State-of-the art medical care has progressed substantially, leading to increased survival of high risk infants. The care paradigm has shifted from keeping babies alive to ensuring that babies and their families physically, socio-emotionally and developmentally thrive.

Infant development is a multi-dimensional experience. Current research shows that ill, premature, and high risk neonates are especially vulnerable to their environment because their physiologic, sensory and neurological systems are not yet mature. It is incumbent on clinicians and decision makers to understand the effects of the physical and developmental environment on the neonate and their families, as variations in these environments may lead to profound effects on a variety of physical and neuro developmental outcomes.

The Gravens Conference is an integral part of a much larger movement whose ultimate goal is to optimize infant physical, psychological and developmental outcomes.   As part of the process, the conference seeks to bring the latest research on physical science, design science and behavioral science to attendees.  Invited faculty will translate research for evidence based change in the physical environment or care practices.  Alterations in physical design and care practices in hundreds of NICUs worldwide have been the result of this continued attention to the environmental impact on infants, families and staff.   The conference also plays a significant role in the development of Design Standards & Guidelines for NICU as published by American Institute of Architects and American Academy of Pediatrics.

The dominant theme for the 2009 Gravens Conference is “Feelings Matter.” How you feel (respond emotionally) about your job impacts how well the job is done (e.g., reduced errors), how well your care is perceived (by colleagues and families), and how successfully you can maintain personal proficiency and balance.  Recognizing the importance of the emotional environment will allow us to explore means to reduce parental stress, improve parental competence and self-esteem, and to foster supportive communication among families and caregivers.  Infant-related issues may include pain, its recognition, strategies to reduce discomfort; impact of maternal / paternal / extended family stresses on “bonding” and accepting care-giving roles; and the relationships between the infants’ developmental levels and best methods to support families’ interactions with the infant at different post-menstrual ages.

Topics will include:

• Limbic system development
• Effects of environmental and psychological stress
• Interventions to alleviate infants, family and staff stress
• Socio-emotional and psychological outcomes of infants nad families who experience the NICU
• Perinatal psychology
• Staff reactions to traumatic interventions
• Organizational change
• Various topics on design and environmental factors impacting emotiona well-being, such as effects of noise, lighting, air quality, space, privacy, aesthetics, ergonomics and temperature

The Family-Centered approach has now been embraced by NICUs across the country and has emerges as a standard of care. While progress has been made in meeting the needs of parents in the NICU, more work needs to be done to improve family support and foster a more family-centered care in the NICU and its impact on health-related outcomes. This year the Gravens Conference will partner with the National March of Dimes to provide two full days of a Family Support Summit.  The Summit will focus on evidence based and innovative programs, strategies and educational offerings that have been developed to support families during their NICU experience. 

Certificates of Attendance will be issued on-site to all pre-registered participants. CME and CEU certificates will be mailed following the conference.

Physicians: The University of South Florida College of Medicine is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education to provide continuing medical education for physicians.

The University of South Florida College of Medicine designates this educational activity for a maximum of 23.75 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™.  Physicians should only claim credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

Nurses: The University of South Florida College of Nursing is accredited as a provider of continuing nursing education by the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Commission on Accreditation. This activity is for 23.75 contact hours.

Psychologists:  The University of South Florida College of Medicine is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. This activity is for 23.75 hours. The University of South Florida College of Medicine maintains responsibility for this program and its content.

Florida Licensed Physical Therapists: The University of South Florida College of Medicine is an approved provider of Continuing Education for Physical Therapists pursuant to the Board of Physical Therapy chapter 64b17-9.  The University of South Florida College of Medicine designates this educational activity for up to 28.5 contact hours.

Florida Licensed Clinical Social Workers, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapists, Licensed Mental Health Counselors: The University of South Florida College of Public Health is an approved provider (BAP#433 – Exp. 3/31/09) of continuing education credits for clinical social work, marriage and family therapy, and mental health counseling.  This program has been reviewed and approved for up to 28.5 contact hours. 

Florida Licensed Occupational Therapists: The University of South Florida College of Public Health is an approved provider (#107, exp. 02/09) of continuing education for Occupational Therapy Licensees.  This program has been reviewed and approved for up to 28.5, 50 minute contact hours.  License number is required prior to the issuance of certificates.

