Cooper Receives 150 Pack-n-Play Cribs From NJ DCF to Promote Safe Sleep Initiatives

pack-n-play donation for safe sleep initiative

Allison Blake, Commissioner of NJ Department of Children and Families (far right) joins with Cooper University Health Care physicians, nurses, and social workers to announce a safe sleep initiative in recognition of SIDS Awareness Month.

To kick off SIDS Awareness Month (October) and promote safe sleep initiatives, Cooper University Health Care hosted the New Jersey Department of Children and Families (DCF) to accept 150 pack-n-play cribs on Wednesday, October 5, 2016. Allison Blake, commissioner of NJ Department of Children and Families, presented the cribs with a proclamation in recognition of SIDS Awareness Month.

Each pack-n-play includes a safe sleep education kit and will be distributed to families identified as at-risk, with the goal of reducing the incidence of sudden infant death syndrome.

“If just one child’s life is saved, this program will have been worthwhile” said Commissioner Blake.

In New Jersey, unsafe sleep circumstances are associated with more than 80 percent of the sudden unexpected infant deaths in the last two review years. The Child Fatality Near Fatality Review Board (CFNFRB), through a DCF grant, is working to promote a safe sleep environment with the goal of decreasing these preventable tragedies in NJ.

“As Chair of the CFNFRB, I hope we can continue to work together until we eliminate sudden unexpected deaths due to unsafe sleep circumstances,” said Kathryn M. McCans, MD, FAAP, emergency medicine physician and director of the CARE Team at Children’s Regional Hospital at Cooper.

Cooper University Heath Care and three other birthing hospitals are participating in this initiative. Cooper’s CARE Team has identified interested physicians, nurses, and social workers who will work to roll out this program.

The pack-n-plays will be distributed free of charge when a need is assessed. In addition, the team will develop standardized safe sleep educational materials to be given to caretakers, posters to raise awareness, and materials to promote more uniform provision of safe sleep information to families.

Leave a Reply

DO NOT USE THIS FORM FOR APPOINTMENTS. Using this form will only delay your ability to get an appointment. Please use the contact information in the article or visit appointments.cooperhealth.org.