St. Luke's Family Advisory Council
St. Luke's NICU Family Advisory Council
What is the NICU Family Advisory Council?
Council members serve as advisors, provide a bridge of understanding between care providers and families, promote family-centered care, and improve the overall experience of families by making recommendations from a family's point of view.
What is Family-Centered Care?
Family-centered care emphasizes the role the family plays in the care of their baby inside and outside the hospital. St. Luke's practices family-centered care through their team approach to nursing, inclusion of families in the development of care plans, and support of the NICU Family Advisory Council.
What are Our Goals?
- To impact policies and the St. Luke's NICU environment to reflect the wants and needs of families
- To promote family members on other St. Luke's committees to enhance care
- To improve staff awareness of family needs
- To continue providing a mechanism for feedback for families
- To acknowledge the needs of families from other areas in the region
- To share resources with families for care after baby leaves the NICU
- To achieve continuity of care between the NICU and other units within St. Luke's
- To facilitate communication between care providers and families
- To optimize patient safety
Who Can Join?
Parents or family members who:
- Have had a baby in St. Luke's NICU
- Want to help further our goals
- Want to make St. Luke's Children's Hospital NICU the best it can be for families
- Can participate in monthly meetings and other activities
Families are needed from all areas – not just Boise/Meridian. Those unable to physically attend the meetings are invited to participate via phone from home.
For more information, please contact Diane Hakes, St. Luke's Children's Hospital NICU Social Worker, at (208) 381-2661 or hakesd@slhs.org.
St. Luke's Pediatric Family Advisory Council
Who We Are
We are patients, families, and professionals who have direct experience with St. Luke's Pediatric Units.
What We Do
We are dedicated to promoting excellence in family-centered care and recognizing the uniqueness in each family and child. We provide resources and guidance to enhance communication and collaboration between patients, families, and St. Luke's.
When We Meet
Led by parents, Family Advisory Council meetings are held monthly (except in July and December). The two-hour meetings include refreshments, and members can be reimbursed for childcare and transportation costs.
Why You Should Get Involved
We believe that families are experts about their children, and their unique perspectives are a valuable part of the St. Luke's health care team. Members should be confident in their views; able to speak with and work with members whose backgrounds, experiences, and styles may be different from their own; and enthusiastic about St. Luke's vision of improving health care for all children.
Our Goals
- Promote the mentoring of families in advocating for their child and family.
- Be active consultants with St. Luke's regarding decisions and plans that effect services for patients and families.
- Guide the hospital and health care providers in communicating with patients and families.
- Promote the resources available to families within the hospital.
- Inform the hospital of community needs.
- Promote peer support for children and teens.
How to Join
The Family Advisory Council is currently recruiting new members for a two-year term. For more information or to receive a membership application, please contact Theresa Fritz, Pediatrics/PICU Social Worker, at 381-7685 or fritzt@slhs.org; or Belinda Day, Pediatrics/PICU Director, at 381-2648 or daybe@slhs.org.
