SUID/SIDS Prevention
This section highlights the following international resources:
The International SIDS/Infant Death and stillbirth community provides numerous risk reduction and bereavement support programs and research in the areas of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), other infant death, and stillbirth. This booklet highlights the services and research activities of several member countries of SIDS International and one non-member country, Ireland. SIDS International is also highlighted as the driving force behind global collaboration that has saved many infant lives. This information is provided to assist SIDS and Infant Death programs in the United States to continue to collaborate and develop new ties with the international SIDS, infant death, and stillbirth community.
Current international research in SIDS, infant death, stillbirth, miscarriage, and related topics.
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) is an organization of 60,000 pediatricians committed to the attainment of optimal physical, mental, and social health and well-being for all infants, children, adolescents, and young adults. AAP provides information, policy statements, and practice guidelines from the nation's leading child health experts, with scientific research supporting their recommendations. AAP also provides publications and other child health resources for parents and other caregivers, health professionals, and consumers.
Visit the AAP Web site at http://www.aap.org .
In October 2005, the AAP Task Force on Sudden Infant Death Syndrome released a policy statement that included revised recommendations to further reduce the risk of SIDS. These can be found at http://www.aap.org/ncepr/revisedsids.pdf .
The Healthy Child Care America Back to Sleep Campaign is an effort to build on the success of the AAP Healthy Child Care America program and the NICHD Back to Sleep campaign to unite child care, health, and national SIDS partners across the United States to reduce the incidence of SIDS in family child care homes and center-based child care programs.
The campaign continues to provide educational materials and technical assistance to child care providers and the families that they serve. A research study is being conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of the Reducing the Risk of SIDS in Child Care Speaker's Kit in changing the behavior of child care providers.
For more information on the campaign, visit: http://www.healthychildcare.org/section_SIDS.cfm .
The Association of SIDS and Infant Mortality Programs (ASIP) is an association of health and human service providers committed to bereavement support and risk reduction activities. ASIP promotes programs of counseling, education, advocacy, and research to ensure a supportive community response for those affected by infant and child death and to reduce the risk of death for future children.
ASIP supports a public health approach consisting of culturally competent outreach and multidisciplinary services, to provide a continuum of care to families beyond infant and child death that facilitates grieving and promotes family health. ASIP also develops and promotes professional guidance and standards for professional practice. As a co-sponsor of the federal government’s Back to Sleep campaign and the initiator of other risk reduction activities, ASIP has contributed to the dramatic decrease in infant deaths.
For more information, visit http://www.asip1.org .
The National SIDS & Infant Death Project IMPACT (Infant Mortality Policy and Communication Tools) supports state and local infant death programs through sharing information, promoting policy and legislative changes, building upon resources, and fostering partnerships and communication. Project IMPACT, a cooperative agreement between the federal Maternal and Child Health Bureau (MCHB) and the Association of SIDS and Infant Mortality Programs (ASIP), is designed to enhance communication among state and local programs, and between these programs and federal and state policymakers. The MCHB State-to-State SIDS/Infant Death Listserv has been implemented by Project IMPACT toward this goal.
For more information on Project IMPACT, visit http://www.sidsprojectimpact.com .
First Candle/SIDS Alliance is a national nonprofit health organization uniting parents, caregivers and researchers nationwide with government, business and community service groups to advance infant health and survival. With help from a national network of member and partner organizations, First Candle is working to increase public participation and support in the fight against infant mortality.
First Candle/SIDS Alliance exists to promote infant health and survival during the prenatal period through age two with programs of research, education, and advocacy, while at the same time providing compassionate bereavement support to those experiencing an infant death. First Candle/SIDS Alliance has expanded efforts to include SIDS, stillbirth, and other infant deaths.
For more information, visit http://www.firstcandle.org.
First Candle/SIDS Alliance and the National SIDS and Infant Death Program Support Center (NSIDPCS) has indeed launched a national professional education campaign that will target nurses in neonatal intensive care units (NICU) and well-baby nurseries at birthing hospitals nationwide. It is the ultimate goal of the campaign, Model Program: The Most Important Modeling Job of your Life, to ensure that every parent leaving a hospital is aware of and prepared to adopt safe sleep messages as recommended by First Candle, the AAP, NICHD and others.
The NSIDPSC will be distributing campaign materials at regional and national nursing trainings and conferences over the next year, and materials will be available on the First Candle website and via telephone beginning May 1, 2006.
For materials, more information, or to schedule a training workshop at your location, please contact Kathy Graham or Hanan Kallash at 800.221.7437.
As a co-sponsor of the Back to Sleep campaign, First Candle/SIDS Alliance released its updated checklist for parents and caregivers on how to provide their babies with the best possible chance to survive and thrive. These recommendations are in keeping with the October 2005 announcement by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) regarding a revised policy statement on reducing the risk of SIDS.
