Baby 1st Network Board of Directors announces the appointment of Stacy Scott, Ph.D., MPA, as executive director, effective July 1, 2018. Dr. Scott will remain executive director of the Global Infant Safe Sleep Center, an organization she founded in 2016.
Baby 1st Network is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to supporting families who have lost a child from sudden unexpected infant death (SUID), including Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS). Celebrating its 40th-year anniversary, the organization also provides educational materials and support to all who work to reduce the infant mortality rate in Ohio, as well as compassionate support services to families. Baby 1st Network relocated its headquarters from Cuyahoga Falls to Toledo, Ohio in June 2018.
“First and foremost, I want to save babies,” said Scott. “For many of Ohio counties, the infant mortality rate continues to increase, and that’s unacceptable. We need to address health disparities, provide more bereavement support for families who have lost a child, and expand our community network to provide tools and support to communities in Ohio who are willing to assist in keeping babies safe.”
A Toledo, Ohio native, Scott is a 30-year public health advocate, and a safe sleep expert who’s worked from the government agency level to ground zero spearheading numerous community outreach programs nationwide to end health disparities and reduce the risk of infant deaths. She has served as program manager for Baby 1st Network since 2014, facilitating a series of community forums and implementing a community-based mini grant program designed to fund outreach activities promoting safe sleep messaging and practices, and has worked with the organization as a consultant for more than 20 years. Scott also serves as the state of Ohio spokesperson for their “ABC of Safe Sleep” campaign.
Dr. Scott received her bachelor’s degree in Human Service Administration from Spelman College in Atlanta, Georgia, a master’s degree in Public Administration from Bowling Green State University in Bowling Green and a Ph.D. in Urban Higher Education from Jackson State University.
In March, the Global Infant Safe Sleep (GISS) Center and Baby 1st Network announced its partnership to expand the organizations’ efforts to reverse the growing rate of infant mortality, empower communities and broaden bereavement resources and services for Ohio families who have lost a child to sudden unexpected infant death (SUID) and sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). This partnership will continue with the two organizations working together to reach underserved communities.