Advocate News

Manitoba Advocate hosts Safe and Sound webinars

October is Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) awareness month. In Canada, sudden and unexplained deaths remain the second leading cause of death for infants between the ages of one month and 12 months. Over the last 10 years, 145 Manitoba infants died unexpectedly in their sleep.

Sleep-related infant deaths are not only a serious public health concern, but they are also a children’s rights issue. While each of us who has cared for a baby has done so with the best of our knowledge and abilities, evidence about safe care for babies has evolved, and so too must our knowledge on how to keep babies safe while they sleep.

The Manitoba Advocate for Children and Youth (MACY) released Safe and Sound: A Special Report on the Unexpected Sleep-Related Deaths of 145 Manitoba Infants earlier this year. MACY’s Research Hub will share the report’s findings and recommendations in a webinar series throughout October.

 

Friday, Oct. 9 – How to Prevent Sleep-Related Infant Deaths

1:00 p.m.-2:00 p.m. (CST) on Zoom

Why are so many babies dying in their sleep? This webinar provides an overview of a 10-year study with data on 145 sleep-related infant deaths in Manitoba. We will look at best practices and recommendations made to reduce the number of infants that die in their sleep through a children’s rights lens.

Friday, Oct. 16 – 10 Facts Every Social Worker Should Know About Infant Sleep

1:00-2:00 p.m. (CST) on Zoom

This webinar is tailored to social workers, social work students, and child welfare practitioners. The Manitoba Advocate’s Research Hub will present findings relevant to social workers and guide a discussion about the role of social workers in infant mortality prevention. Re-watch this webinar here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LLl-oWu72v0

POSTPONED –  – Sacred Babies: Indigenous-led Models for Safe Sleep

PLEASE NOTE: This webinar was supposed to be held Oct. 30, but due to unforeseen circumstances, it will be rescheduled as soon as possible.

First Nations babies are over-represented in infant deaths. In this webinar, MACY will host a panel of experts, Rhonda Campbell and Elizabeth Decaire from the First Nations Health and Social Secretariat of Manitoba, to talk about their Sacred Babies campaign centering Indigenous post-natal care and safe sleep messaging.

All three webinars are designed for parents, social workers or anyone interested in reducing infant mortality. Everyone is invited to join and there is no cost for participating. If you’re interested in a French webinar, please call us (204-988-7440) or email: info@manitobaadvocate.ca

To register for any or all of the webinars, email info@manitobaadvocate.ca or click here: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_uG3-Gzw7T9mRljBg_PRCeQ

To read the full Safe and Sound report, visit https://manitobaadvocate.ca/wp-content/uploads/SafeSleep-Report.pdf