REACH CNY's Cribs for Kids program helps families in Onondaga and Oswego Counties keep their babies safe.  SIDS and Sudden Unexpected Infant Deaths (SUID) related to unsafe sleeping environments claim the lives of about 3,500 infants each year in the United States, including more than 90 infants in New York State.  SIDS and SUID are the largest cause of infant death from 28 days to one year of age.  From 2012-2014, 31 infants between 28 days and 1 year of age died in Onodaga and Oswego Counties--many of these infant deaths were due to unsafe sleep environments. Cribs for Kids provides safe sleep education and safe portable cribs to families to reduce the risk of SIDS and help prevent sleep-related deaths.

Safe sleep practices and newer cribs that meet the Consumer Products Safety Commission standards are protective factors that reduce risk. However, many families cannot afford to purchase a new crib for their infant. Of appoximately 6,560 births to families in Onondaga and Oswego Counties (2014), about half are to families eligible for Medicaid or Family Health Plus. These and many other families with limited resources struggle to afford a safe crib for their baby.  Some resort to using second-hand cribs that do not meet current safety guidelines, or place their babies in unsafe sleeping areas such adult beds, couches or car seats, placing them at greater risk for SUID.

REACH CNY’s Cribs for Kids program promotes safe sleep education and provides free safe portable cribs to families referred by home visitors and social workers. Crib purchases are the only program cost--staffing and educational materials are provided by REACH CNY, Inc and referring partner organizations. As a partner of the National Cribs for Kids program, REACH CNY is able to purchase cribs for only $55 each.  Shortage of funding to purchase cribs is the only factor limiting our ability to help low-resource families with safe cribs.  In 2016, we distributed 100 cribs, serving a small fraction of the low-income families that welcomed new babies in Onondaga and Oswego Counties. 

We hope you will support our current campaign to raise enough funds to help protect 100 babies from death due to unsafe sleep environments or SIDS.