Maria Lu

Experience

1. Medical Social Worker- Nicu

   Texas Children's Hospital

   Nov 2021 — Present

   Provide psychosocial assessment, crisis intervention, and ongoing support to families across Level II, and IV NICUs within a high-acuity, quaternary care pediatric hospital- Serve in one of the largest NICU systems in the country with 189 beds, supporting medically complex and high-risk neonatal populations- Facilitate complex care coordination and interdisciplinary communication across medical teams- Support maternal mental health, including screening for postpartum depression, anxiety, and bonding concerns- Lead family meetings, including high-risk and end-of-life discussions- Collaborate with CPS and community agencies to ensure safe discharge planning- Connect families to financial, community, and hospital-based resources- Provide bilingual (English/Spanish) services to diverse patient populations- Quality Improvement & Research Initiative – Baby Bonding Meditation Program- Co-lead IRB-approved QI/research project to improve maternal–infant bonding and maternal mental health- Developed meditation script and intervention implemented in the NICU setting- Collaborate with multidisciplinary team (physicians, music therapist, quality specialists)- Track outcomes using validated tools (PHQ-9, GAD-7, PBQ) via RedCap- Recipient of NAPSW Innovative Program Award & Research Grant.