Safe sleep for a strong community – Manistee News Advocate

MANISTEE COUNTY — Some infants in Manistee County will be sleeping soundly – and safely – thanks to a partnership of the Manistee County Child Advocacy Center, District Health Department #10, and Transitions Women’s Wellness Center.

The Manistee County Child Advocacy Center donated 15 portable crib sets to be distributed to new parents at the health department and by Jennifer Cameron, nurse midwife at Transitions. The crib sets were purchased through the “Cribs for Kids” program with grant money awarded to the Manistee County Child Advocacy Center through the Michigan Children’s Trust Fund.

The mission of Cribs for Kids mirrors the goals of the Manistee County Child Advocacy Center’s safe sleep program: to prevent infant sleep-related deaths by educating parents and caregivers on the importance of practicing safe sleep for their babies and by providing portable cribs to families who, otherwise, cannot afford a safe place for their babies to sleep.

The crib set donations come at an important time, as October 2020 has been designated as Infant Safe Sleep Awareness Month in Michigan.

Sadly, a baby in Michigan dies nearly every other day due to sleeping in an unsafe sleep environment, which translates to more than 140 babies every year. Research has shown that three out of four of these sleep-related deaths involve children sleeping in unsafe locations such as adult beds.

Through education to new parents and by providing no-cost resources such as the crib sets, the Child Advocacy Center, District Health Department #10’s Maternal Infant Health Program, and Transitions Women’s Wellness Center are working hard to not have newborns in this community become part of these devastating statistics.

“In addition to providing forensic interviews and wrap-around services to children who disclose abuse, an important role of the Manistee County Child Advocacy Center is to provide prevention services and increase public awareness,” said family advocate, Traci Smith. “We are grateful for the strong relationships with Transitions Women’s Wellness and the District Health Department’s Maternal Infant Health Program, because working together we can provide support to new parents in our community and help newborns have a safe start in life.”