As October marks Safe Sleep Awareness Month, a recent statement highlights an ongoing public health challenge—the disproportionately high rates of sudden unexpected infant death (SUID) among American Indians, Alaskan Natives, and non-Hispanic Black infants. Data from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) show that around 3,400 infants, averaging about 40 in Oregon alone, die each year from SUID, which encompasses sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), as reported by the Oregon Department of Human Services.
Actively working towards curbing these fatalities, the Oregon Department of Human Services (ODHS) Child Welfare requires all caseworkers to receive training geared at engaging families in discussions about safe infant sleep that are culturally responsive. According to ODHS Child Welfare, caseworkers, when appropriate, connect families with culturally responsive organizations because they help parents make informed decisions and thereby reduce risk, noting that "safe sleep is a priority at ODHS Child Welfare, because education and awareness can save lives".
Resources extended by ODHS and its partners not only involve providing portable cribs but also offering lactation counseling, information on donor milk banks, and support for substance use problems. The agency annually distributes about 500 portable sleep spaces, summing up to over 2,800 units since 2020. Breastfeeding has been associated with a decrease in the likelihood of sleep-related infant death, presumed partly due to the frequent waking of breastfed infants as human breast milk is less filling than formula, as published in the Oregon Newsroom report.
Child Welfare Director Aprille Flint-Gerner emphasized the importance of spreading awareness stating, "We strive to reduce infant fatalities, and a big part of that is sharing this information so that all families are aware of what they can do to create a safe sleep environment and prevent the tragic loss of a child," the ODHS stated.
