The staff and volunteers at Baby 1st Network and the Global Infant Safe Sleep Center (GISS) ask for your donation to help keep babies safe so they can live beyond their first birthday.

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A Community Forum

Community Matters: Understanding the Historical Context of Black Infant Survival

Despite the historical challenges encountered by Black communities, their collective knowledge has been vital in ensuring the survival of their infants. The forum aims to uplift the resilience and resourcefulness of families, highlighting their significant contributions to overcoming these obstacles: a profound narrative influenced by systemic inequities, entrenched socioeconomic factors, and complex cultural dynamics.

Join us as we build on centuries of perseverance in confronting the past and its implications. Please take this opportunity to work in the future-present, paving the way for meaningful change and ensuring that every infant, regardless of background, can survive and thrive.

Tues, October 7, 2025

9:00 am to 5:00 pm

Baylor College of Medicine Texas Children’s Hospital Houston, Texas

Nakeitra Burse, DrPH, MS, CHES
Community Support Systems
Nicole Deggins, CNM, MSN, MPH
Cultural Practices and Traditions
David Fluellen
Adaptability and Resilience
Dr. M.C. Brown II
Faith and Spirituality
Maleka J. James, MPH, CD
Advocacy and Activism
Zsakeba Henderson, MD FACOG
Improvement in Healthcare Access
Sharla Smith, PhD, MPH
Education and Awareness
Dr. Stacy Scott
Convener
Here are six ways to keep the baby in your care safe

Put Babies Safely to Sleep

Put baby to bed on their back – it’s the safest way


Put them to sleep in their own space


Use a firm and flat mattress with a tight sheet


Keep sleep surface clutter-free – no pillows, bumper pads, blankets, toys


Keep sleep surface clutter-free – no pillows, bumper pads, blankets,


Consider offering a pacifier at nap time and bedtime


For More Information

Get in touch

For more Information, feel free to contact us:



GISS-Global Infant Safe Sleep Center

P.O. Box 403, Toledo, OH 48397-0403
1 888 367-1110 Ext 1
info@gisscenter.org
(614)304-6206