This is Webinar #3 in a three-part series on safe infant sleep entitled “Systems for Safe Sleep: Purposefully Building Programs for Effective Public Health Partnerships.”

This series explores the topic through the lens of the Multi-Sectoral Influences Matrix (M-SIM), a tool that helps broadly scope programs and meaningfully engage the full spectrum of partners and perspectives that are affected by an intervention. The series is presented by the Southeastern and Southwestern Injury Prevention Network and the Safe States Alliance.

In Webinar #3, “Walking the Line Between Public Health Messages and Lived Experience: Constructive Conversations and Unlikely Alliances”, presenters address how safe sleep communication campaigns can cause conflict between public health and other professionals involved in infant and family health (i.e. breastfeeding advocates). Terri Miller from the Georgia Department of Health shares her story about the positive working relationship that developed between public health and maternal and child health in relation to Georgia’s Safe to Sleep Campaign. Linda Smith, co-author of Sweet Sleep: Nighttime and Naptime Strategies for the Breastfeeding Family, shares her perspectives on the balance between women and baby’s need for sleep, nourishment, safety, and closeness. Jane Herwehe of the Louisiana Department of Health provides final commentary on the webinar series, connecting each presentation back to the M-SIM.

Learning Objectives

After participating in this webinar, participants will:

– Understand how safe sleep communications campaigns can cause conflict between public health and other professionals involved in infant and family health (i.e. breastfeeding advocates)

– Learn how positive working relationships around safe sleep can be developed between public health and maternal and child health programs

– Understand how components of safe sleep campaigns connect to the M-SIM

Presenters

Terri Miller, Georgia Department of Health, Injury Prevention Program

Linda Smith, author, Wright State University, Boonshoft School of Medicine (Dayton, OH)

Jane Herwehe, Louisiana Office of Public Health, Bureau of Family Health

Continuing education credits are offered for this training for Safe States members. These include credits for individuals who are Certified Health Education Specialist (CHES) and Certified in Public Health (CPH).