Make a Donation to the NICU Tiny Hands Support Fund
UAMS Auxiliary NICU Tiny Hands Fund
4301 W. Markham, Slot 527
Little Rock, AR 72205
We can also accept items for the NICU food pantry, small toiletries for parents/caregivers to use while staying in the hospital with their baby, new clothing and sleep sacks, and other items. Contact Jennifer Huie, Director of Volunteer Services at 501-686-5656 or JLHuie@uams.edu for more information.
Become a TLC Volunteer
A volunteer who has been background checked, screened and fully trained to perform the following tasks: holding stable babies, reading to babies, talking or singing to babies, providing therapeutic touch, or softly playing a musical instrument in the baby’s room. If you are interested in volunteering in the NICU, please review the requirements, fill out the application and attend the orientation.
Hospital volunteers can be assigned to a variety of roles.
Volunteers in the NICU can help our babies and staff in several ways:
- Holding babies
- Reading, singing, talking to babies
- Playing musical instruments (if appropriately trained)
- Helping with laundry
- Distributing materials for the unit
- Helping with sibling support program and other unit projects
- Helping with parent education and activity hours
- Visiting with parents to provide support and comfort
NICU Family Experience Council
Advisors are patient and family volunteers who work with UAMS healthcare providers and staff to help them understand and improve the overall experience patients have within the UAMS healthcare system. Advisors can help with program/policy review and facility design, serve on hospital committees, and participate in group discussions focused on a particular project or event.
Patient and family advisors use their experiences and insights to improve the NICU and the hospital. While personal experiences and stories are valuable, it’s equally important that advisors are able to listen to others, respect diversity, and see beyond their own personal experiences, as the group works together on solutions.
Most recently, the NICU Family Experience Council has helped re-design the communication boards and mailboxes in NICU rooms, update the discharge planning checklist, helped staff determine what educational topics are most important to parents, and provided input on website content and design.
Advisors typically commit to a two-year service of monthly meetings in a virtual setting (Zoom), working in partnership with UAMS NICU staff to enhance quality and safety, and create exceptional patient and family experiences. Any parent or guardian of a NICU baby can become an advisor; all potential advisors must complete volunteer training and advisor training prior to attending any advisor meetings.
If you are interested in joining the NICU Family Experience Council, please contact Jordan Gall at jgall@uams.edu for more information.