April 21, 2026, Toronto, ON – Joeyband™, a Canadian-made, women-led company behind a globally patented, FDA-registered skin-to-skin care device, is proud to support the Canadian Premature Babies Foundation (CPBF), providing more than 110 units – expanding access to safe, uninterrupted skin-to-skin care for families with babies in neonatal intensive care units across Canada.
Through this contribution, made possible by Reinsurance Group of America, Incorporated (RGA), more families caring for premature and medically fragile newborns will have access to Joeyband™ in clinical settings making safe positioning and uninterrupted skin-to-skin care easier to maintain. Skin-to-skin care is the medically necessary practice between newborn and mother/birthing patients which is associated with benefits including thermoregulation, breastfeeding support, and infant physiologic stability—particularly important for babies requiring specialized NICU care.
Extensive research, including recent findings from Children’s National Hospital, continues to reinforce the clinical importance of skin-to-skin care, demonstrating improved cardiorespiratory stability, enhanced neurodevelopmental outcomes, and reduced length of hospital stay for medically fragile and premature infants.
“Skin-to-skin care is one of the most impactful, evidence-based practices for improving outcomes for premature babies, yet access in the NICU is not always consistent,” said Fabiana Bacchini, Executive Director of the Canadian Premature Babies Foundation. “As co-leads of a national network working to increase the adoption of skin-to-skin care across Canada, we are focused on making this practice more accessible, standardized, and supported in clinical settings. Partnerships like this help ensure more families can benefit from safe, uninterrupted connection during a critical stage of development and helps with education as we ramp up for our May 15th nationwide Kangaroo Care Day.”
The donation of Joeyband™ units was made possible with the support of RGA, a global life and health reinsurer, and its Working Parents Employee Resource Group (ERG) in Canada, whose commitment to family health helped expand access to skinto-skin care for families with babies in the NICU.
“For families navigating the NICU, safe extended skin-to-skin care plays a critical role in infant stability and parental recovery,” said Sarah-Almaza Cox, Joeyband™ CoFounder. “This partnership with CPBF reflects our ongoing commitment to making high-quality skin-to-skin care accessible in at-home and clinical settings, so more caregivers can provide the proven physical and developmental benefits when it matters most.”
“At RGA, we are committed to supporting organizations that drive meaningful improvements in the health and well-being of families and communities,” said Matthew Blakely, VP, Corporate Citizenship and Inclusion. “By partnering with the Canadian Premature Babies Foundation and Joeyband™, we are proud to help expand access to care for premature and medically fragile infants in NICUs across Canada.”
This initiative is part of the Joeyband initiative to expand access to safe skin-toskin care through hospital and nonprofit partnerships, including recent initiatives supporting hospitals in Panama, Romania, and pediatric cardiac intensive care units in the United States.
Hospitals using Joeyband™ have reported measurable improvements in maternal and newborn outcomes, including increases of up to 19.6% in exclusive breastfeeding following C-sections, reductions in postoperative opioid use, and decreased maternal anxiety. These outcomes underscore the clinical and system-level importance of expanding access to safe, uninterrupted skin-to-skin care for families across care settings.
About Joeyband™
Joeyband™ is a globally patented FDA-registered, award-winning skin-to-skin support device designed to enhance the health and well-being of newborns and their caregivers. Backed by extensive scientific research and trusted by leading hospitals, Joeyband™ is committed to improving clinical outcomes in the operating room, postpartum unit, NICU and at home.
To learn more, visit https://joeyband.com.
About the Canadian Premature Babies Foundation
The Canadian Premature Babies Foundation (CPBF) is a national nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting families affected by premature birth through education, advocacy, and access to resources. CPBF works closely with families, healthcare professionals, hospitals, and community partners to improve outcomes for premature babies and ensure families receive the support they need during their NICU journey and well beyond. As co-leads of a national network advancing skin-toskin care in Canada, CPBF is committed to increasing awareness, adoption, and standardization of this critical practice across clinical settings.
To learn more, visit https://www.canadianpreemies.org.
About RGA
Reinsurance Group of America, Incorporated (NYSE: RGA) is a global industry leader specializing in life and health reinsurance and financial solutions that help clients effectively manage risk and optimize capital. Founded in 1973, RGA is one of the world’s largest and most respected reinsurers and remains guided by a powerful purpose: to make financial protection accessible to all.
As a global capabilities and solutions leader, RGA empowers partners through bold innovation, relentless execution, and dedicated client focus — all directed toward creating sustainable long-term value. RGA has approximately $4.3 trillion of life reinsurance in force and total assets of $156.6 billion as of December 31, 2025.
To learn more about RGA and its businesses, please visit rgare.com or follow RGA on LinkedIn and Facebook. Investors can learn more at investor.rgare.com
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