Hand to Hold, a nationwide nonprofit based out of northwest Austin, is celebrating 15 years of helping families cope with medical crisis.

The details

Hand To Hold was first created in late 2010 to help provide mental health support for families with an infant in the neonatal intensive care unit, which specializes in the care of ill or premature infants.

The nonprofit connects families to resources such as support groups, bereavement therapy, podcasts, peer-to-peer mentoring and counseling services for before, during and after a NICU stay.

It also offers resources for health care providers, including webinars and podcasts on how to help families through these difficult periods.


The backstory

Hand to Hold founder Kelli Kelley started the nonprofit after her own experience in the NICU with her son, Jackson. This year not only marks the 15th anniversary of the nonprofit, but also will mark Kelley’s retirement from the foundation, according to Executive Director Katrina Moline.