CELEBRATING 30+ YEARS OF SERVICE
LBWDC is a unique, multifaceted, comprehensive program designed to meet the complex needs of high-risk, low birth weight infants, birth through five years and their young, low-income parents.
The Low Birth Weight Development Center was founded in 1992 by Dr. Elizabeth Heyne, PA-C, PsyD and Dr. Roy Heyne, MD and has served over 5500 low birth weight children and parents. Currently, we assist approximately 350 families annually through our onsite services, home visits and outreach.
The center is located in West Dallas but serves families throughout the North Texas Area, especially Dallas and Tarrant Counties.
LBWDC is committed to help families become self-sufficient and rely less on taxpayer assistance.
Research has shown that our programs help reduce the time infants spend in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit by an average of 3 days per infant, saving the taxpayers more than $1 million per year (Heyne, 2010).
The center is located in West Dallas but serves families throughout the North Texas Area, especially Dallas and Tarrant Counties.
LBWDC is committed to help families become self-sufficient and rely less on taxpayer assistance.
Research has shown that our programs help reduce the time infants spend in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit by an average of 3 days per infant, saving the taxpayers more than $1 million per year (Heyne, 2010).
OUR MISSION
Our mission is to respond to the needs of families having or are at risk of having a low birth weight infant by providing family-centered, community-based support services.
AREA OF FOCUS
Therapeutic Preschool
Teen Parenting Assistance
Pregnant Mother and Family Assistance
Parenting Education: "Circle of Security" Program
Mental Health Services
Research
Why We Do What We Do
Approximately 5500 lives of fragile infants and their familes have been impacted by the Low Birth Weight Development Center since 1992.
The Low Birth Weight Development Center was founded in 1992 by Dr. Elizabeth Heyne, PA-C, PsyD and Dr. Roy Heyne, MD both specialists in the field of low birth weight pediatrics. Through their work with low birth weight infants and NICU graduates, they first realized the need for additional resources and support to address the unique issues for these high risk infants and their families.
The infants served at the Low Birth Weight Development Center are born as early as 24 weeks gestational age (full-term infants are 40 weeks) and with very low birth weight (less than 1500 grams or approx. 3.5 lbs).
Most of these NICU babies can spend 3 months or more in a neonatal intensive care unit prior to being discharged, but it is not enough to help these fragile babies survive in the hospital. Something must be done to ensure they thrive once they go home.
These infants are at high risk for long-term health problems including cerebral palsy, respiratory distress, chronic lung disease, vision and hearing problems, as well as learning disabilities and developmental delays.
The first few years in follow-up care is crucial for these babies. Intervention and support in these early years can improve their long-term outcomes and reduce the risks for life-long disabilities (Heyne, 2021).
The Low Birth Weight Development Center was founded in 1992 by Dr. Elizabeth Heyne, PA-C, PsyD and Dr. Roy Heyne, MD both specialists in the field of low birth weight pediatrics. Through their work with low birth weight infants and NICU graduates, they first realized the need for additional resources and support to address the unique issues for these high risk infants and their families.
The infants served at the Low Birth Weight Development Center are born as early as 24 weeks gestational age (full-term infants are 40 weeks) and with very low birth weight (less than 1500 grams or approx. 3.5 lbs).
Most of these NICU babies can spend 3 months or more in a neonatal intensive care unit prior to being discharged, but it is not enough to help these fragile babies survive in the hospital. Something must be done to ensure they thrive once they go home.
These infants are at high risk for long-term health problems including cerebral palsy, respiratory distress, chronic lung disease, vision and hearing problems, as well as learning disabilities and developmental delays.
The first few years in follow-up care is crucial for these babies. Intervention and support in these early years can improve their long-term outcomes and reduce the risks for life-long disabilities (Heyne, 2021).
Related Research
Much research has been done and we continue to study the factors of intervention programs that yield successful outcomes on the development of premature babies. With advances in neonatal medicine, babies are saved at earlier gestational ages than ever before. To find the best practices in care for these fragile infants our research continues on...
Children in North America Share Critical Health Problems, Report FindsChildren in the United States, Canada, and Mexico share a number of health problems, including increasing rates of obesity, respiratory illness, and exposure to chemicals, a new report sponsored by the Annie E. Casey Foundation finds.
The report, Growing Up in North America: Child Health and Safety in Canada, the United States, and Mexico (64 pages, PDF), examined fifty-eight health and safety indicators and found surprising similarities across the continent on several measures, as well as significant gaps in the knowledge and data regarding how well the 120 million children in North America are actually doing.
For instance, more than a quarter of children in each country are obese, and obesity rates are rising. At the same time, a large number of children continue to live with hunger, malnutrition, and anemia. In addition, some regions of North America have shown a fourfold increase in the prevalence of asthma over the past twenty years, with the problem particularly pronounced along the U.S.-Mexico border. And continued exposure to lead, which can lead to developmental problems such as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and mental retardation, remains a concern.
Growing Up in North America is the second in a series of reports sponsored by the Casey Foundation, which is working with the Canadian Council on Social Development and the Children's Rights Network (Red por los Derechos de la Infancia) in Mexico to obtain information and widen the scope of trilateral discussions at the governmental level to include children. The report is available in English, French, and Spanish.
"Good health is critical for children to reach their fullest potential," said Dr. William O'Hare, senior fellow at the Casey Foundation. "There are surprising similarities in the health challenges in each of the three countries examined in this report. [And] we are clearly seeing that increasing social and economic integration across the three countries means children are more likely to share the same issues and problems."
“New Child Health and Safety Report Finds That Canada, United States, and Mexico Share Critical Health Problems.” Annie E. Casey Foundation Press Release 5/24/07.
Primary Subject: HealthSecondary Subject(s): Children and Youth, Hispanics/LatinosLocation(s): Canada, International, Mexico, National
FC010526
For instance, more than a quarter of children in each country are obese, and obesity rates are rising. At the same time, a large number of children continue to live with hunger, malnutrition, and anemia. In addition, some regions of North America have shown a fourfold increase in the prevalence of asthma over the past twenty years, with the problem particularly pronounced along the U.S.-Mexico border. And continued exposure to lead, which can lead to developmental problems such as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and mental retardation, remains a concern.
Growing Up in North America is the second in a series of reports sponsored by the Casey Foundation, which is working with the Canadian Council on Social Development and the Children's Rights Network (Red por los Derechos de la Infancia) in Mexico to obtain information and widen the scope of trilateral discussions at the governmental level to include children. The report is available in English, French, and Spanish.
"Good health is critical for children to reach their fullest potential," said Dr. William O'Hare, senior fellow at the Casey Foundation. "There are surprising similarities in the health challenges in each of the three countries examined in this report. [And] we are clearly seeing that increasing social and economic integration across the three countries means children are more likely to share the same issues and problems."
“New Child Health and Safety Report Finds That Canada, United States, and Mexico Share Critical Health Problems.” Annie E. Casey Foundation Press Release 5/24/07.
Primary Subject: HealthSecondary Subject(s): Children and Youth, Hispanics/LatinosLocation(s): Canada, International, Mexico, National
FC010526