Peer Mentor Program

You’ve been there. Now you can help.

Hand to Hold’s award winning Peer Mentor Program has supported parents who have a baby in the NICU or experienced the loss of a NICU baby, for more than a decade and at no cost to families. Our peer mentor coordinator will match you with a peer mentee, a NICU parent who is seeking connection with someone who is uniquely familiar with their NICU experience. 97% of parents surveyed would recommend Hand to Hold’s peer mentor program to other families.

• These relationships inspire hope and offer the chance for parents to ask personal questions and receive support from someone who has been there.
• Volunteer peer mentors receive extensive training before being matched with a mentee. This includes effective listening skills, signs of perinatal and postpartum mood disorders and self-care.
• Connect with your mentee in whatever way is preferred by the mentee: text, email, call, or video chat.
• Stay in touch with your mentee for as long as you both find value in the connection.
• Our peer mentor coordinator will oversee your match to make sure everything is going smoothly.

According to the National Perinatal Association, peer support can:

• offer comfort family and friends may not be able to provide
• provide a safe environment to share feelings
• empower parents to problem-solve and become advocates for their families and themselves
• help parents feel less alone
• increase acceptance of difficult situations and offer important resources for coping