Our story began in 2013 as a vision to transform the experience of care for babies, families and healthcare professionals.
The concept of trauma-informed care, a well established paradigm within behavioral health for decades, was essentially unknown to the NICU in 2013. However, with irrefutable biologic relevance for babies and families in crisis, Caring Essentials pioneered this concept as a champion for the mental and emotional health of those that do not have a voice.
Today, the concept of a trauma-informed approach to care transcends all settings and invites health and human service professionals to cultivate meaningful practices and routines that reduce distress and suffering for themselves and those they serve. This broader view of trauma-informed care has driven Caring Essentials Collaborative to expand all ways of serving.
Caring Essentials Collaborative is now the internationally recognized leader in trauma-informed developmental care education for those who serve babies, children and their families across all settings.
We at Caring Essentials Collaborative believe that there is a better way and it begins with you.
Being trauma-informed is rediscovering our own story to connect authentically and compassionately with the stories of others. Stories matter and we believe by embracing our collective stories each of us can and does make a difference in the lives of others and ourselves every day.
Through the journey of becoming trauma-informed, leaders emerge and cultural transformation takes shape as a caring collective of energized, empowered and engaged professionals.
Our role is to support and serve you through this journey and transformation with our expertise, comprehensive education programs, organized evidence-based frameworks and our unfailing commitment to help you create more compassionate, nurturing and mindful caring experiences for babies, children, families, colleagues and yourself.
To create a
kinder, more
connected and
compassionate world, one moment at a time
I think the part that stood out for me the most is "become a part of someone's life history".
People often remember the big moments in their life the most or events that bring them joy, or sadly trauma. I think this ties into being trauma-informed by gaining a deeper understanding that one's use of compassion can have a huge impact on that person's history. I am drawn to Maya Angelou for this - “At the end of the day people won't remember what you said or did, they will remember how you made them feel.” And now armed with this "reawakening" I seek to go forth with this in mind and enter each shift with the reminder that today I will be a part of someone's history so make it meaningful, making it sincere and bring joy.
- TIP Scholar
Mary E. Coughlin, MS, NNP, RNC-E, is a global leader in neonatal nursing and has
pioneered the concept of trauma-informed, age-appropriate care as a biologically
relevant paradigm for hospitalized babies, families, and professionals.
A seasoned staff nurse, charge nurse, neonatal nurse practitioner, administrator, educator, coach and mentor, Ms. Coughlin has over 40 years of nursing experience beginning with her 7 years of active duty in the U.S. Air Force Nurse Corp and culminating with her current role as president and founder of Caring Essentials Collaborative.
Ms. Coughlin is a published author with credits that include the seminal paper introducing the concept of core measures for developmentally supportive care, Clinical Practice Guidelines for Trauma-Informed, Age-Appropriate Care in the NICU (endorsed by the National Associations of Neonatal Nurses and Neonatal Therapists [NANN and NANT] as well as the Council for International Neonatal Nurses [COINN]) and the recent Position Statement for NANN on Trauma-Informed Care in the NICU.
In her role as president of Caring Essentials Collaborative, Ms. Coughlin has educated, inspired, and empowered close to 20,000 interdisciplinary NICU clinicians from over 15
countries to transform the experience of care for babies and families. From speaking engagements and keynote presentations to individual coaching, masterclasses, and unit-based/organizational quality-improvement initiatives, Mary leads the team at Caring Essentials Collaborative.
The mother of six and grandmother to eleven beautiful children, Mary and her husband, Dan, live in Boston, Massachusetts, with their dog, George.
Tara DeWolfe, PT, DPT, CNT, CLC, is a dynamic leader integrating trauma informed care into the field of physical therapy. Tara’s passion is providing a holistic approach to creating nurturing experiences for babies and their families and supporting her colleagues to align with their true purpose.
Tara began her career at a children's hospital for serving in both inpatient and outpatient pediatrics. She then pursued specialization in developmentally supportive care and neonatal therapy. Specializing in newborn developmental care, developmental follow up and early intervention, Tara has a comprehensive knowledge to support the continuum of development.