To view the checklist visit: http://www.firstcandle.org/media/Tips_for_Parents_and_Caregivers_October__05.pdf .
The First Candle/SIDS Alliance's National SIDS/Infant Death Program Support Center (NSIDPSC) provides guidance and materials for caregivers and parents through educational efforts on reducing the risk of infant death, and provides compassionate grief support to those affected by an infant death. It is NSIDPSC's goal to ensure the availability of quality educational and training materials and to promote collaboration and coalition building within the professional community. NSIDPSC is a cooperative agreement between the federal Maternal and Child Health Bureau (MCHB) and First Candle/SIDS Alliance.
For more information on the Program Support Center, visit: http://www.firstcandle.org/health/health_support.html .
The CJ Foundation for Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) is a nationwide voluntary health organization dedicated to recognizing the special needs of the SIDS community through funding SIDS research and support services. The Foundation hopes to increase public awareness of SIDS and to contribute to a future in which no parent is faced with the tragedy of losing a loved one to SIDS.
CJ Foundation fulfills its mission through national public awareness campaigns to implement risk reduction messages, local volunteer-led activities and events, professional education programs, and a national conference for professionals and families. The CJ Foundation awards grants for SIDS research, support services, and public awareness programs. The CJ Foundation communicates information to its constituents on topics such as current research, infant death scene investigation protocols, and the American Academy of Pediatrics revised policy statement on reducing the risk of SIDS.
In 2004 the CJ Foundation launched the Face Up to Wake Up campaign, to support the reduction of SIDS among American Indians and Alaska Natives. The CJ Foundation sponsored the development and dissemination of a SIDS Risk Reduction Resource Kit throughout Indian country. The CJ Foundation also provided grants to expand SIDS risk reduction activities in Indian communities.
For more information, visit http://www.cjsids.com/.
The CJ Foundation sponsors the Sudden Unexplained Death in Childhood Program (SUDC), which has been developed to provide a centralized resource for information, support and advocacy. The program serves families and professionals affected by the tragedy of SUDC, and promotes awareness of SUDC in communities.
For more information on SUDC, visit http://www.sudc.org/page.asp?id=1 .
The mission of the National Center for Cultural Competence (NCCC), Georgetown University for Child and Human Development, is to increase the capacity of health and mental health programs to design, implement, and evaluate culturally and linguistically competent service delivery systems.
The NCCC uses four major approaches to fulfill its mission including: (1) web-based technical assistance, (2) knowledge development and dissemination, (3) supporting a "community of learners" and (4) collaboration and partnerships with diverse constituency groups. These approaches entail the provision of training, technical assistance, and consultation and are intended to facilitate networking, linkages, and information exchange. The NCCC has particular expertise in developing instruments and conducting organizational self-assessment processes to advance cultural and linguistic competency.
For more information, visit http://www11.georgetown.edu/research/gucchd/nccc/ .
The NCCC Sudden Unexpected Infant Death/Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SUID/SIDS) Project is designed to impact state and local SUID/SIDS programs, family support and advocacy organizations, national organizations related to SUID/SIDS issues, and the three other National SUID/SIDS Centers funded by the Maternal and Child Health Bureau (MCHB). Activities of the SUID/SIDS Project are designed to increase the capacity of these programs and organizations to incorporate cultural and linguistic competence into their services and support, materials and training efforts, and community engagement. The NCCC SUID/SIDS Project is a cooperative agreement between the federal Maternal and Child Health Bureau (MCHB) and the Georgetown University for Child and Human Development.
For more information on the SUID/SIDS Death Project, visit http://www11.georgetown.edu/research/gucchd/nccc/projects/sids .
The mission of the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD), part of the federal National Institutes of Health, is to ensure that every person is born healthy and wanted, that women suffer no harmful effects from reproductive processes, and that all children have the chance to achieve their full potential for healthy and productive lives, free from disease or disability, and to ensure the health, productivity, independence, and well-being of all people through optimal rehabilitation. To reach that goal, NICHD supports and conducts laboratory research, clinical trials, and sponsors training programs for scientists, doctors, and researchers.
For more information, visit http://www.nichd.nih.gov.
As a co-sponsor of the Back to Sleep campaign launched in 1994, NICHD embraces the October 2005 American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) Policy Statement on Reducing the Risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS). The NICHD is working to incorporate the new risk reduction messages into all Back to Sleep campaign materials. NICHD is committed to providing parents, infant caregivers, and health care professionals with the most current information about SIDS through culturally appropriate awareness campaigns and local educational programs.
NICHD is moving forward with its vigorous research program to learn more about the causes of SIDS. NICHD continue to look for ways to reduce SIDS risks and ultimately to prevent the occurrence of SIDS.
For more information on the Back to Sleep campaign, visit: http://www.nichd.nih.gov/sids/.