AUSTIN – October 21, 2026 -- Hand to Hold, a national nonprofit supporting neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) families, will hold its 2026 National NICU Mental Health Conference virtually on November 4–5, with free attendance for NICU parents and continuing education credits for NICU professionals across all conference sessions.
Two keynote speakers address compassion, grief and healing
Gigi Khonyongwa-Fernandez, a trauma-informed leadership coach, and J.S. Park, a hospital chaplain and author, will headline the two-day program. Both will focus on compassion, navigating grief and finding healing.
Eight sessions target both families and NICU staff
The program mixes clinical-practice topics with parent perspectives:
- Operationalizing trauma-informed care by partnering with individuals with lived experience
- Unexpected diagnoses, long-term care and mental health after the NICU
- A practical primer on caring for others without losing yourself, aimed at NICU families and professionals
- Understanding and supporting families through loss
- Sensory strategies for neonatal staff
- Collaborating with parents for a healthier outcome
- "What If Compassion Came First?"
- "More Than A Visitor," a NICU dad's account
Katrina Moline, executive director of Hand to Hold and a NICU graduate parent, said the organizers designed the event to "turn important conversations about mental health into practical action."
Keenova sponsors the NICU Hero Awards
The conference will also present the NICU Hero Awards, which recognize outstanding contributions to the NICU community. Keenova sponsors the awards.
Registration is open with no fee for NICU parents
NICU parents attend at no cost, and NICU professionals can earn continuing education credits for every session. Registration is available through Hand to Hold's conference page.