Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) Program

SIDS, also known as "crib death," is the sudden and unexpected death of a baby under 1 year of age that remains unexplained after a thorough case investigation. SIDS can happen to any family, no matter what race they are, how much money they have, or where they live. What's important to know is that nobody is to blame when a baby dies of SIDS, because it cannot be predicted and the cause is unknown.

IMPORTANT THINGS TO KNOW

SIDS is one of the leading causes of infant death.
Most SIDS deaths happen in babies who are under 6 months old.
African American babies are 2x more likely to die of SIDS than white babies.
Babies are more likely to die of SIDS if they are exposed to secondhand smoke.
Babies placed to sleep on their stomachs are much more likely to die of SIDS than babies placed on their backs to sleep.

WHAT IS THE SIDS PROGRAM?

The mission of the Contra Costa SIDS Program is to help alleviate the tragedy surrounding SIDS by facilitating high quality, caring services to families and caregivers who have been affected by SIDS. The program works not only to assist families affected by SIDS, but also to expand awareness about SIDS and to promote risk reduction measures.

WHAT SERVICES DOES THE SIDS PROGRAM PROVIDE?

• Assistance to Families & Childcare Providers Affected by SIDS
  The SIDS Program partners with the Contra Costa Crisis Center to provide bereavement support, information, referrals, resources, and follow-up services to assist families and caregivers.
• Community Education
  SIDS Program staff participate in community campaigns and collaboratives (e.g. Child Death Review Team, Fetal Infant Mortality Review Case Review Team, Childhood Injury Prevention Network-Bay Area) to expand awareness about SIDS and to promote risk reduction measures such as placing infants on their backs to sleep and providing a smoke-free, safe-sleep environment.
• Trainings and Support
  Trainings are provided for childcare agencies, hospital and clinic staff, public health nurses, emergency responders, law enforcement agencies, first responders, and the general public. Trainings reference the most current research regarding SIDS and Safe Sleep practices.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES AND LINKS