About the Author

Kathleen A. VandenBerg, Ph.D., is a neonatal development specialist, consultant, author, and trainer for professionals in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) and in early intervention programs. She has provided individualised family-centred developmental care for infants and families in the NICU and in the home for more than 30 years. Currently, she is Academic Administrator in the Department of Pediatrics (Neonatology) at UCSF and Center Director of the West Coast Newborn Individualized Developmental Care and Assessment Program (NIDCAP) and Assessment of Preterm Infants' Behavior (APIB) Training Center, where she is a NIDCAP Master Trainer. She also provides training in the Family Infant Relationship Support Training Program (FIRST). Both programmes provide support to professionals who care for high-risk newborns who may have experienced altered brain pathway development due to unexpected and overwhelming sensory input in the intensive care nursery.

Marci J. Hanson, Ph.D., is Professor in the Department of Special Education at San Francisco State University (SFSU). At SFSU, Dr. Hanson is actively engaged in teaching, research, and service related to young children and their families. In addition to these responsibilities, she directs the SFSU joint doctoral programme in special education with the University of California, Berkeley, and codirects the early childhood special education graduate programme. She is a consultant with the child and adolescent development faculty of the Marian Wright Edelman Institute for the Study of Children, Youth, and Families at SFSU and with San Francisco Head Start.

Reviews

"This book is a much needed resource for parents and professionals working with parents on the transition of preterm infants from NICU to home care. It is written in a style which is highly accessible for parents. The book provides necessary therapeutic frameworks for parents and professionals to be able to work effectively together to understand each infant's behavior and promote each infant's well-being. In addition, the book provides invaluable information about innovative interventions, as well as community and peer resources for parents of pre-terms." --Zack Boukydis, Ph.D.