Architects: Architects claiming credit will need to utilize the AIA / CES Self-Report Form.

http://www.aia.org/ces_m_default

The Gravens Conference on the Physical and Developmental Environment of the High Risk Infant is dedicated to providing a forum for the continuing education of professionals working to improve the health outcomes of premature and sick newborns and their families, and to improve the professional environment for caregivers. In particular, the conference focuses on the science of development, developmental care practices, NICU design, and the influential role the NICU environment has on neurodevelopment of the infant, function of the caregiving staff, and support for the family.

The conference committee invites you to submit an abstract for oral or poster presentation regarding NICU design, the study of creative approaches to environmental issues of the NICU, care practices, and/or programs to assist parents and families. This conference offers an opportunity to share your work and experiences with colleagues.

Material presented in the abstracts should be organized and presented according to accepted scientific style (see outlines below). All new investigational studies must include the hypothesis being tested, methods (including consent from subjects, data collection, masking of observers, etc), results with applicable statistics, and discussion/implications regarding practice.

Abstracts describing care practices must include the scientific basis underlying the practice, process of implementation, results, and conclusions. If a control group is used for comparison, the methodology section must include details regarding group assignment, masking of observers, applicable statistics, etc).

Although often interesting, single case studies are discouraged due to their lack of generalizability.

Abstracts should focus on one of the following categories:

Fetal or neonatal development

Basic science on fetal development
Clinical studies on developmental impact of NICU physical environment
Care practices: impact on infant development

Innovative design
Developmental rationale
Impact on staff
Economic impact

Family integration and support

Family-friendly design
Parental involvement in policies and care practices
Preparing for discharge
Post-discharge realities: anticipation, preparing, and supporting families.

Personnel issues

Preparing for change
Experiences in implementation of major change(s) in practice or environment
Staffing and administration

Outcomes analysis

Evaluating change: How to know when different is better, or just different.
Continuous quality improvement in the NICU

Who Should Submit?
Abstracts are welcome from any member(s) of the interdisciplinary team of health professionals who work with high-risk infants and their families or from associated professionals who work in concert with health professionals in designing facilities supportive of the neonate, the family, and the health caregivers.

• Administrators • Advance practice nurses • Architects • Developmental Specialists • Nutritionists • Occupational and Physical Therapists
• Parents and / or family members • Family support professionals who work with high-risk infants and their families
• Physicians: Neonatologists, Obstetricians, Pediatricians, Perinatologists

January 23-24, 2009 “March of Dimes Family Support Summit” in conjunction with
The 22nd Annual Gravens Conference on the Physical and Developmental Environment of the High Risk Infant

Abstract submissions should describe innovative and/or evidence-based programs, including educational materials for supporting NICU families that have shown demonstrable impact on families: stress level, comfort level, knowledge level and/or level of participation and involvement with their baby.  Submissions should include any outcome measures related to the health of the baby, family members or NICU staff.  Submissions can be in one of the following areas, or on any related topic that fits the general theme of the conference.

Material presented in the abstracts should be organized and presented according to accepted scientific style (see outlines below).  All new investigational studies must include the hypothesis being tested, methods (including consent from subjects, data collection, masking of observers, etc), results with applicable statistics, and discussion/implications regarding practice.

Abstracts describing care practices must include the scientific basis underlying the practice, process of implementation, results, and conclusions.  If a control group is used for comparison, the methodology section must include details regarding group assignment, masking of observers, applicable statistics, etc).

Although often interesting, single case studies are discouraged due to their lack of generalizability.

Who Should Submit?

Abstracts are welcome from any member(s) of the interdisciplinary team of health professionals who work with high-risk infants and their families or from associated professionals who work in concert with health professionals in designing facilities supportive of the neonate, the family, and the health caregivers. 

Downloads:
Abstract Format Guidelines
Sample Abstract - Gravens Conference
Gravens Conference Abstract Application Form
March of Dimes Summit Abstract Application Form
March of Dimes Summit Abstract Template

Abstracts Accepted for Oral Presentation and/or Poster Session

1. Must be submitted to brose@health.usf.edu (along with application form) by August 15, 2008
2. Author will be notified in late September
3. The abstract will be reprinted in the conference syllabus.
4. The designated author who will represent the abstract (oral presentation or poster session) must register for the conference and is eligible for the early bird registration fee. The conference is unable to cover any related costs of attendance.

