articles

Keeping Kids Safe

A collaborative effort of local agencies.

By Marlene Singer, Community Health Coordinator at Memorial Medical Center January 22, 2015
Should my baby sleep on his back or his belly?  Should I have bumper pads in the crib? What type of car seat should I buy? At what age can my child sit in the front seat?  Parents have many worries. Keeping their children safe should not be one of them.

“The Children’s Safety Program has been around for about 10 years in Cambria County, but we find that young parents with questions sometimes don’t know who to ask,” said Marlene Singer, Community Health Coordinator at Memorial Medical Center.  “We want to get the word out to parents and grandparents that experts are out there in their community to help them.”  

Cambria County has been a partner with the national Cribs for Kids organization out of Pittsburgh since 2009. A recent grant from Lee Initiatives has allowed the local Cribs for Kids initiative to continue to meet the needs of low-income families in our area by providing free Graco Pack and Play Cribs to families in need.  “Losing even one baby to Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) because that baby is in an unsafe sleep situation is not an option,” said Stacy Holsinger, a spokesperson from the Cambria County Coroner’s Office. 

The Learning Lamp, a nonprofit organization that works closely with families of children aged birth through grade 12, is among the newest partners in the Cribs for Kids distribution network.  “Every day at EcoKids, our children’s consignment store, we help families find the equipment, clothes and other items that they need to care for their kids,” said Leah Spangler, Chief Executive Officer of The Learning Lamp.  “Distributing free cribs to parents in need while at the same time educating them about safe sleep for their baby was a natural fit for our organization.”  

Singer recently trained four staff of The Learning Lamp who can now provide safe sleep education as part of the local Cribs for Kids program.  Other distribution partners include Beginnings, Memorial Medical Center, Teen Parenting and Nurse Family Partnership.  Families must be referred to Cribs for Kids to participate.

Referring agencies include ACRP, Birthright, Community Action and Women’s Help Center, although any organization or physician can refer a family to the program by contacting Marlene Singer at 814-534-1588 or msinger@conemaugh.org. 

Because ensuring a child’s safety is as important during waking hours as it is during nap time, the Children’s Safety Program also offers a free car seat safety program. The Richland Fire Department has a certified car seat technician on-site Monday thru Friday.  People with questions about safe car seat installation or when a child can safely move up to the next size seat, for example, can contact Rob Hudson at 814-659-8873 to schedule an appointment. 

“These safety programs are much more a hand up than a hand out.  Our partner agencies work together to support and teach new parents about safe sleep, car seat safety and help with other child care questions they may have,” explained Singer.  “This is a great example of how, together, we can reach more families with the education, prevention and resources necessary to keep children safe.”  

The Children’s Safety Program could not continue to operate without the support of grants and donations from individuals and businesses.  The Children’s Safety Fund is housed at Community Foundation for the Alleghenies under Partnership Funds.  

To donate, call Community Foundation at 814-536-7751 or visit cfalleghenies.org.