Tara has completed the Caring Essentials' Quantum Leap Program. She is certified to reliability in the Newborn Individualized Developmental Care and Assessment Program (NIDCAP) and holds certification in Prechtl’s Method on General Movement Assessment. In 2012, Tara achieved National Association of Neonatal Nurses (NANN) Developmental Care Specialist Designation. Tara has completed Certified Lactation Educator coursework through Childbirth and Postpartum Professional Association and Certified Lactation Counselor training through Healthy Children Project - Center for Breastfeeding. She has extensive training in supportive feeding through one on one mentorship including Early Feeding Skills Assessment and Supporting Oral Feeding in Fragile Infant Method training. Tara has additional coursework and mentorship in the areas of newborn intrauterine drug exposure, torticollis and brachial plexus injury support and is a certified neonatal therapist.
Tara has provided collaboration, advancement and quality improvement in the NICU. She has mentored NICU/pediatric clinicians to advance the competence and consistency of developmentally supportive care. Recently, she has co-created the Trauma Informed Professional Certificate program and is a leader in the daily operations of Caring Essentials Collaborative.
The mother of seven babies of her own, Tara and her husband, Ben live in Illinois.
The following professionals have completed all the requirements for the Trauma Informed Professional (TIP) Certificate Program.
Megan Willmert RN
Melanie Peck BSc (Hons) SLT
Rosemarie Piper PT
Amy Wolfinger PT, CEIM
Yamile Jackson PhD, PE, PMP
Emily Hills OT, NIDCAP, CNT, NTMTC
Deanna Gibbs PhD, MOT, BAppSc(OT), GC Res Meth, CNT, NTMTC
Amanda Coffey OTD, OTR/L
Suzanne S. Schneider MS, CCC/SLP, NTMTC, CNT
Jenna Senior Emotional Wellbeing Practitioner
Rose Ann Haines RN
Lisa Dolanc RN
Ramya Kumar MS, CCC-SLP, CNT, BCSS, IBCLC, NTMTC
Brittany Welch NNP-BC
Kaylee Stanley APN
Isabelle Milette NNP
Angie Onion APRN
Nicole Walker MS, CCLS
Staci Olister MD
Claire Ryan RN, BSN
Jessica Fulton APRN, NNP-BC
Molly Rutledge MA, CCC-SLP, MS
Yukiko Norikuni BSN, RN
Katharine Romero MS, CCC-SLP, IBCLC
Chantel Morin RN, BScN
Britt Pados PhD, RN, CLC, FAHA, FNAP
Charisse Ortman-Brockmueller MSN, APRN-NNP
Meegan Snyder Director Preemie Parent Mentor Program
Katie Rogers OTR/L
Shreyas Iyer Musician
Denise McNichol OTR/L
Kristin Aigner RN
Kristine Gehman RN, NIC
Orla Urquhart Neonatal & Children's Occupational Therapist
Shannon Frey MS, CCC-SLP
Victoria Gallagher BSN, RN
Ann Hudson OTR/L
Lindsay Hardy Occupational Therapist
Alyssa Phillips RN
Liz Zimmerman RN, BSN
Jenny Haverly RN
Justin Parsley BSN, RN, CCRN
Joanna James OT/L, SWC, CLE, NTMTC
Sam Sibson Speech Language Pathologist/ Feeding Specialist
Joy Hess APRN, NNP
Sandra Carroll OTR, CLC, C-ELBW, CNT
Megan Laetare RN
Rebeca Aguilar Neonatal Nurse
Shelbe Sundeen MSN, RN
Jacqulin Ashbaugh BSN, RN, CCRN, C-ELBW
Ashley Hedden Occupational Therapist
Emily Spaeth Neonatal Physical Therapist
Paige Hardy DNP, APRN, NNP-BC
Jenny Montgomery RNC-NIC, BSN
Kimberly Bean RN
Lisa Glasgow OTR/L, CNT
Carissa Rowberry Physical Therapist
Elizabeth Alley BSN, RNC-NIC, C-NNIC, C-ELBW
Karen Kelsch Perinatal Social Worker
Puja Padbidri Physical Therapist
Keri Parker PT, DPT, CNT, NTMTC
