Safe Kids Fulton County (SKFC) is proud to announce the launch of its Safe Infant Sleep Initiative, a collaborative effort designed to improve infant health outcomes and reduce sleep-related infant deaths throughout Fulton County.
The primary goal of the Safe Infant Sleep Initiative is to reduce Sudden Unexpected Infant Death (SUID) by increasing the number of caregivers who follow the 2022 American Academy of Pediatrics Safe Infant Sleep Recommendations. According to state data, three infants die each week in Georgia because of SUID, making safe sleep education a critical public health priority. Through targeted outreach, caregiver education, and the distribution of safe sleep resources, the initiative seeks to increase awareness of evidence-based safe sleep practices and ensure that families have the tools needed to create safe sleep environments for their infants.
Safe Kids Fulton County is committed to preventing avoidable infant deaths in underserved communities, with a special focus on families living in South Fulton and the southern portion of Fulton County, where health disparities continue to impact maternal and infant health outcomes. The initiative promotes the American Academy of Pediatrics’ safe sleep recommendations, including placing babies on their backs for every sleep, using a firm, flat sleep surface, and keeping the sleep area free of soft bedding, toys, and other objects that can increase the risk of suffocation.
The initiative is being implemented in partnership with the Georgia Department of Public Health, Connections Family Resource Center, My Baby Shower, LLC, Atlanta Public Schools, and the Fulton County Board of Health Maternal and Child Health Program. Together, these organizations will provide education, resources, and portable cribs to birth mothers and caregivers of infants ages birth through 12 months, while supplies last.
For more information about the Safe Infant Sleep Initiative, please contact:
LaJoyce Brown-Lewis
Healthcare Manager, Fulton County Board of Health
Safe Kids Fulton County
770-520-7392
Mary.Brown-Lewis@dph.ga.gov
Safe Kids Fulton County is dedicated to preventing avoidable childhood injuries and promoting the health and safety of children through education, advocacy, and community partnerships. Through evidence-based programs and collaborative community initiatives, Safe Kids Fulton County works to ensure that every child has the opportunity to grow up safe, healthy, and thriving.
The Fulton County Board of Health provides a variety of services that help protect residents from health threats, increase access to health services to improve health outcomes, and provide information that assists Fulton County citizens in living healthier lives. For more information on the Fulton County Board of Health, visit http://www.fultoncountyboh.com.