Not only is October Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month, but it is also SIDS Awareness Month. SIDS, which stands for Sudden Infant Death Syndrome, is the sudden unexplained death of a child less than one year of age. According to the National Institute of Health, more than one-third of sudden unexpected infant deaths that occur in the United States each year are from SIDS. Unsafe sleep areas, such as those that include non-fitted sheets, blankets, or stuffed toys, also remain a leading cause of infant death. By raising awareness about safe sleep practices for infants, individuals can help play a part in reducing the amount of sudden unexpected infant deaths.  

HealthCare Access Maryland’s (HCAM) Safe Sleep program is an initiative within our Care Coordination Program (CCP) which is an outreach program that provides short-term care coordination services to Baltimore City residents. The Safe Sleep Initiative is a comprehensive program designed to address infant mortality due to unsafe sleeping environments in Baltimore City. It aims to reduce infant deaths by providing pregnant and postpartum women with in-home education on safe sleep practices, creating a secure sleep environment, and offering portable Pack ‘N Play when necessary. This initiative is pivotal in tackling the public health crisis related to infant safety. In addition to safe sleep education, which is provided by Safe Sleep Coordinators, our team also delivers information on accessing family planning services, birth-spacing, and the significance of post-partum examinations in maternal health and family planning.   

In a touching Safe Sleep success story, we offered care coordination services and crib assistance to a Spanish-speaking mother, Victoria*, who had recently given birth. Our team visited Victoria’s home, provided crucial safe sleep education, and demonstrated proper practices by setting up a Pack ‘n Play, illustrating how her baby, Marie*, should sleep safely. Beyond safe sleep education and crib assistance, we identified a potential opportunity for Victoria to access Medicaid for Marie who is uninsured. Our team took the time to convey vital information in both English and Spanish, clarifying that even if she wasn’t a U.S. citizen, she might qualify for free healthcare through Medicaid, designed to cover healthcare needs. We equipped Victoria with essential information and guided her on how to apply for Medicaid through various accessible channels. Her sincere gratitude for our program and services was evident as she mentioned that without our assistance, she didn’t know where she would have found help.    

In Fiscal Year 2023, the Safe Sleep Initiative achieved significant milestones, including providing crib deliveries to 346 city residents, offering safe sleep education and environmental assessments to 467 clients, and educating 370 women on family planning, birth-spacing, and contraceptive use. The program also extended its reach by providing safe sleep education at Baltimore Housing Authority community fairs, Digital Harbor High School, Judy Centers, DSS Visionaries Academy, and Chrysalis House—recovery support services for women.   

Learn more: 

• Safe sleep for infants – check out this important fact sheet put together by our partner, B’more for Healthy Babies. 
• Infant Loss Panel Discussion – Hosted by Momcares Inc., in partnership with Baltimore City Health Department and B’more for Healthy Babies, taking place Thursday, October 26th from 3pm-4pm. Register here. 

Contact: 

• HCAM’s Safe Sleep team to see if you qualify for safe sleep education and resources. Call 410-649-0500, option 2. 

*Name changed to protect client privacy