Jennifer Hendrikse OTR, MOT, CNT, CLC
Kristi Leutzinger Speech-Language Pathologist
Alison Sheppard BSc, DipPhys, DipMTA, CNT
Casie Phegley Speech Language Pathologist
Marissa Ulm CCC-SLP
Elise Kelley Occupational Therapist
Lauren Culberson MD
Diane Allen OTR/L,NTMTC, CNT
Jessica Hoffman RN, BSN, CCRN
Sarah DePalma MS CCC-SLP
Michele Jones BSN, RNC, CE
Jo Burgess MSPT, CNT, NTMTC
Hannah Corsa RN, BSN
Margaret Miller Occupational Therapist
Traci Iverson MS-CCC-SLP
Melody Wilbur DNP, APRN, NNP-BC
Rachel Mosser RN, BSN
Allie Vance RN
Suzanne Steffen PT
Peggy Adams M.Ed., CCLS
Holly Flynn RN
Charlotte Edwards RN
Sheri Kimmey MS, RN-NIC
Laene Keith MA, CCC/SLP, IBCLC
Barbara Smith MSN-ED, RNC-NIC
Meredith Knapp Occupational Therapist
Pamvia Shuga RN/NICU
Alyssa Marie Gumbs-Fells MSN, RN
Melinda Sloan RNC
Piper Bacskai OTR/L, NTMC
Jessi Barnes MSN, RNC-NIC, NPD-BC
Laurie Braswell Occupational Therapist
Lisa James MSN, RNC-NIC, NPD-BC
Joana Isabel Cordeiro e Carvalho RN
Alice Gair Paediatric/Neonatal Occupational Therapist
Amy Westendorf Neonatal/Pediatric SLP
Stephanie Jimenez RN, NICU Nurse Manager
Louisa Ferrara-Gonzalez PhD, CCC-SLP, BCS-S, CNT, NTMTC
Mandy Hrobak NNP
Cara Iuliano SLP
Annie Stange RN
Jodi Sides RN Clinical Coordinator
Michael Carson PT, DPT
Brenda Gonzales NNP
Myra Joy Quilatan RN
Kayla Stammer RN
Marion Nielson SLP
Katie Sieren Social Worker
Linda Yang MD
Kelly Miller Social Worker
Patreece Engelmeyer RN
Melody Lineburg RN
Rebecca Chuffo Davila NNP
Melissa Smith OTR/L
Cassandra Palasiewicz Nurse Practitioner
Emily Spellmann RN, Associate Director, Neonatal Services
Makenzi Osterhout RN
Lexee Robbins RN
Lisa Koonce NNP
Denise Holida NNP
Melissa Mabon RN
Brianna Mullinnix RN
Amanda Weary RN
Elizabeth May RN
Carmen Fernau RN
Michele Dameron RN, Assistant Nurse Manager
Mandy Karstens RN, Nurse Practice Leader
Emily Martin RN
Jenny Duffy Clinical Social Worker
Brianna Clarahan PT, DPT
Kayla Fobian RN
Kristin Varzavand RN
Codi Robison RN
Jennifer Melloy RN
Autum Yarger Social Worker
Marissa Johnson RN, Clinical Practice Leader
Banba Swicker Lipton PT, DPT
Lily Nichols RN
Audrey Halden Social Worker
Kathy Shey Social Worker
Cara Cimino OTR/L
Kathi Anderson PT, DPT
Katie Zumwalde OTR/L
Anne Nielsen PNP
Julie Skala RN
Gina Rottinghaus NNP
Teresa Proctor RN, NICU Manager
Farrin Moreno NICU Parent/Advocate/M.A. Communication
Kathy Wasion RN
April Castaldi RN, NICU ANM
Ellen Kluck RN, Developmental Nurse Specialist
Angeline Parez RN, Developmental Care Consultant
Daniela Grafe RN, NNP
Sue Horner RN, PhD, Developmental Specialist/Nursing
Ginny Shaffer FCC Program Coordinator- NICU
Nicole Scafura SLP
Keltie Mclean RN
Emily Dumolien RN
Cassie Davis RN
Molly Kosovich RN
Jodie Taylor OTR/L
Laura Pascale Johnson RN, Lactation Consultant
Nancy Sherman Carter Chaplain
Cyndie Homewood RN
Sara Paredes RN
Kristi Haughey RN, Nursing Leadership
Saskia Clayton Harvey RN
Brooke Stamm Speech Language Pathologist
Megan Campbell Occupational Therapist
Courtney Gregory Lactation Nurse
Jennifer Satterfield RN
Molly Polacco Speech Pathologist/NICU Advocate
Erika Banks RN
Vanessa Schneider RN
Ashley Caton RN
Brittany Brown Occupational Therapist
Patricia Padgurskis Physical Therapist
KayLee Greenwell RN
Heidi Walker
Stacey Witzenburg RN Care Coordinator, NICU/Peds
Lauren Aldana Speech Language Pathologist
Kyle Ehrhardt
RN