The recipient entity's physical address:
           219 Bermuda Street
New Orleans, LA 70114

The recipient entity's mailing address (if different):
           219 Bermuda Street
New Orleans, LA 70114

Type of Entity (for instance, a nonprofit corporation):  Non-Profit Corporation

If the entity is a corporation, list the names of the incorporators:
          

The last four digits of the entity's taxpayer ID number:  5988

What is the dollar amount of the request?  $5,000

What type of request is this?  General Appropriation

Is this entity in good standing with the Secretary of State?  Yes

Provide the name of each member of the recipient entity's governing board and officers:
           Kimberly Novod, Founder and Executive Director
219 Bermuda Street
New Orleans, LA 70114

Board:

Frankie Robertson: Advocate for Social Justice and Maternal Child Health, Board President
14241 Coursey Blvd Suite A-12192,
Baton Rouge, LA. 70817

Hamilton Simons-Jones: Child Advocate, Treasurer of the Board
5639 Charlotte drive New Orleans LA 70122

D. Aaron Novod: Co-Founder, NICU and Bereaved Parent, Attorney, Secretary of the Board
P.O. Box 740985
New Orleans, LA 70174


Rochelle Wilcox: Early Childhood Educator
1678 North Broad St.
New Orleans, LA 70119

Anamaria Villamarin-Lupin: Social Worker and Youth Advocate
535 Arabella St
New Orleans, LA 70115

April Aguillard: MCH Advocate and Insurance
6508 General Haig St
NOLA 70124

Nicole Kerley-McGuire, MD: Pediatrician
273 Brentwood Drive
Houma, La 70360

Matthew Broussard
5742 Louis Prima Drive E
New Orleans, LA 70128

Provide a summary of the project or program:
           The Little NICU Project and other programs provide support to families experiencing a NICU stay in Louisiana. Saul’s Light also provides books appropriate for reading to infants in multiple languages through our “Little NICU Libraries” program in order to promote parent/infant bonding. This is an evidence based intervention shown to improve language, developmental and long term academic outcomes for NICU infants. We also work with NICU social workers to connect NICU families to peer mentors and additional resources. We work to promote wrap-around care for each NICU family during and after their NICU stay.

What is the budget relative to the project for which funding is requested?:
          Salaries. . . . . . . . . . . . . $2,500
          Professional Services. . . $0
          Contracts . . . . . . . . . . . $0
          Acquisitions . . . . . . . . . $0
          Major Repairs . . . . . . . $0
          Operating Services. . . . $2,500
          Other Charges. . . . . . . $0

Does your organization have any outstanding audit issues or findings?  No

If 'Yes' is your organization working with the appropriate governmental agencies to resolve those issues or findings?
          

What is the entity's public purpose, sought to be achieved through the use of state monies?
          Saul's Light improves outcomes for NICU infants and families through evidence based support, including the NICU Little Library and other programs. New Orleans faces a severe crisis among pregnant and birthing mothers that adversely impacts parents, babies, and the region’s economy. A report by the Senate Joint Economic Committee found that adverse health conditions caused or worsened by pregnancy and childbirth cost the U.S. economy over $32 billion annually. This issue is particularly acute in the greater New Orleans region, where the rates of premature birth (birth before 37 weeks gestation) and infant mortality are 37% and 100% higher, respectively, than national averages. Most babies who are born premature require admission to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) and face an increased risk of long-term health problems and developmental delays. Research also shows that nearly 75% of mothers whose babies spent more than a week in the NICU had significant symptoms of post traumatic stress disorder and mental distress (Brunson 2021). Saul’s Light provides support to vulnerable families with a baby in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) to improve health outcomes for both parents and their newborns benefiting individual families, the wider community and the state as a whole through reduced hospitals stays and improved long term outcomes.

What are the goals and objectives for achieving such purpose?
          Saul’s Light improves NICU health outcomes for infants and parents by providing direct support to families including the NICU Little Libraries and other programs. large body of evidence shows that providing the kind of support Saul's Light offers to parents during their babies’ NICU stay improves outcomes for both, reducing severe morbidity and mortality, duration of stay, and developmental delay for babies; and reducing perinatal mood disorders and financial hardship for parents. Research indicates improved language development and communication skills and reduced delays at 24 months when parents read to their infants during a NICU stay (Neri 2021).This year, Saul's Light will provide at least 300 families with a baby in the NICU with access to a Little NICU Library and other programs that support improve perinatal outcomes for parents and infants facing a NICU admission.

What is the proposed length of time estimated by the entity to accomplish the purpose?
           12 months

If any elected or appointed state official or an immediate family member of such an official is an officer, director, trustee, or employee of the recipient entity who receives compensation or holds any ownership interest therein:
     (a) If an elected or appointed state official, the name and address of the official and the office held by such person:
                 n/a
    
     (b) If an immediate family member of an elected or appointed state official, the name and address of such person; the name, address, and office of the official to whom the person is related; and the nature of the relationship:
                 n/a

     (c) The percentage of the official's or immediate family member's ownership interest in the recipient entity, if any:
                 na

     (d) The position, if any, held by the official or immediate family member in the recipient entity:
                  na

If the recipient entity has a contract with any elected or appointed state official or an immediate family member of such an official or with the state or any political subdivision of the state:
(a) If the contract is with an elected or appointed state official, provide the name and address of the official and the office held by such person: 
               n/a

(b) If the contract is with an immediate family member of an elected or appointed state official:
          Provide the name and address of such person:
               n/a

          Provide the name, address, and office of the official to whom the person is related:
                n/a

          What is the nature of the relationship?  n/a

(c) If the contract is with the state or a political subdivision of the state, provide the name and address of the state entity or political subdivision of the state:
                 n/a

(d) The nature of the contract, including a description of the goods or services provided or to be provided pursuant to the contract:
               n/a


Contact Information
name:  Kimberly Novod 
                                       address:  219 Bermuda St. New Orleans LA 70114
                                       phone:  +1 (504) 913-4095
                                       fax: 
                                       e-mail:  kimberly@saulslight.org
                                       relationship to entity:  Executive Director