The Baby 1st Network understands the importance of building trust in communities in an effort to improve birth outcomes. We also recognize the importance of providing compassionate and supportive bereavement services to families who have suffered the devastating loss of an infant. Our mission reflects our determination to become a leading resource for infant safe sleep information and training, and a valued collaborator in community efforts to reduce infant mortality.
Recognizing the importance of partnerships, Baby 1st Network will strive to collaborate with the public and private sector, institutions of higher learning, faith-based and civic organizations, in addition to community-based associations in both rural and urban areas. Through these collaborative efforts and the implementation of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) risk-reduction activities, we anticipate that increased awareness and adoption of infant safe sleep practices will help to reduce the number of infants who die suddenly and unexpectedly from sleep-related causes.
About Us
The Baby 1st Network is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization located in Toledo, Ohio. We are dedicated to uniting families, caregivers, and researchers with government, business, and community services groups to reduce infant mortality to the lowest level possible in Ohio and supporting families who have lost a child from sudden unexpected infant death (SUID).
Nearly 46 years ago, the Network (formerly the SIDS Network of Ohio) became the umbrella organization for regional and local SIDS organizations in the state. The Network formally merged programmatic and service delivery operations and consolidated branches in Akron-Cleveland, Columbus, Cincinnati, Toledo, and Dayton. It became the only statewide volunteer health organization dedicated exclusively to solving the mystery of SIDS.
In addition, the Network offered supportive services to families in Ohio who tragically lost an infant (under the age of two), suddenly and unexpectedly to either diagnosed or undiagnosed causes and manners of death. As one statewide entity, the SIDS Network set up headquarters in Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio, working to serve the families of Ohio experiencing first-hand the tragedy of SIDS. The mission was to improve the knowledge and skills of those who interact with families impacted by SIDS and other manners of infant death and to increase public awareness and knowledge of SIDS.
In 2002, in response to the needs created by SIDS and other infant deaths, the Ohio Department of Health (ODH) created the SIDS Program. Funded by the Maternal and Child Health Services Block Grant, the purpose of the program is to:
- Ensure compliance with the mandates of Ohio Revised Code 313.121, related to the reporting of sudden and unexpected infant deaths and the provision of support and bereavement services; and
- Provide expert consultation on SIDS; serve as a liaison with national and local SIDS organizations; and act as a resource for current information on SIDS research and risk reduction.
Baby 1st Network works closely with ODH along with the Ohio Coroner's Association and local health departments to ensure appropriate service providers are alerted when there has been a sudden infant death in a community. The Network provides SIDS training to nurses, first responders, social workers, day care providers, and others.
In 2015, the Network expanded its mission to focus on community outreach and education, promote infant health and wellness, and support state-wide efforts to reduce the rate of sleep-related infant death, which continued to increase in African American communities despite efforts by the state of Ohio health agencies. Increased infant mortality rates guided the Network to create specialized programming in diverse communities, which resulted in high visibility and diverse funding opportunities.
During this period, the Network also embarked on an organization-wide assessment recognizing the changing external environment. Through a strategic planning process, the Board of Directors led the organizational shift to engage constituents and key partners and collaborators to build on the success of existing community outreach programs and to expand bereavement services to previously underserved populations. This shift also included rebranding the Network to further demonstrate a new direction of enhanced positive, proactive work within our communities, which began October 1, 2016. The Board of Directors voted to change the name of the organization to Baby 1st Network.
The Baby 1st Network understands the importance of building trust in communities to improve birth outcomes. We also recognize the importance of providing compassionate and supportive bereavement services to families who have suffered the devastating loss of an infant. Our mission reflects our determination to become a leading resource for infant safe sleep information and training, and a valued collaborator in community efforts to reduce infant mortality. Recognizing the importance of partnerships, Baby 1st Network strives to collaborate with the public and private sector, institutions of higher learning, faith-based and civic organizations, in addition to community-based associations in both rural and urban areas.
In 2023, Baby 1st Network celebrated its 45th anniversary, serving communities around the state of Ohio. Now headquartered in Toledo, Ohio, the Network continues its work with ODH, other health-related agencies around the state, and not-for-profit and community-driven organizations. Through these collaborative efforts and the implementation of SIDS risk-reduction activities, we anticipate increased awareness and adoption of infant safe sleep practices will help to reduce the number of infants who die suddenly and unexpectedly from sleep-related causes.