickers may be purchased)
CD of all written materials found in the Journey notebook
Ten DVDs for parents to watch (additional DVDs may be purchased for hospitals that wish to give the DVD to the families)

Staff packet with education on how to administer The Empower Program™ along with written materials to give to families to reinforce the teaching

The Empower Program™
Product Number	Description	Qty
D 0904	The Empower Program Classroom License: 1 Master DVD, 1 Master CD with all notebook contents, 1 Master Journey in the NICU notebook; 10 pack of parent DVDs	1 each
D 0904 SL	The Empower Program System License: 1 Master DVD, 1 Master CD with all notebook contents, 1 Master Journey in the NICU notebook; 10 pack of parent DVDs	1 each
D 0933	Replacement notebooks	1/box
D 0912 B10	Pack of 10 parent DVDs	10/box

Testimonials

“The newborn brain represents both the greatest vulnerabilities to injury and the greatest opportunities to repair and recover. The Empower Program is a very important program to equip parents to overcome the challenges of being in the intensive care unit and assist their precious baby physically and emotionally. The value of this program and a parent’s role in the outcomes of our smallest and sickest infants is powerful.”

-Terrie E. Inder, MD, PhD, Neonatologist, St. Louis Children’s Hospital, Associate Professor, Washington University School of Medicine

“The Empower Program videos helped me to cope with the very emotional experience of having a premature baby. It encouraged me to become involved in his care right away and I felt good that I could do things for him that no one else could do. I learned how to parent my baby in the NICU and felt prepared to take him home.”

-Sam’s Mom

“This is an excellent program to support families in the NICU. It is both culturally and developmentally appropriate. Every family in the NICU should have the opportunity to participate in this program.”

-Jacqueline M. McGrath PhD, RN, FNAP, FAAN, Associate Professor Family and Community Health Nursing, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Nursing

“The DVDs and one-on-one hands-on teaching went into much more detail than the written material and the best thing was I could go back and watch the DVD if I didn’t understand something. It also helped me realize that I’m not the only parent going through this and that others have gone through it and there is support.”
-Nicholas’s Mom

Schedule Clinical Consultation or Training

Watch More Videos

Contact The Team

Related Products

Sweet Cheeks® 40% Glucose Gel

Sweet Cheeks®, a 40% glucose gel, is made just for babies and designed for clinical convenience. The single-use graduated oral syringe provides controlled administration for all infants, regardless of size....

Dandle•LION® Thermal Hats

The Dandle•LION Thermal Hat keeps heat from escaping with a quiet polyethylene liner (DEHP and latex free) that is encased between two layers of soft yarn that keeps the plastic...

Diaper Balm

Diaper Balm is both a preventative and a healing solution for diaper rash and severely chapped, cracked or irritated skin. The silky texture glides over even excoriated skin and provides...