Holy Name Press Releases

Event to Address Role of Implicit Bias and Social Determinants on SIDS rates

First Candle to host discussion and reception honoring safe sleep advocates at Holy Name Medical Center

September 18, 2019

National non-profit organization First Candle will host a two-part event at Holy Name Medical Center on October 1st focused on improving maternal health and reducing infant mortality rates among women and children of all races and ethnicities and honoring advocates who support the movement. This coincides with the beginning of SIDS Awareness Month.

First Candle is committed to ending Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) and accidental suffocation/strangulation in bed (ASSB) while providing bereavement support to those who have experienced a loss. Every year over 3,600 babies die from these two causes and SIDS remains the leading cause of death for babies one month to one year of age. Deaths among African American babies is twice as high as that of non-Hispanic white babies. This disparity is in line with the rate of maternal mortality.

The first part of the event is a roundtable discussion involving First Candle, its federal partners, community leaders, and Holy Name physicians, who together will address The Impact of Implicit Bias and Social Determinants on Infant Mortality. The group aims to gain insight into the systemic changes necessary to improve infant mortality rates in communities of color and address the effects of historical and structural racism and other key barriers to education and support on safe sleep and maternal care for families.

"This event is an opportunity for all stakeholders to acknowledge the work that has been done in the past and listen to community leaders on what needs to be done in the future to close the gap in care and education," said Alison Jacobson, CEO and executive director of First Candle. "While the rate of SIDS in New Jersey is low, black babies are dying at 3 times the rate. We can’t continue to do the same thing and expect different results. The only way we can change this is by recognizing that community members have the answers and listen to them. First Lady Tammy Murphy’s Nurture New Jersey program is a collaborative effort that is seeing success and should be considered in other states. This event is an opportunity to look at models of success like this."

The second part of the event is a reception honoring the First Lady and author Kimberly Seals Allers for their advocacy work and support in addressing this critical issue. The First Lady will be recognized for her program Nurture NJ, a statewide awareness campaign that is committed to reducing infant and maternal mortality and morbidity and ensuring equitable maternal and infant care among women and children of all races and ethnicities.

Ms. Seals Allers will be recognized for her work advocating for health equity and improving breastfeeding rates among black mothers as well as the development of her app "Irth" which will seek to "influence bias around all health interactions." The app gives users the ability to rate hospitals based on their experience, so that parents of all races and ethnicities can make more informed decisions about their maternity care.

"Women need information to be empowered to access care before, during and after their pregnancies," said Michael Maron, president and CEO of Holy Name Medical Center. "Healthcare providers need to make sure women and families know what is available to them; we must listen to and hear their concerns. We are grateful to First Candle for leading the effort to collaborate with so many organizations that share in the mission to improve care and reduce risk for moms and babies."

The event is sponsored by MAM and underwritten by Keriton, which share in First Candle’s mission to promote safe practices for sleep. As a leading supplier of baby products worldwide, MAM remains committed to educating healthcare professionals and childcare communities on SIDS risk reduction through pacifier use and other safe sleep tactics.

Keriton is also working to reduce infant mortality rates, specifically for babies born prematurely who spend time in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). Keriton developed a cross-platform mobile app suite to give parents and providers updates on feeding and pumping information in real time to ensure NICU families meet their breastfeeding goals. Because NICU babies are at greater risk for SIDS, this app keeps all caregivers updated on critical information.

WHAT:
Part I: Roundtable discussion, The Impact of Implicit Bias and Social Determinants on Infant Mortality.
Part II: Reception Honoring First Lady of NJ Tammy Murphy & Author Kimberly Seals Allers

WHEN:
Part I: Tuesday, October 1, 11:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Part II: Tuesday, October 1, 4:30 PM – 5:30 PM

WHERE:
Holy Name Medical Center, Teaneck, NJ 07666

WHO:
Representatives from First Candle, Holy Name Medical Center, NICHD, HRSA, ACOG, APP, MAM, Keriton, New Jersey DCF, Moms Rising, Black Mothers Breastfeeding Association, Ancient Song Doulas, Partnership for Maternal and Child Health, Perinatal Health Equity Foundation, National Association of Neonatal Nurses, Nurse Family Partnership, Dr. Christine Thorpe, Kimberly Seals Allers and Jill Wodnick.