Our Services
We shine a light into what can be a scary and lonely place—with services like transportation, lodging, prepared meals; Care Coordinators who you get to know and grow to trust; and links to other community support programs.
Care Coordinators
Our families will receive weekly check-ins from one
of our care coordinators. Most of our care coordinators are NICU moms themselves and many have a healthcare background, so they have a deep understanding of the uncertainty that a NICU stay
can bring.
Our care coordinators serve as the point-person
for connection to individualized services tailored to each family because NICU families have a wide
array of needs. If you need tangible support like meals, transportation, or a place to stay- we're
here for you. If you need emotional support,
we're here for you too.
Lodging
Our home base of Champaign-Urbana houses a large level III NICU located within one of our local hospitals. We are aware, however, that the hospital is not local to all families. Our NICU supports dozens of surrounding counties- some as far as 70 miles away. These families are faced with the additional stress, time loss, and financial burden of commuting to and from the NICU each day. Our mission at The Nest is to provide NICU families with what they need in order to be present and focus on their babies, themselves, and their families. We hope to make it possible for all mothers to stay close to their babies as research shows that consistent parent participation is integral to positive long-term outcomes for both mother and child.
We have partnered with local, short-term housing options in the Champaign-Urbana community just a short distance from our local NICU. Our care coordinators will match NICU mothers with the best fit for their unique situation- the needs of no two families are the same.
There are a lot of unexpected costs associated with a NICU stay. We strongly believe that the large cost of time, money, and energy associated with lodging should not stand between you and being close to your child.
Meals
Preparing meals is often the last thing on new parents' minds. When your child is in the NICU, devoting time, energy, and money toward family meals is an even more daunting task.
We have partnered with a local businesses to provide prepared meals with options for most dietary restrictions. Meals can be tailored to meet the needs of any size family and are ready to cook or eat.
Transportation
Consistent, reliable transportation is often a barrier to being present in the NICU once mom is discharged. Research shows that when families are physically present at the bedside, both mom and baby have better long-term outcomes.
The Nest aims to increase access to transportation for all mothers, which in turn will increase active participation in the care of their newborn. We have partnered with public transportation departments in counties within a 70-mile radius of Champaign-Urbana, as well as other local transportation providers for families to use as needed.
Your baby needs you, we will help you get there.