NFI Committees

Committees of the NIDCAP Federation International

NFI committees assist the Board of Directors in activities supportive of the organization's Vision, Purpose and Mission. Committee membership is open to all NFI members. If interested in joining a committee please contact the Committee Chair.

Communications Committee

Chair, Gloria McAnulty, PhD, gloria.mcanulty@childrens.harvard.edu

The Communications Committee is responsible the mechanisms of electronic information transmittal among NFI members and between the NFI and the general public. The committee works closely with media professionals and services such as web designers/hosts, database developers and email list management services. It is also responsible for budgetary considerations for these organizational needs providing information to the Finance Committee.

The functions of the Communications Committee include:

  1. Identifying, negotiating with, and deciding upon communication providers and services for the NFI
  2. Maintaining the NFI website: editing and updating content, identifying materials for upload, modifying structure to accommodate organizational changes, assuring appropriate consent for proprietary material and images
  3. Designing, implementing, and maintaining the NFI Database collaboratively with selected database professionals
  4. Maintaining domain name registration
  5. Implementing, moderating and maintaining NFI list services for Members, Trainers and Board of Directors
  6. Providing financial estimates for communications needs and services to the NFI Board.

Communications Committee Sub-Committee on the Developmental Observer, Official Newsletter of the NFI

Chair, gretchen Lawhon, PhD, lawhon-gretchen@CooperHealth.edu

The Sub-Committee on the Developmental Observer oversees the creation and production of the Developmental Observer, the official newsletter of the NFI.

The functions of the Sub-Committee on the Developmental Observer include:

  1. Producing the semi-annual NFI newsletter the Developmental Observer
  2. Maintaining and updating mailing lists
  3. Managing subscription requests and renewals
  4. Collaborating with the Finance Committee on production and postage costs.

Design and Aesthetics Committee

Chair, Deborah Buehler, PhD, deborahbuehler@comcast.net

The Design and Aesthetics Committee is responsible for the development, design and production of multi-media (e.g., print and film) materials to best convey the message and content of NIDCAP and the NFI.

The functions of the Design and Aesthetics Committee include:

  1. Developing, designing and overseeing production of materials for dissemination of the NFI/NIDCAP message
  2. Collaborating with other NFI committees (i.e., NIDCAP Nursery Certification Program, Fundraising, Outreach), as needs arise, in the development, design and production of materials.
  3. Collaborating in the development and production of the semi-annual NFI newsletter the Developmental Observer.
  4. Establishing and maintaining working relationships with outside services (i.e., graphic designers and production/print houses) as needed to produce materials.
  5. Assuring the integrity, consistency and quality of the design, content and production of the multi-media materials used by the NFI.

Family Committee

The Family Committee is responsible for integrating the family perspective in all other Board Committees and to increase NIDCAP family participation in the NFI.

The functions of the Family Committee include:

  1. Developing a professional education program on family-centered practices
  2. Developing resources for families
  3. Working with the Communications Committee to develop dedicated family pages on the website
  4. Developing a brochure for families
  5. Increasing the number of family members in the NFI
  6. Increasing membership on Family Committee

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Finance Committee

Chair, Gloria McAnulty, PhD, gloria.mcanulty@childrens.harvard.edu

The Finance Committee is responsible for the overall financial operations of the NFI. The committee consists of the Treasurer, the senior administrative official of the organization (Executive Director) and other members as indicated.

The functions of the Finance Committee include:

  1. Drafting the operating budget and proposing it to the Board
  2. Managing the operating budget
  3. Drafting, approving and monitoring budget requests to funding agencies
  4. Serving as accounts payable for all expenditures including approving and disbursing payments
  5. Managing bank and credit accounts
  6. Working with accountants to prepare and submit required annual reports, returns for tax exempt organizations, and public charity filings.

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Fundraising Committee

Chair, Kathleen VandenBerg, PhD, vandenbergk@peds.ucsf.edu

The Fundraising Committee is responsible for identifying and obtaining resources to support the financial viability, mission and vision of the NFI.

The functions of the Fundraising Committee include:

  1. Identifying and obtaining consistent sources of funding
  2. Submitting required progress and financial reports to funding sources
  3. Building a strong annual giving and major gifts program
  4. Developing and launching a capital campaign for future building
  5. Building an endowment.

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Membership Committee

Chair, James Helm, PhD, jimhelm@med.unc.edu

The Membership Committee of the NFI supports and manages issues related to the Membership of the NFI.

The functions of the Membership Committee include:

  1. Reviewing and approving nominations and applications for membership
  2. Reviewing and recommending NFI policies, procedures, and benefits for members
  3. Working with NFI staff on management of administrative issues related to the membership such as rosters, annual dues, billing, member materials
  4. Working with other committees on membership related projects
  5. Supporting the Board of Directors on issues or projects related to the membership.

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NIDCAP Nursery Certification Program (NNCP) Committee

Chair, Karen Smith, RNC, BSN, Med, smithka@slhs.org

The NNCP Committee is responsible for overseeing the development of a program that seeks to recognize the excellence of a hospital nursery's commitment to and integration of the principles of newborn individualized developmental care and assessment for infants and their families.

