Safe Sleeping for infants. From 2014 Safe Sleep Summit held by Children's Trust of South Carolina. Presentation by Barbara Himes

1. FOOD FOR THOUGHT!

2. SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE!!
• Government Agencies
•Direct Services
•Community Organizations

3. SISTERS United
SISTERS United is a community-based initiative with
African American sororities who are working together to
decrease infant mortality in Arkansas.

4. SISTERS United
Four focus areas
Safe SleepFolic
Acid
Breastfeeding
Flu Shot

5. ARKANSAS’S
SISTERS United ACTIVITIES
• Press Conference to Launch campaign
• Train the Trainer Conference
• PSA & Radio interviews
• 14 Websites – 9 Facebook accounts
• Hosted community-wide safety showers
• Hosted candlelight vigils for babies who
Died before their 1st birthday

6. STATE OF OHIO
Established a policy
• Every program including subgrantees and
other state agencies: shall adhere to infant
safe sleep standards as endorsed by AAP
• All publications shall adhere to safe sleep
image guidelines established by First Candle
Media Stars criteria

7. OHIO’S PROJECTS
WITH PARTNERS
•Model safe sleep in hospital settings
•SIDS Awareness Bill
•Strengthen death scene investigations
(CDC)
•Utilize Child Fatality Review System

8. INDIANA CHILD CARE
RESOURCE and REFERRAL
• Legislation was passed that all in home licensed providers
receive safe sleep education.
• IACCRR trained over 8,000 providers
Update every year but updates aren’t mandated.

9. IACCRR
SAFE TO SLEEP
CHAMPIONS
• Provided training to students in high schools and universities
• Worked with university students to develop exhibits to use at
Baby Fairs and other public venues for public education
• Helped foster parents prepare for fostering infants in their
community
• Trained OB/GYN private practice staff members
• Hosted Baby Showers
• Engaged with local Child Services and other community
agencies in injury prevention training

10. TENNESSEE
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH

11. TENNESSEE
Launched their Safe Sleep Campaign with a Press
Conference.
All 66 birthing hospitals in Tennessee signed an
agreement to adopt a hospital safe sleep policy.
First Lady Crissy Haslam promoted the incentive that
every baby would receive a safe sleep board book
purchased by the Tennessee Health Department .

12. WHAT HAVE OTHERS DONE?
• Safe Sleep Quiz – ABC’s of safe sleep –
• Storytelling – Youtube mother sharing
story
• Child Fatality Review – feedback to
birthing hospital
• Hospital Safe
Sleep Display

13. WHAT HAVE OTHERS DONE?
• Cribs for Kids
• Onesies with Safe Sleep message (ABC)
• Government Advocacy - Awareness Day
or Month in your community
• Safe Sleep Sundays (Pulpit/Vestibule)
• Social Media/BLOG
• Safe Sleep Awards
• Grandparent Power

14. POSITIVE GRIEF
TURNING A NEGATIVE
INTO A POSITIVE
Halo Sleep Sack
Charlie’s Kids Board Book

15. SOMEONE IS MISSING

16. WHAT’S NEXT?
Call to Action
• Locate partners in your community
• Use existing resources or adapt those resources to fit
your needs
• Be creative and address non-traditional constituents
We all want the same outcome…..
A Breastfed Baby that Sleeps Safely!
Key point…..You Can Make A
Difference!

17. FIRST CANDLE

18. RESOURCES
Safe To Sleep Public Education Campaign materials
• http://www.nichd.nih.gov/sts/Pages/default.aspx
American Academy of Pediatrics Safe Sleep
recommendations
• http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/content/128/5/e1341.full
First Candle
• http://www.firstcandle.org
Halo
• https://www.halosleep.com
Cribs for Kids
• www.cribsforkids.org

19. RESOURCES
Ohio Department of Health
• www.odh.ohio.gov
Sisters United
• https://www.facebook.com/arsistersunited
Charlie’s Kids Foundation
• http://charlieskids.org/
Tennessee Safe Sleep Campaign
• http://safesleep.tn.gov/
Indiana Child Care Resource and Referral
• http://www.iaccrr.org/default.cfm

20. Barb Himes, IBCLC
Director of Education & Training
barb@firstcandle.org
Website - www.firstcandle.org
Grief Crisis Hotline - 1-800-221-7437