The strong presence of parents and patients in the National Pediatric Cardiology Quality Improvement Collaborative has highlighted that growth, development and emotional support are key areas in need of major improvement at all centers. The Heart Center has developed and expanded a comprehensive, multidisciplinary psycho-social support program for patients and their families. The purpose of our abstract is to introduce the integration of these programs and explain ways they meet the social, emotional, developmental and educational needs of the entire family unit. We will share best practice examples of ways pediatric healthcare systems can replicate these programs in their centers.

The Kids at Heart Program has over 3,000 cardiac patient families enrolled. We offer several social, emotional and educational support opportunities throughout the year that strive to ensure families feel connected to us and the greater cardiac community during and after their hospital stay. Because of our thriving program, Kids at Heart, other donor funded, family-centered programs have emerged and were developed that speak to the needs of cardiac families: Feed the Heart, Feed the Mind and Feed the Mom.

In addition to our Kids at Heart comprehensive psychosocial support program, our inpatient programs were developed to meet the growth, development and emotional support of patient families. Feed the Heart provides meals, snacks and drinks for patients and their families during hospital stays so families don't have to worry about food and can focus on caring for their children. Since its inception in 2015 Feed the Heart has served meals to more than 7,000 people. Feed the Mind, started in 2019, focuses on infant brain health and development. Upon admission, babies under 12 months old will receive a bag containing two age-appropriate books so that family can begin reading to them. Patients will also receive a developmentally appropriate toy to assist with brain health. Feed the Mom, started in 2020, is a postpartum support program for mothers and babies in the Cardiac Intensive Care Unit. It supports postpartum mothers as their babies are often admitted directly from the birth hospital, which can delay bonding. Feed the Mom helps by providing a new mom support group, mental health resources, breastfeeding support and care packages that include an encouraging note from a heart mom who has been through a similar experience