HOPE (Healthy Outcomes Post-ICU Engagement) developmental follow-up provides follow-up care for babies who need special care after birth and are at risk for developmental delays or have ongoing medical problems.

This clinic is very important during your child’s first three years — when they are growing quickly and learning many new skills. Parents or doctors can refer a baby to the clinic.

What is HOPE Developmental Follow-Up Clinic?

HOPE Clinic is a neonatal developmental follow-up program for babies who spent time in the Neonatal ICU (NICU), Cardiac ICU, or Pediatric ICU (PICU) after birth and are at risk for developmental delays.

Babies in the ICU have different needs. Research has shown that children with a history of complex medical conditions are at high risk for developmental problems. Your child may benefit from early therapy services. Our team will make sure your child receives the right therapies.

What to Expect with HOPE Developmental Follow-Up Clinic

Visits will be scheduled every six months until your child is 2 years old. These visits are around 6 months, 12 months, 18 months, and 24 months of age.

Assessment of your child’s development is completed at every visit. We closely monitor motor skills, play skills, language development, behavioral development, growth, feeding, and nutrition. We look specifically at areas that are often a problem in children with complex medical conditions.

Your child’s primary care doctor will receive a complete report after the visit, including recommendations from our team.

What to Know about HOPE Developmental Follow-Up Clinic

• If your child was not born at Children’s Wisconsin but needed special care after birth at a different hospital, we encourage you to speak to your child’s primary doctor about a referral to HOPE Clinic.
• HOPE Clinic sees patients at three different Children’s Wisconsin locations: Milwaukee, Appleton, and Ashwaubenon.
• HOPE Clinic visits cannot be scheduled through Central Scheduling. Please contact our Nurse Coordinator with questions: 414-266-6898