Grant Funding to Support Families

Grant funding will support enhanced training and development of staff to be better equipped to care for families as well as program development to support newborns and families. 

Ivinson providers and nurses will attend Eat/​Sleep/​Console method (ESC) courses in Denver this fall and will return to Ivinson to train all Family Care providers and nurses on this method. The ESC method has been shown to keep families together as babies are supported through drug withdrawal. ​“This model will be used at Ivinson Memorial Hospital with the goal of empowering the mother to learn how to care for her baby at the hospital and when she goes home,” said Dawson.

In addition to funding for ESC training, grant funding will also support nurses at Ivinson to become Certified Lactation Counselors (CLCs). CLCs will teach mothers skin to skin consoling techniques and how to feed their infants. CLCs will assess the infant’s ability to breast or bottle feed, assess latch and milk transfer and teach the new moms early hunger cues which helps decrease stress in the withdrawing baby. With more trained Certified Lactation Consultants, Ivinson will be better equipped to support mothers and babies after discharge with outpatient follow-up classes. 

Grant funding will also support the initial start-up costs of Stork Support, a community closet that will serve as a resource for patients who do not have the means to provide essentials for their newborn baby. The closet will supply newborn car seats, pack and plays for safe sleep, diapers, baby wipes, breastfeeding essentials and newborn clothing. ​“The entire Laramie community has been so supportive of this initiative. We are thrilled to see the positive impacts we can make for moms and babies,” said Herriott. 

For more information on the Women’s Health Clinic at Ivinson Medical Group or Ivinson Memorial Hospital’s Family Care Unit, please call (307) 755 – 4540.