By Christine
The Hackensack Meridian Health at Hackensack UMC Neonatal Intensive Care Unit holds a Kangaroo-athon event twice a year; during the Fall and Spring, coinciding with Kangaroo Care Day.
The event is held for 2 weeks. NICU parents are sent an invitation explaining benefits of kangaroo care and inviting their participation which include posting kangaroo wall clings on the Kangaroo Wall of Fame. Each kangaroo cling signifies each infant who received kangaroo care during the 2 week event. Each parent is given a raffle ticket to enter for a prize at the end of the event.
Staff as well as vendors are asked to donate prizes for the parents. Staff are also eligible to win a prize when they encourage and assist parents to kangaroo. During the event we members of our staff donate kangaroo shaped chocolates and cookies and even a kangaroo cake.
We are now in preparation phase to hold our Spring 2019 Kangaroo-athon which we plan to kick off Kangaroo Care Day on May 15th.