Saving Infant’s Lives: Community Unites for Safe Sleep Awareness Month
- Jonna Johnson, MA
- Oct 8
- 2 min read
The Healthy Start Coalition of Hillsborough County, in partnership with the Tampa Police Department and the Children’s Board of Hillsborough County, is hosting a special Safe Sleep education event during National Safe Sleep Awareness Month.
The event will take place on Wednesday, October 15, 2025, from 11:00 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Children’s Board of Hillsborough County. Families will have the opportunity to attend a safe sleep class, available in English or Spanish, designed to educate parents and caregivers on the latest evidence-based practices to reduce the risk of sleep-related infant deaths.
Registered participants will receive a free Pack ‘n Play from the Safe Sleep sponsor, Tampa Police Department (TPD), and a safe sleep kit, ensuring that every baby has a safe place to sleep. This collaborative event highlights the critical role of community partnerships in protecting Hillsborough County’s youngest residents.
“In 2024, there were 18 sleep-related deaths,” said Lisa Colen, Director of Community Outreach and Education at the Healthy Start Coalition of Hillsborough County. “One death is one too many.”
“True public safety is built on strong relationships, not just enforcement," said Tampa Police Lieutenant Joseph Sustek. “This Sleep Safe initiative is a perfect example. By pooling our resources with community leaders such as the Healthy Start Coalition and the Children's Board, we are able to deliver life-saving tools and education to new families and ensure a safer future for our children."
The Children’s Board of Hillsborough County is a proud funder of the Healthy Start Coalition’s Safe Baby program. Safe Baby offers community-based education to teach parents and caregivers how to protect their babies from the leading causes of preventable infant deaths.
“We’re pleased to support this event that puts education and resources directly into the hands of parents,” said Rebecca Bacon, CEO of the Children’s Board of Hillsborough County. “For those who may not be able to make this event, we encourage families to visit www.PreventNeedlessDeaths.com to learn more about infant safe sleep.”
The mission of the Tampa Police Department is to reduce crime and enhance the quality of life through a cooperative partnership with all citizens.
The Children’s Board’s mission is to invest in quality programs to support the success of all children and families in Hillsborough County. We invest in programs and services that ensure children are healthy and safe, developmentally on track, have family support, and are ready to learn and succeed. In 2024, the Children’s Board invested $60 million in grants to more than 80 nonprofits and 152 different programs that help children and families.
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