Not rendering correctly? View this email as a web page here.
600x150_NICHQ-News-Oct2018.jpg

In honor of SIDS awareness month, please consider sharing the articles in blue boxes on social media with the hashtag #SIDSAwarenessMonth.

Let's help more babies reach year one. 

Baby sleepingBetter Sleep for Breastfeeding Mothers, Safer Sleep for Babies
How do you realistically support tired and overwhelmed mothers to breastfeed safely? This is an all too common question for maternal health professionals seeking to encourage both breastfeeding and safe sleep habits. Here, Michael Goodstein, MD, a neonatologist and safe sleep and breastfeeding expert, offers ideas for improvement. 

#SIDSAwarenessMonth

Health teamThe Opioid Epidemic and Maternal Health: Three Opportunities for Change
Opioid use disorder in pregnancy has increased dramatically across the country in the last decade, bringing with it increased health risks for mothers and babies. Health professionals can help change these statistics by making the most of every interaction they have with new mothers, from prenatal care to building postpartum supports. Click in for advice from experts in the field.

Mom and babyAn African-American Fraternity Alliance is Changing Infant Health Outcomes
In Arkansas, nearly 300 babies die before their first birthday each year. That’s almost a baby every day. Determined to change these numbers and reach communities most affected, the Arkansas Department of Health forged a new partnership with Brothers United, an alliance of African-American fraternities. Now, they're working as change agents in their communities. Read more here.

#SIDSAwarenessMonth

piggy bankDriving Improvement with Motivational Interviewing
Change is most effective, and most sustainable, when individuals choose to make the change because they’ve realized it supports their goals. While eliciting that realization isn’t always easy, drawing on motivational interviewing can help. In this article, find three strategies to get your team started on using this technique.

Featured Webinar
Improving Our Approach:
Better Conversations About Breastfeeding
In this webinar, we'll provide strategies for improving breastfeeding conversations so health professionals can better identify and address the unique challenges mothers face. Lori Feldman-Winter, MD, MPH, and Suzanne Bronheim, PhD, will review conversational approaches that support open, trust-based interactions and inspire behavioral change. The webinar will conclude with a role-play scenario that shows what these approaches look like in action so attendees can envision how to use them in their own work. Register to save your seat

#SIDSAwarenessMonth

Featured Resource:Safe Sleep Quiz
How Safe Sleep Savvy Are You?
We can help save thousands of babies each year by having better conversations with caregivers about safe sleep recommendations.To help support those conversations, we've developed this short video quiz that reviews recommended safe sleep practices. Physicians, nurses, home visitors and other public health professionals can sit with caregivers while they take the quiz, review any questions and discuss best practices.
#SIDSAwarenessMonth


In Case You Missed It

  • Submit your questions: Throughout October, our early childhood experts are taking questions on how to engage and work with families to improve early childhood systems. Submit your questions here.
  • New video: In this video, early childhood state and community stakeholders discuss what it takes to build a comprehensive early childhood system. 
  • We're hiring: Join a team of innovative thinkers and doers seeking to drive change in the complex challenges facing children's health.  
  • Two weeks to apply for Pediatrics Supporting Parents Learning Community: This initiative seeks to ensure that all children from birth to age 3 receive the supports they need to achieve kindergarten readiness and positive life outcomes. The application deadline is Oct. 31. Click here to learn more and apply.