For more information, please contact:
Bobbi Rose, Conference Coordinator
The Chiles Center
3111 E. Fletcher Ave, MDC 46, Tampa, FL 33613-4660
Phone: 813-974-6158; Fax: 813-974-8889
Email: brose@health.usf.edu

As a result of participation in this continuing education program, participants should be able to:

• Identify current research that contributes to the understanding of socioemotional development of infants.
• Relate the impact of early NICU experiences on child psychological, socioemotional health outcomes.
• Analyze the impact of the mother’s mental health on the fetus and newborn.
• Interpret the impact of NICU related stress on parents, infants and staff.
• Compare and contrast several “best practices” for improving family support policies.
• Relate the impact of the NICU environment on psychological and emotional health in infants, families and staff.
• Develop strategies for applying current information to clinical practice in the NICU environment.
• Integrate strategies for cultural change in the NICU, including intrapersonal, interpersonal, clinical, environmental, and system change; and
• List three new professional and / or parent contacts that have the potential to collaborate on current or future projects, or to assist with problem-solving.

The evaluation process is a critical component in our strategy to offer excellence in our future conferences, and to ensure we are addressing the educational needs of our audience.  Your comments and feedback make a difference!  Please complete the evaluation forms, which will be distributed on-site, and return them to either the session facilitator, or the registration desk.

In addition, we measure the outcome of the education via a post-event survey via e-mail.  The results of this survey are equally important as we need to know if the education made a difference, be it in awareness, practice change, health outcomes, or all the above.  Please complete the survey when it comes to your in-box approximately 6 weeks after the conclusion of the conference.

Wine & Cheese Networking Reception: Tuesday, January 20, 2009
Hosted by Dr. John Hartline
Participants are invited to attend the Wine & Cheese Reception on the night before the conference starts.

Exhibit Hall Grand Opening Reception
The much anticipated Exhibit Hall Grand Reception will occur on Wednesday, January 21, 2009 from 6:00 – 8:30 pm. Take this opportunity to get acquainted, view exhibits, and meet with poster session authors. You will be able to network with colleagues and industry representatives while enjoying dinner.

Poster Session: Wednesday evening, January 21st from 6:00 - 8:30 pm.
In conjunction with the Exhibit Hall Grand Reception is one of the most popular features of our conference, the poster session. Authors will present poster sessions on Wednesday evening from 6:00 pm – 8:30 pm. The posters will be available for viewing through Thursday mid-afternoon. Don’t miss this opportunity to share ideas and experiences, as introduction to poster session authors can lead to continued communication and networking long after this conference.

Additional poster session representing best practices for Family Support will be scheduled.

Exhibits:
Participants will be able to view the latest products, equipment, and services designed especially for NICU. If you would like to meet with a company or organization representative, be sure to tell them about this opportunity. An Exhibitor Prospectus is available by clicking HERE.

Breakfast Table Networking:
On Thursday morning, each discipline will have the opportunity to meet together to discuss issues related to their work in the NICU. Scheduled early in the conference, therapists, nurses, physicians, architects, parents and developmental specialists will have the opportunity to meet others with similar interests and encourage continued discussion throughout the week.

Awards Dinner:
The Gravens Award for Leadership was initiated in 2005 in honor of Stan and Mavis Graven and will be presented at the Awards Dinner. Our evening celebration will acknowledge the contribution of an individual who has shown outstanding leadership, innovation and creativity in changing how we provide physical and developmental environments for high risk infants and their families. Please join us in reflecting on and celebrating exceptional contributions to our work. Dinner is included in the registration fee.

Nominations for 2009 Stan and Mavis Graven Award for Leadership recipient being accepted until May 31, 2008. E-Mail brose@health.usf.edu.
Nominations annoucement

Fun Activities:
The Clearwater / St. Petersburg area offers much in the way of recreation.  For an overview of activities, and options for transportation, go to the Sheraton Sand Key web page, www.sheratonsandkey.com and click on the tab labeled “attractions.”  You will find the tabs across the top of the page.

Family Support Summit Poster Session:
Posters for the Family Support Summit can be put up as early as 3:15 pm on Thursday, January 22nd. Therefore, there will be a “Poster Sneak Peek” in conjunction with the Family Support Summit Welcome Reception on Thursday from 7:00 – 8:30 pm.
The official Poster Walk for the Family Support Summit will occur on Friday, January 23rd from 4:30 – 6:00 pm.

Family Support Summit Welcome Reception:
Participants are invited to meet and greet their colleagues at the Welcome Reception the night before the Family Support Summit. Reception is scheduled for Thursday, January 22nd from 7:00 – 8:30 pm.