Library: News Release
Infant sleep related deaths are heart-wrenching tragedies which too frequently occur as a result of unsafe sleeping practices by families. The Oklahoma Department of Human Services (DHS) receives notification of all infant sleep-related deaths in the state.
In 2013, 75 infants died from unsafe sleeping practices. In 2014, there were 63 infant sleep-related deaths. These numbers do not include infants who died from Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS).
Disturbed by these preventable deaths, DHS Director Ed Lake directed some savings within the agency’s budget to be used to purchase 500 full-sized cribs with mattresses and 500 small portable cribs to help families keep their babies safe.
“Our mission is to help Oklahomans lead safer, healthier lives,” said Lake. “Seeing the notices of all the babies who died from unsafe sleeping arrangements made me think about what we could possibly do to prevent these needless deaths. Our child welfare workers are already in homes across the state checking on the safety and well-being of children. I wanted our workers to have the ability to help families they encountered who did not have or could not afford cribs for their infants.”
Since DHS first purchased some of the small portable cribs in December 2014, approximately 50 have already been given to families in need. DHS expects to receive shipment of the full-size cribs and mattresses soon and those will be available to workers statewide.
In addition to providing cribs, the DHS Office of Community and Faith Engagement and Child Welfare Services are partnering with the Oklahoma State Department of Health (OSDH) to distribute information and materials that provide helpful information and promote safe sleeping environments.
The OSDH provided DHS with a supply of the materials. Approximately 500 pamphlets have already been distributed by child welfare workers to families and more have been ordered due to the high demand. DHS also refers families to local county Health Departments for follow-up services and other resources.
“We are very excited to combine our efforts with those of the State Department of Health in linking the children and families we serve with resources to educate, support and promote safe sleep environments. We want to be part of the solution in helping to save babies’ lives in Oklahoma,” said Karen Jacobs, DHS Office of Community and Faith Engagement.
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