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This episode features Dr. Sarah Swenson (Children’s Nebraska), Dr. Cara Solness, PhD (Children’s Nebraska), and Dr. Desiree Leverette (Emory/Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta) discussing equitable approaches to parental mental health screening in the NICU. They highlight that traditional programs often screen only mothers for depression, missing significant distress among non-gestational parents, especially fathers. Universal screening identified five times more affected partners, improving opportunities for support. The guests underscore the developmental importance of including all caregivers, the need to address stigma and fears of CPS involvement, and the value of trauma-informed communication. They advocate for integrated NICU psychologists and tailored, equity-focused interventions, including telehealth and culturally responsive materials.

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