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Arkansas

Pregnancy, birth and the first year in Arkansas, in 14 topics: from who runs maternal and child health to what happens at your newborn's screening.

Safe Sleep & Cribs

In Arkansas, several programs and resources are dedicated to promoting safe sleep practices for infants and assisting families in securing appropriate sleep environments. By educating parents and offering safe sleep options, these programs seek to lower the risk of SIDS and other sleep-related fatalities.

  1. Arkansas Department of Human Services (DHS)

DHS emphasizes the importance of safe sleep environments to prevent Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) and related incidents. They advocate for practices such as placing infants on their backs to sleep, using firm sleep surfaces, and sharing a room without bed-sharing. Their comprehensive guide offers detailed recommendations for caregivers. They also provide educational materials and guidelines on best practices, such as placing infants on their backs to sleep and using firm sleep surfaces free from soft bedding. Additionally, the ADH has implemented initiatives where participants receive a "Best Practice Basket," which includes items like a Pack 'n Play to ensure a safe sleep space for infants.

  1. Arkansas Children's Hospital Injury Prevention Center

This center provides educational materials and support to hospitals developing safe sleep policies. They offer guidance on creating safe sleep environments and reducing risks associated with unsafe sleep practices. For more information, contact the Injury Prevention Center. Also, it is important to know the ABC's of Safe Sleep are as follows;

Alone (never co-sleep with your baby)
Back (only put your baby to sleep on their backs)
Crib (make sure your baby’s sleep environment is safe and free of suffocation hazards, i.e. blankets, bumper pads, stuffed animals, etc.)

  1. Cribs for Kids Program:

A national initiative with local partners in Arkansas, Cribs for Kids aims to provide safe sleep environments for infants. Families in need can receive Cribette portable cribs to ensure their babies have a secure place to sleep. To find a participating organization, visit their website and use the "Find a Crib" feature.
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  1. Arkansas Home Visiting Network (AHVN)

This home-visiting network offers training programs focused on safe sleep practices to reduce the risk of SIDS. Home visitors educate families on creating safe sleep environments and provide resources to support these practices. Some, but not all, of the home-visiting programs and stakeholders across the state of Arkansas that are represented on the AHVN, are supported by the federal Maternal Infant Early Childhood Home Visiting (MIECHV) grant. Program representatives that provide home-visiting services to families from the time a mother becomes pregnant until her children start kindergarten, as well as representatives from stakeholder organisations that support home-visiting services, are eligible to join the network.

The current models participating in the Arkansas Home Visiting Network include

  • Arkansas Early Head Start
  • Family Connects Union County
  • Following Baby Back Home
  • Healthy Families America
  • HIPPY Arkansas
  • Nurse-Family Partnership
  • Parents as Teachers
  • SafeCare Arkansas
  1. Arkansas Birthing Project

A community-based organization supporting expectant mothers, the Arkansas Birthing Project occasionally assists with essential baby items, including cribs and car seats. They also provide donated baby clothing, diapers, and sometimes baby formula or breast pumps.

  1. Local Community Organizations

Various local organizations and churches in Arkansas assist families in need. For instance, Central Baptist Church of North Little Rock offers services that may include providing diapers, cribs, baby wipes, and other essential items to low-income families. Contacting local community centers or faith-based organizations can help identify available resources in your area. More information

It is very essential to adhere to safe sleep practices and utilizing these resources, families can create a safe environment for their babies and reduce the risk of sleep-related injuries or deaths.
In Arkansas, several programs and resources are dedicated to promoting safe sleep practices for infants and assisting families in securing appropriate sleep environments. By educating parents and offering safe sleep options, these programs seek to lower the risk of SIDS and other sleep-related fatalities.

  1. Arkansas Department of Human Services (DHS)

DHS emphasizes the importance of safe sleep environments to prevent Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) and related incidents. They advocate for practices such as placing infants on their backs to sleep, using firm sleep surfaces, and sharing a room without bed-sharing. Their comprehensive guide offers detailed recommendations for caregivers. They also provide educational materials and guidelines on best practices, such as placing infants on their backs to sleep and using firm sleep surfaces free from soft bedding. Additionally, the ADH has implemented initiatives where participants receive a "Best Practice Basket," which includes items like a Pack 'n Play to ensure a safe sleep space for infants.

  1. Arkansas Children's Hospital Injury Prevention Center

This center provides educational materials and support to hospitals developing safe sleep policies. They offer guidance on creating safe sleep environments and reducing risks associated with unsafe sleep practices. For more information, contact the Injury Prevention Center. Also, it is important to know the ABC's of Safe Sleep are as follows;

Alone (never co-sleep with your baby)
Back (only put your baby to sleep on their backs)
Crib (make sure your baby’s sleep environment is safe and free of suffocation hazards, i.e. blankets, bumper pads, stuffed animals, etc.)

  1. Cribs for Kids Program:

A national initiative with local partners in Arkansas, Cribs for Kids aims to provide safe sleep environments for infants. Families in need can receive Cribette portable cribs to ensure their babies have a secure place to sleep. To find a participating organization, visit their website and use the "Find a Crib" feature.
.

  1. Arkansas Home Visiting Network (AHVN)

This home-visiting network offers training programs focused on safe sleep practices to reduce the risk of SIDS. Home visitors educate families on creating safe sleep environments and provide resources to support these practices. Some, but not all, of the home-visiting programs and stakeholders across the state of Arkansas that are represented on the AHVN, are supported by the federal Maternal Infant Early Childhood Home Visiting (MIECHV) grant. Program representatives that provide home-visiting services to families from the time a mother becomes pregnant until her children start kindergarten, as well as representatives from stakeholder organisations that support home-visiting services, are eligible to join the network.

The current models participating in the Arkansas Home Visiting Network include

  • Arkansas Early Head Start
  • Family Connects Union County
  • Following Baby Back Home
  • Healthy Families America
  • HIPPY Arkansas
  • Nurse-Family Partnership
  • Parents as Teachers
  • SafeCare Arkansas
  1. Arkansas Birthing Project

A community-based organization supporting expectant mothers, the Arkansas Birthing Project occasionally assists with essential baby items, including cribs and car seats. They also provide donated baby clothing, diapers, and sometimes baby formula or breast pumps.

  1. Local Community Organizations

Various local organizations and churches in Arkansas assist families in need. For instance, Central Baptist Church of North Little Rock offers services that may include providing diapers, cribs, baby wipes, and other essential items to low-income families. Contacting local community centers or faith-based organizations can help identify available resources in your area. More information

It is very essential to adhere to safe sleep practices and utilizing these resources, families can create a safe environment for their babies and reduce the risk of sleep-related injuries or deaths.

Looking for an organization near you in Arkansas?

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