I’m writing to share a heartwarming initiative that has blossomed from the collaboration between the Center for Child Development and Bridges to Moms. Together, we launched an effort to support high-risk, housing-insecure families discharged from our NICU. This holiday season, we wanted to bring joy and support to these incredible families by purchasing developmentally engaging toys and books, warm clothing, and gift cards. This is a story of community, empathy, and the power of collaboration at Brigham and Women’s Hospital.

At the Center for Child Development, we house several key programs, such as the Transition to Home Program and the NICU Follow-up Program, each designed to support high-risk NICU discharged families. Our center is staffed by an amazing multi-specialty team including physicians, psychologists, dieticians, occupational therapists, and speech and language pathologists. This team is deeply committed to nurturing all aspects of our families’ lives, ensuring they thrive well beyond our care. In collaboration with Bridges to Moms, we extend our support to those grappling with the added challenge of housing instability, thus amplifying our impact.

To support these families, we initiated “Operation Polar Bear.” This holiday drive is more than a collection of gifts; it’s a gesture of appreciation, love and support for our families shared between the two programs. We invited colleagues to participate in our gift-wrapping event, where we prepared the gifts and wrote holiday cards to these families.

Ultimately, we were able to support nine families, impacting 14 children (ages 3 months to 13 years) and 12 parents, shared between the Center for Child Development Programs and Bridges to Moms. We raised over $2,500, which went towards:

  • Age-appropriate books in Spanish, Haitian Creole and English
  • Developmentally supportive toys
  • Warm clothing
  • Gift cards

For me, and for our entire team at the Center for Child Development, there is an indescribable reward in being intimately involved in the lives of these families right from the beginning. My journey here at Brigham and Women’s Hospital has been marked by some of the most fulfilling and impactful work of my career. It is a privilege to witness and contribute to the early, crucial stages of these families’ journeys, and to see the positive differences we make every day. This initiative, “Operation Polar Bear,” is a testament to our collective passion and commitment to these families.

Kristen Jane Sullivan
Practice Manager,  Department of Pediatrics
Program Manager, Transition to Home