The NAROF forum and mailing list were established to give voice to families raising impaired NICU survivors and to parents and professionals critical of current practices in neonatology. In other settings, such voices are often discouraged and suppressed.

We would like to ensure that when discussions concerning the hardships of life with a disabled child and/or the ethics of neonatology take place, they do so in an environment which allows parents and professionals enough compassion, empathy and support to express themselves with honesty. We also hope that by allowing professionals to participate in the discussions, they will better understand the human cost of raising a child who will never live independently.