Hushabye Nursery Raises $2.2 Million for Infants in Recovery with Support from The Bob & Renee Parsons Foundation.

Hushabye Nursery partnered with The Bob & Renee Parsons Foundation on a dollar-for-dollar $1 million match to support inpatient detox and recovery for infants experiencing Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome (NAS). The campaign concluded on April 18, 2023, and raised over $2.2 million, including the $1 million match from The Bob & Renee Parsons Foundation.

“We are so thankful for The Bob & Renee Parsons Foundation,” said Tara Sundem, Hushabye Nursery Executive Director and Founder. “They have been with us from the beginning. To date, we have served over 500 babies. We provide a private, quiet room with dim lighting for babies to receive constant, specialized care as they go through withdrawal. Moms can be with their babies during this process and have access to resources and support services while they are staying at Hushabye Nursery.”

In the U.S., a baby is born every 15 minutes with NAS as a result of prenatal opioid exposure, which involves a complex and painful detoxification process in the days following birth. Hushabye Nursery provides a therapeutic environment, short-term medical care and social services for infants suffering from NAS, along with outpatient services and resources for families experiencing opioid use disorder (OUD).

“The families seeking help from Hushabye Nursery are doing so at what is likely the most challenging time of their lives,” said Renee Parsons, Co-Founder of The Bob & Renee Parsons Foundation. “Hushabye Nursery not only provides them with exceptional care but also with an opportunity to heal together as a family.”

Founded by neonatal nurse practitioners, Hushabye Nursery is the only NAS-focused nursery in the country to integrate health care and social services while prioritizing both keeping infants safe and having the families directly involved in their care and recovery. They were recently recognized as one of 10 organizations across the country for the First-Ever Behavioral Health Recovery Innovation Challenge by the Department of Health and Human Services through the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA).

“Hushabye Nursery’s care is second to none for treating babies withdrawing from opioids,” said Bob Parsons, Co-Founder, The Bob & Renee Parsons Foundation. “Their approach is better for the babies, is more cost-effective than traditional hospital care and, at the end of the day, is the most caring option for the families. Supporting Hushabye Nursery was a no-brainer for us.”

Other notable donations made during the match campaign include: The Diane and Bruce Halle Foundation, Thunderbirds Charities, Mercy C.A.R.E.S Community Reinvestment Program and The NARBHA Institute.