Manatee Memorial NICU Receives Children’s Books Through Statewide SOOTHE Initiative
Families with babies in the neonatal intensive care unit at Manatee Memorial Hospital are receiving a special gift aimed at supporting bonding and emotional wellness during their hospital stay.
This week, the hospital received its first delivery of children’s books donated by the Early Learning Coalition of Manatee County as part of the Florida Perinatal Quality Collaborative’s Supporting Optimal Outcomes Through a Healing Environment program, known as SOOTHE.
Under the initiative, families in the NICU are given the children’s book “Otter’s Heart Family” to read with their babies while in the hospital and to take home upon discharge. The program is designed to encourage bonding between parents and infants while helping support emotional wellness, self-esteem and early brain development.
Manatee Memorial is one of only 45 hospitals in Florida participating in the Florida Perinatal Quality Collaborative program and is currently the only hospital offering the book in both English and Spanish for families.
The SOOTHE initiative launched in October 2025 and focuses on creating a neurocreative environment within NICUs that supports healthy brain development for newborns receiving specialized care.
Hospital officials also recognized NICU nurses for helping implement the program and supporting families through the initiative.
