TRAINING FOR CAREGIVERS

Since 1990, PICC has been giving medically fragile infants the medically-supervised, specialized care they need as they go through drug withdrawals in the early weeks of life. Just as importantly, though, we've been teaching caregivers (parents, relatives, and foster parents) how to care for these babies once they go home.

The caregiver is the make-or-break factor for these babies. Some caregivers—who enjoy great success with other infants—find they are too high-energy to work well with drug-affected babies. If caregivers aren't trained in therapeutic and management techniques, no matter how well-intentioned they are, the babies are almost certain to suffer needlessly.

We train caregivers on —

• How to recognize symptoms of babies who have addictions to :
  • Cocaine
  • Heroin
  • Methadone
  • Methamphetamines
  • Amphetamines
  
   
• Therapeutic and management techniques
   
• What stimulus to avoid and how to minimize it such as:
  • Facing a baby toward a blank wall
  • All overhead lights turned off or on low
  • No music or other noises
  • Limited visitors
  • Limited handling