The Safe Sleep Summit is a convening of multidisciplinary partners working to create a roadmap to combat the persistent and unacceptable inequities that contribute to unsafe infant sleep. Focusing largely on infant deaths due to unsafe sleep, The Summit will utilize the novel Injury Equity Framework to consider the structural drivers that impact inequities in SUID prevention. Through panel presentations, interactive break out sessions, and networking, participants in the day-and-a-half conference will discuss the current state of data and interventions to address unsafe sleep, and will identify gaps and the possible actions to fill them. 

By bringing together academic partners, community activists, manufacturers, researchers, practitioners, and policy makers, the Summit will advance collaboration and will strive to identify new approaches, collaborations, and tools to provide families across all communities the opportunity to keep their infants safe during sleep.

Hotel / Travel

Sheraton Inner Harbor
300 S. Charles St.
Baltimore, MD 21201
tel: 410-962-8300

Hotel Registration - Regular Rate

Hotel Registration - Government Rate

Schedule

Friday, October 18

3:00pm - 7:30pm

Session 1:  Why We Need a Roadmap 

Dr. Kyran Quinlan will kick off the opening session by making the case for an increased investment in unsafe sleep prevention. There will be brief presentations by three experts: Dr. Rachel Moon, American Academy of Pediatrics; Dr. Melissa Pasquale, Connecticut Office of the Chief Medical Examiner; and Dr. Abby Collier, National Center for Fatality Review and Prevention. This will be followed by a moderated panel discussion focusing on our current understanding of the issue, as well as a look at knowledge gaps and the challenges and opportunities for enhancing and unifying efforts to prevent SUID.

Session 2:  How to Meet Families Where They Are

This panel will be moderated by Jessica Ritter of Safe Kids Pennsylvania and will include representatives from two national and two regional programs addressing SUID prevention:  Judy Bannon, Cribs 4 Kids; Alison Jacobson, First Candle; Sinmidele Badero, B’More for Healthy Babies, Baltimore; and Felicia Tallis-Clark, CPASS, Chicago. Through brief presentations and discussion, the panelists will share examples of educational strategies and will highlight the opportunities and challenges with current approaches, particularly when it comes to addressing inequities. The discussion will also explore the pros and cons of a harm reduction approach (good, better, best); the importance of educator preparation; and approaches for effectively reaching groups that have been marginalized and underserved.

Evening Networking Reception and Exhibit Viewing

Saturday, October 19

8:00am - 3:30pm

Session 3:  Building a Systems Approach to Safe Sleep 

In addition to increasing awareness and reaching individuals and families, it is essential to look more broadly at the factors impacting safe sleep at the organizational, community, and societal levels. In this session, a panel (including a speaker from the Consumer Product Safety Commission and safety advocates Dr. Sam Hanke of Charlie’s Kids Foundation and Nancy Cowles of Kids in Danger) will discuss system-level perspectives on safe sleep. Panelists will address organizational policies and practices;  the regulation of sleep products; and ways these factors can both facilitate and hinder progress.

Session 4:  Creating the Roadmap

As a first step toward creating a roadmap for action, Dr. Sadiqa Kendi, Safe Kids Chief Medical Officer, will introduce the Kendi-Macy Injury Equity Framework, a conceptual framework for understanding the factors that impact injury inequities. Summit participants will then break into small groups to discuss potential actions to build equitable systems, to ensure we are meeting families “where they are”, and to consider other ways to make a significant impact on the SUID inequities in the U.S.  

Session 5:  Ask the Expert

After discussing and considering potential actions for the road map,  there will be a question-and-answer session with the experts who are centering equity in their work and advocating for changes to SUID prevention. Panel members will include Dr. Abby Collier, Dr. Samuel Hanke, Dr. Sadiqa Kendi, Dr. Melissa Pasquale, and Dr. Kyran Quinlan.

Session 6:  Summing Up and Next Steps

The closing session will recap the day and a half of discussions and outline next steps and opportunities for collaboration and partnership.

SPONSORS

EXHIBITORS

Becoming a Sponsor and/or Exhibitor of the Safe Sleep Summit presents unique opportunities to:

• Demonstrate your commitment to this important conversation around safe sleep practices.
• Align with experts and advocates who are working on this issue. 
• Reach educators, researchers, public health workers and students, parent advocates, juvenile product manufacturers and more.
• Be at the forefront of transformational conversations that have the potential to positively impact the lives of many.

Sponsor and Exhibitor Brochure

Sponsor Interest Form

Exhibitor Interest Form

Registration ends Sept. 20, 2024