Sudden Unexpected Infant Death Prevention Topic Call, Cohort 2, Call #6

We had a great call this month with lots of shares and cross cutting themes. 

Colorado

• Colorado shared work using child fatality review and vital statistics data to engage birthing hospitals around safe sleep education and prevention efforts.
• Emma Bernick described presenting hospital-specific SUID data to providers, which helped hospitals better understand their role in prevention and strengthened provider buy-in.
• Emma also highlighted their collaboration with Colorado’s Perinatal Quality Collaborative and has invited someone to come speak to our group about their efforts. The group decided that the best option would be the next office hours, or if that does not work, the next topic call. More to come on this opportunity to have a focused conversation around collaboration with PQCs.

California

• California discussed ongoing work related to the legislated California SIDS Council and current recruitment challenges for required council positions, particularly a firefighter/police representative. California highlighted its large network of local SIDS coordinators and emphasized continued expectations around education, safe sleep promotion, and grief/bereavement support.
• The state continues funding SUID-related work through Title V funding, despite broader budget and mandate challenges.

Illinois

• Illinois raised interest in using vital records and hospital-level data to identify trends in safe sleep deaths and target outreach to specific hospitals or systems.
• The discussion emphasized strengthening connections between data systems, coroners, and hospitals to support prevention efforts.

North Dakota

• North Dakota shared extensive community education and systems work focused on safe sleep and community responsive approaches.
• Sarah Myers described presenting SUID data to pediatricians, breastfeeding coalitions, and child care providers to increase awareness and align messaging and she shared her efforts for childcare regulation changes to better align with AAP safe sleep recommendations.  She is also working with early childhood settings to normalize safe sleep practices through play-based learning activities for young children (for example removing blankets and using sleep sacks for putting dolls to sleep).
• Luticia Mann shared updates on tribal partnerships, including expansion of Cribs for Kids sites, distribution of bedside sleepers and Pack ’n Plays, and interest in supporting cradleboard initiatives. She also shared about tribal welcoming ceremonies that combine safe sleep resources with cultural practices and family support. Clare Grace lifted up that indigenous populations are often disproportionately impacted by SUID and many of the states in the group have working with them as an area they want to continue building capacity. It was suggested that having an expanded conversation around this in the future may be helpful. 

Cross-State Themes

• States expressed growing interest in using data more strategically to guide hospital outreach and prevention efforts.
• Partnerships with Perinatal Quality Collaboratives (PQCs), child care systems, tribal communities, and professional organizations emerged as a strong area of shared learning.
• Many states highlighted the importance of relationship-building, provider education, and community engagement as key drivers of progress.

CSN / Cohort Updates

• The group discussed upcoming applications for Cohort 3 of the Child Safety Learning Collaborative (CSLC), which will open in June 2026.
• Clare Grace Jones announced her transition to a new role within EDC supporting MIECHV technical assistance efforts.Maria Katradis will transition into supporting the SUID Prevention cohort moving forward.