The functions of the NNCP Committee include:

  1. Developing the Criterion Documents to be used by the site reviewers
  2. Developing materials and guidelines for the site review process, including the nursery application, site visit and overall summary and recommendations
  3. Developing the materials and guidelines for the nursery applicants training processes
  4. Developing workshops, educational conferences and corresponding training materials to assist and support nursery representatives in their NNCP application and nursery development
  5. Conducting pilot site visits prior to launch of program
  6. Reviewing and integrating the site visits' information into the overall certification process
  7. Making recommendations to the Board of Directors for the award of the NNCP certification to those nurseries that meet NNCP criteria.

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Nominations, Elections, and Appointments (NEA) Committee

Chair, James Helm, PhD, jimhelm@med.unc.edu

The Nominations, Elections, and Appointments Committee supports the NFI Board of Directors on matters related to nominations, elections, and appointments associated with the NFI Board of Directors.

The functions of the NEA Committee include:

  1. Organizing and conducting annual elections for Board members and for officers of the Board
  2. Supporting the Board's process for Board appointments and Board nominations
  3. Supporting the Board on questions related to these processes such as with policies.

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Program Committee

Chair, gretchen Lawhon, lawhon-gretchen@CooperHealth.edu

The Program Committee is responsible for the overall planning of the Annual NIDCAP Trainers Meetings.

The functions of the Program Committee include:

  1. Planning and coordinating the content and format of the annual NIDCAP Trainers Meetings
  2. Identifying and contracting with guest scientific speakers
  3. Collaborating with the local host on issues of on-site meeting logistics
  4. Reviewing session evaluations following the Trainers Meeting
  5. Making appropriate adjustments to future meetings format in response to participant feedback.

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Quality Assurance Committee (QAC)

Chair, Heidelise Als, PhD, heidelise.als@childrens.harvard.edu

The QAC is responsible for the assurance of the highest quality of all aspects of NIDCAP and APIB training.

The functions of the Quality Assurance Committee include:

  1. Developing and enforcing all policies governing training, Training Center development, certifications, and terminations
  2. Assuring the integrity of all training materials
  3. Developing guidelines for the professional and financial relationships between and among Trainers, Trainees, and Center Directors
  4. Accepting, reviewing and approving Trainer and Training Center applications
  5. Assuring professional trainer conduct as related to training principles and relationships
  6. Assuring that the required reading lists for NIDCAP and APIB training are current at all times.
  7. Assuring that the NIDCAP and APIB reference libraries maintained by the NFI are current, i. e. are consistently updated.
  8. Assuring the accurate and timely translation and posting on the NFI website of all NIDCAP and APIB Training materials in the official languages employed in the countries where NIDCAP and APIB Training occurs.
  9. Assuring the accurate and timely translation of the NFI Website into the official languages employed in the countries where NIDCAP and/or APIB Training Centers are established and/or in development.
  10. Assuring protection of the intellectual property of the NFI
  11. Assuring the implementation of the standards of certifications.

The Committee on Quality Assurance accomplishes these responsibilities with the assistance of four Sub-Committees under its auspices: The Sub-Committee on Specific Training Resources, the Production and Web Posting of Training Materials in Different Languages, the Protection of Intellectual Property and the Sub-Committee on Certifications.

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QAC Sub-Committee on Specific Training Resources

Chair, gretchen Lawhon, lawhon-gretchen@CooperHealth.edu

The Specific Training Resources Sub-Committee of the Quality Assurance Committee is responsible for the production of up-to-date Required and Suggested Reading Lists for NIDCAP and APIB Training as well as for the continued update of the NFI library.

QAC Sub-Committee on the Production and Web Posting of Training Materials in Different Languages

Chair, Heidelise Als, PhD, heidelise.als@childrens.harvard.edu

The QAC Subcommittee on the Production and Web Posting of Training Materials in Different Languages is responsible for the production of all NIDCAP and APIB training materials, as well as the NFI website, in the various languages that are the official languages employed in the countries where NIDCAP and APIB Training occurs. NFI Website translation is of particular importance for countries with planned and/or established NIDCAP and/or APIB Training Centers.

QAC Sub-Committee on the Protection of Intellectual Property

Chair, Gloria McAnulty, PhD, gloria.mcanulty@childrens.harvard.edu

The Intellectual Property Sub-Committee of the Quality Assurance Committee is responsible for legal protection of the creative work of the NFI. The committee works closely with the legal advisors.

The functions of the Sub-Committee on Intellectual Property include:

  1. Maintaining the exclusive rights to the name NIDCAP by trademark protection in the United States, and other nations where NIDCAP Training Centers or Centers in development exist
  2. Registering and maintaining the rights to the service mark, the 'NIDCAP logo' and the NIDCAP certification mark by US trademark protection
  3. Submitting and maintaining Certification of Standards documents in the form of Quality Assurance of Training Standards (QAT) to the US Patent and Trademark office to serve as specimen of use for conferring NFI Certifications
  4. Filing Assignment of Copyright, transferring privileges for relevant printed materials from member authors to the NFI
  5. Filing and maintaining Conflict of Interest policies to protect the interest of the NFI when it is contemplating entering into a transaction or arrangement that might benefit any individual member.

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QAC Sub-Committee on Certificates

Chair, Sandra Kosta, BA, sandra.kosta@childrens.harvard.edu

The QAC Sub-Committee on Certificates oversees the creation of training center certificates.

The functions of the QAC Sub-Committee on Certificates include:

  1. Assuring the uniformity and quality of training certificates across all training centers
  2. Informing new centers of the design and specifications of training certificates
  3. Approving final versions of training certificates
  4. Assuring the NFI President's signature and official stamp of each completed certificate.

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