Many hospitals have a dedicated social worker on staff to support NICU families. How do you access the social worker? What questions should you ask as a new parent in the NICU? We are speaking on today’s episode with Shannon Davis and Leah Heyel from Nemours/Alfred I. duPont Hospital for Children.

Shannon received her Bachelors in Social Work from West Chester University and Masters in Clinical Social Work from Widener University. She also has her License in Clinical Social Work. Shannon has just been accepted through Postpartum Support International to take her Perinatal Mental Health Certification. She began her career working for the Chester County Children, Youth, and Services agency. During that time, she also worked part time at Crozer Chester Medical Center as an on call social worker for Traumas and weekends in Maternity and the NICU. She later joined the team in the Psych Med Surgery Unit. Shannon currently works in the NICU at Nemours. She is excited to continue her education in Perinatal Mood and Anxiety disorders to further provide support for families in the NICU and Advanced Delivery Program (ADP).

Leah Heyel is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker for Nemours A.I. duPont Hospital for Children. Since 2018, she has provided support for patients and families in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) and the Advanced Delivery Program (ADP). Leah joined Nemours initially supporting the tracheostomy/ventilator and general pediatric patient populations after receiving her Master of Social Work degree from Delaware State University in 2015. Dedicated to helping NICU & ADP families, Leah has recently focused on expanding her understanding around perinatal mood and anxiety disorders with plans to complete her Perinatal Mental Health Certification later this year. Prior to Nemours, Leah worked six years in the Addiction field as an outpatient Level 1 substance abuse counselor for adults and adolescents.

On this episode you will hear:

• Shannon and Leah discuss their work and share insights into how social workers can help you.
• You'll hear about why the role of a social worker can be confusing for families not knowing how they can help and who can access that help.
• We'll discuss what families, like yours, should know about the role of a social worker.
• What you should ask a social worker in your hospital.
• The most common question families ask social workers, like Shannon and Leah.
• You'll hear about how social workers can help families, like yours, fill out paperwork for social security benefits, secondary insurance, etc.
• You will find out how often you can speak with a social worker at your hospital.
• We discuss some of the resources you, as parents, can have access to through your social worker during your NICU stays.
• Many times parents feel at fault for why their baby ended up in the NICU especially if they arrive prematurely, you will hear how social workers help families through those feelings.
• You will get Shannon and Leah's biggest pieces of advice for families when meeting with a social worker.

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This episode was produced and directed by Tony Lopes, of SoftStix Productions LLC (www.softstixproductions.com), in collaboration with co-producer and director of photography Michael Leary, of One Fifteen Films LLC (www.onefifteenfilms.com), and editor David DeLizza.

Copyright 2020 to 2022, SoftStix Productions LLC.