Children's Keeping Shaken Baby Syndrome Prevention at the Forefront

Throughout April, a giant blue awareness ribbon hangs from The Children's Hospital to commemorate Child Abuse Prevention Month within our community. Here at Children's, it saddens us to report that for the past four years, non-accidental trauma (a.k.a. child abuse), has been the number one cause of trauma death for patients admitted to Children's. While this is indeed an alarming trend, the good news is that child abuse is preventable.

In examining the cases at Children's, one of the most prevalent forms of abuse is head trauma resulting from violent shaking of a baby or young child (usually in response to excessive crying) known as Shaken Baby Syndrome (SBS). In response, Children's has made SBS prevention a hospital advocacy initiative for the past two years, assembling a multi-disciplinary workgroup comprised of representatives from departments throughout the hospital as well as the Kempe Foundation for the Prevention and Treatment of Child Abuse and Neglect. The workgroup's two primary goals are:

• To reduce SBS admissions to Children's by increasing awareness of SBS through an ongoing, comprehensive internal and external campaign.
• To influence public policy change that promotes and supports effective SBS prevention efforts in Colorado.

Thanks to support from Kohl's Department Stores, Children's and Kempe, the workgroup oversees an ongoing prevention effort, which includes radio and television ads, online promotion via www.dontshakeababy.com, print collateral ("How to Calm a Crying Baby" brochures, posters), media stories, community awareness activities with sports teams and other partners, and an educational campaign focused on child abuse prevention for community providers.

We are also working with community providers to establish long-term, sustainable educational efforts for families and caregivers in places like birthing hospitals, doctor's offices, child care centers, schools, and numerous family centers and parent support programs. Opportunities to engage in legislative efforts at the state and federal level are also continually being evaluated.

As advocates for children, you can visit www.dontshakeababy.com to download resource materials about SBS and how to calm a crying baby and share those with parents, caregivers, and community organizations. You can also encourage policymakers and community leaders to support programs that educate and support parents and caregivers.

Throughout the month and beyond, look for ways to get involved in child abuse awareness and prevention efforts in your community. Log onto The Kempe Center for the Prevention and Treatment of Child Abuse and Neglect's website at www.kempe.org for more ideas on how you can help.

Media Coverage

Don't Shake the Baby: Local Family Grateful for their Child's Recovery
Daily Camera
Monday, April 2, 2007

Going Forward: Shaken-Baby Survivor Hitting Milestones
Daily Camera
Sunday, April 1, 2007