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
“Even though we had a tremendous support network through our neighborhood and church communities, none of that was as valuable, uplifting and life-saving as the peer-to-peer support my husband and I received through Hand to Hold. It’s with a thankful heart that I say the progress our family has made was a direct result of our Hand to Hold mentor.”
— Kathryn W., Austin, TX
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a Peer Mentor?
Peer Mentors are seasoned NICU parents who have had a premature child, have had a child with a special health care need or have experienced a loss and who are willing and able to assist other new parents facing similar circumstances. Peer Mentors provide emotional support and resources to fellow NICU families.
Does Hand to Hold match only parents or can caregivers also find a peer match?
Hand to Hold’s core service is our peer match, so that every parent has a hand to hold as they care for their NICU baby or grieve a loss. These services are valuable for any caregiver, and we can match relatives, grandparents, and legal guardians.
Who is eligible to volunteer as a Peer Mentor?
We are looking for parents and caregivers who have had a NICU experience, have had an infant born with a special health care need or have experienced the loss of a baby. Peer mentors should also have two to three years of experience as parents after a NICU experience. We find that a peer mentor will be able to provide more assistance if some time has passed since the birth of their child. If your NICU experience is recent, you may better benefit as a recipient of Hand to Hold’s programs and services.
What kind of training do Pwer Mentors receive?
Peer Mentors receive training to better understand the difference between peer support and a professional counselor, to recognize signs of depression and post-traumatic stress disorder, to identify when a parent or caregiver needs professional support, to hone listening skills and to encourage self-care for themselves and the person they are helping. Peer Mentors also go through a background check.
Does Hand to Hold and its Peer Mentors ever give medical advice?
No. Hand to Hold is designed to help families before, during, and after NICU a stay and infant loss by providing powerful resources for the whole family, and most importantly, one-on-one mentoring from someone who has been there. Our resources are by no means a substitute or replacement for care by a physician or therapist. Volunteers and staff are specifically instructed not to offer medical advice.
What is the time commitment required for Peer Mentors?
The time commitment varies when peer mentors are matched with families. Once you are matched, you both can decide when, how often and for how long you will correspond. It could mean phone calls each week, corresponding via text or social media, regular emails – a variety of ways to correspond. Both the peer mentor and the mentee decide what level of support is best for them.
Are there other volunteer roles available for parents?
Yes! Visit our volunteer page to learn how you can get involved nationally and locally.
How health care professionals get involved?
NICU professionals can help us spread the word to parents who could benefit from one-on-one peer support. Visit our NICU Professionals page to learn more.
Does Hand to Hold charge for services provided to parents and their families?
No. Hand to Hold is an independent nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization and fundraises from individuals and organizations to cover these services and education for the benefit of Hand to Hold families.