Vivian Allman, LCSW, is a NICU Social Worker at St. Luke’s Health System in downtown Boise. Her shifts include a wide variety of duties including coordinating care, crisis intervention, bereavement support, discharge planning, and advocacy. The work varies from day to day, and she appreciates that no two shifts look the same.
Although she had long been interested in adoption, foster care, and supporting families, Vivian’s path to social work became more personal after the birth of her first child. Following a traumatic delivery and a short NICU stay, she experienced postpartum depression and didn’t have a lot of support or help through that. That experience shaped her desire to return to the hospital setting and work with families during the perinatal period. She understands how vulnerable those early days can feel.
Vivian described how for parents in the NICU, the experience is rarely what they imagined. A premature delivery, a traumatic birth, or unexpected medical complications can quickly shift everything. Families are often grieving the loss of the pregnancy or birth experience they had hoped for, even when their baby is expected to recover. Some are separated from children at home. Others are far from their community and support system. Helping families adjust to this new normal and feel supported through it is a central part of Vivian’s role.
Vivian regularly refers families to stay at the Boise Ronald McDonald House and says that the relationship between the House and St. Luke’s is very collaborative and supportive. She says there is comfort in knowing that families will have a safe and nurturing place to stay. For families who cannot stay overnight, the day use program also offers meaningful support through meals and having another space where they can decompress. She has seen how access to local attractions and simple outings can provide a needed break from the hospital and create small moments of normalcy for siblings and parents.
She values the open communication between the NICU and the House. When a family is facing a particularly difficult day or even a loss, she knows she can call ahead so staff can offer extra care. That shared, person-centered approach ensures families feel supported beyond the hospital walls.
Vivian hopes people understand that social workers are advocates. They are not there to judge or assume the worst. Instead, they work to understand the full picture of what a family is facing and help connect them with the resources and support they need. In the NICU, she sees the impact of her work in tangible ways, whether that is providing necessities, or simply being a steady presence during an incredibly vulnerable time.
To care for herself, Vivian leans on supportive relationships with other social workers and prioritizes small, consistent acts of self-care. She often encourages parents to build simple moments of care into their day, and she tries to follow that same advice.At the heart of her work is a belief that families deserve compassion, understanding, and practical support during one of the most challenging seasons of their lives. She said, “We all need to take care of ourselves and take care of each other.”
