FCHIP Announces Different Approaches to Data (DAD) Pilot Projects

The purpose of the Family and Child Health Innovations Program (FCHIP) "Different Approaches to Data (DAD)" Pilot funding is to encourage researchers to expand their work beyond a maternal-child or dyadic focus and to begin to collect pilot data that allows for a more holistic and contemporary view of families. For the researchers who find themselves saying “With a little more funding, I could __________.” These Pilot funds can be used to expand research to include fathers (or partners) in creative ways to collect pilot data.

FCHIP is pleased to announce this year's winners: Dr. Daniel Robinson and Dr. Kelly Michelson.

View the DAD Pilot Project Announcement (PDF)

DIETARY INTAKE IN FATHERS (OR CO-PARENTS) OF PRETERM INFANTS
Daniel Robinson, MD

Problem:

Although maternal diet during breastfeeding can improve health outcomes of premature infants, we emphasize in this study the importance of creating frameworks for household dietary patterns that include fathers (and co-parents).

Approach:

Our efforts to consider paternal or co-parent dietary intake include measurement of paternal and co-parent dietary intake in circumstances of preterm birth. We will examine the dietary intake for 72 fathers (or co-parents) who will complete a recall during the second and fourth lactation week to determine dietary intake. This aligns with our primary IRB-approved study using mother-infant dyads.

Significance:

Results from our study will assist in identifying opportunities based on better understanding of maternal and paternal dietary patterns to augment and enhance the beneficial effects of human milk feedings, with the overarching goal of improving health outcomes in preterm infants.


ASSESSING THE NEEDS OF FATHERS (OR PARTNERS) AFTER
PERINATAL DEATH
Kelly Michelson, MD, MPH

Problem:

Approximately 150 pregnant people and their partners experience a perinatal death at Prentice Women's Hospital (PWH) each year. Missing Pieces is a community-based organization that helps support families after the death of an infant, child, or young adult. The needs of fathers (or partners) are largely unknown.

Approach:

In a collaboration between Lurie Children's Hospital, PWH, and Missing Pieces, we will connect pregnant people and their partners (including fathers) who have experienced a perinatal death at PWH to Missing Pieces so that they can find needed resources to help navigate their grief. The unique needs of partners (including fathers) experiencing perinatal death will be a focus of this DAD Pilot project.

Significance:

Our program will follow both pregnant people and their partners (including fathers) who have experienced perinatal loss over 12 months to better understand the maternal and paternal grief experience and uncover better ways to ensure that pregnant people, their partners, and their families get the support they need. Principal investigators include Kelly Michelson MD MPH, Susan Rizzato, MSW, LCSW and Kristin James, LCPC.