Training Materials

The resources listed below provide training to caregivers and health professionals working to reduce the risk of SIDS and infant death. Please contact the organizations directly for additional information regarding their training tools.

National Institute of Child Health and Human Development. Continuing Education Program on SIDS Risk Reduction: Curriculum for Nurses. 2007. 43 pp.

This curriculum for nurses provides information and tools necessary to effectively communicate Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) risk-reduction messages. Contents include an introduction, pre-test, a session on what nurses need to know about SIDS, and a second session on how to communicate SIDS risk-reduction techniques to parents and caregivers. Also provided are a list of additional organizational resources, a pre-test answer key, and references as well as a post-test, a program evaluation survey, and a summary of recommendations of information to share with parents.

Available for full-text downloading at:
http://www.nichd.nih.gov/publications/pubs/upload/Cont_Ed_Prog_Nurses_SIDS.pdf

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services/Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG). Drinking and Reproductive Health: A Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders Prevention Toll Kit for Women's Health Clinicians. 2006. 12p.

Drinking and Reproductive Health: A Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders Prevention Tool Kit presents strategies to help health professionals identify women who drink at risky levels and engage them in changing behavior to reduce their risk for an alcohol-exposed pregnancy. The continuing education activity, sponsored by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists with support from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, is designed to help health professionals who care for women prevent fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD) when they encounter risky drinking, regardless of the woman's pregnancy status. A brief guide provides information on FASD, screening and intervention guidelines, frequently asked questions, a blueprint for putting screening and intervention into practice, the Surgeon General's Advisory on Alcohol use in Pregnancy, resources, and references. Other materials include handouts for patients about drinking and reproductive health, additional screening tools and counseling tips for health professionals, and a pocket card illustrating standard-sized drinks. CD-ROM version of the guide is also available.

Available for full-text downloading at: http://www.acog.org/departments/healthIssues/FASDToolKit.pdf

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services/Maternal and Child Health Bureau, National SIDS/ID Program Support Center (NSIDPSC). The SIDS/ID Program Manual and Trainer's Guide. 2006.250p.

The purpose of this manual and accompanying training guide is to support the staff of local and State programs to provide comprehensive Sudden Infant Death Syndrome and Infant Death (SIDS/ID) risk reduction and bereavement program services so that children have the best possible chance for survival and if a child does die, his family is appropriately supported.

The manual also includes a trainer's guide, specifically adapted from the National Cancer Institute, which focuses on how to conduct trainings, presentations and informational sessions to a variety of audiences. The trainer's guide includes eight PowerPoint shows for specific audiences and checklists to assist in the planning and logistics of conducting trainings. The CD-ROM version of this manual is available.

Available for full-text downloading at: firstcandle.org/health/sids-id_program_manual.pdf

First Candle/ SIDS Alliance, National SIDS/Infant Death Program Support Center (NSIDPSC). Model Behavior Poster. 2006. 1p.

This poster developed as part of the campaign titled Model Program: The most important modeling job of your life. The ultimate goal of the campaign is to ensure that every parent leaving a hospital is aware of and prepared to adopt safe sleep messages. It targets all health professionals especially nurses caring for infants in the Well Baby Nursery (WBN) and Neonatal Intensive Care (NICU) unit. It provides sample policies and procedures to ensure a safe sleep environment for all newborns.

Available for full-text downloading at: http://www.sidsalliance.org/advocacy/%20model.pdf

First Candle/ SIDS Alliance, National SIDS/Infant Death Program Support Center (NSIDPSC). Safe sleep practices for the Well Baby Nursery: Sample Policy and Procedures. 2006. 8p.

This booklet developed as part of the campaign titled Model Program: The most important modeling job of your life, whose ultimate goal to ensure that every parent leaving a hospital is aware of and prepared to adopt safe sleep messages. It targets all health care a professional especially nurses, caring for infants in the Well Baby Unit. It provides sample policies and procedures to ensure a safe sleep environment for all newborns in the well baby nursery. The guidelines address the following five key areas: sleep position, bedding/soft materials, crib/bed sharing and breastfeeding, swaddling/bundling and tobacco exposure.

Available for full-text downloading at: http://www.sidsalliance.org/advocacy/%20WBUbooklet.pdf

First Candle/ SIDS Alliance, National SIDS/Infant Death Program Support Center (NSIDPSC). Safe Sleep Practices for the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit: Sample Policy and Procedures. 2006. 8p.

This booklet developed as part of the campaign titled Model Program: The most important modeling job of your life, whose ultimate goal to ensure that every parent leaving a hospital is aware of and prepared to adopt safe sleep messages. It targets all health care professionals especially nurses, caring for infants in the Well Baby Unit. It provides sample policies and procedures to ensure a safe sleep environment for all newborns in the well baby nursery. The guidelines address the following five key areas: sleep position, bedding/soft materials, crib/bed sharing and breastfeeding, swaddling/bundling and tobacco exposure.

Available for full-text downloading at: http://www.sidsalliance.org/advocacy/%20WBUbooklet.pdf

Association of SIDS and Infant Mortality Programs (ASIP)/ Association of Clinicians for the Underserved (ACU). Infant Death Risk Reduction. 2006.

This pocket-sized laminated tool card is part of the ACU's Quick Reference Card Series for Family and Preventive Health.. It provides clinicians the latest in evidence-based protocols for risk reduction for SIDS and other infant death and bereavement support in infant death.

Available for full-text downloading at: http://www.sidsprojectimpact.com/programs/risk.cfm

Association of SIDS and Infant Mortality Programs (ASIP)/ Association of Clinicians for the Underserved (ACU). Bereavement Support for the Family Suffering the Death of an Infant. 2006.

This pocket-sized laminated tool card is part of the ACU's Quick Reference Card Series for Family and Preventive Health. It provides clinicians the latest in evidence-based protocols for bereavement support in infant death.

Available for Full-text downloading at: http://www.sidsprojectimpact.com/programs/bereavement.cfm

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services/ Maternal and Child Health Bureau, National Center for Cultural Competence (NCCC).
Infusing Cultural and Linguistic Competence into Health Promotion Training. (DVD). 2005.

The DVD addresses the rationale for cultural and linguistic competence, frameworks for cultural and linguistic competence, values and principles of culturally and linguistically competent health promotion training, how the "Health Belief Model" can be used to infuse cultural and linguistic competence into training, principles and models for community engagement, and issues in the content and logistics of trainings. The DVD has been divided into "chapters" so that it can be seen in one viewing or used over several training sessions. These chapters also allow viewers to stop at key points for discussion or small-group exercises. A series of training activities to accompany each chapter are available on the NCCC SIDS/ID Program Website http://www11.georgetown.edu/research/gucchd/nccc/projects/sids/index.html. The PowerPoint slides used in the video also can be downloaded from the NCCC Web site.

Available from: http://www.sidscenter.org

Center for Child and Infant Loss.
Caregivers Hurt, Too. (DVD). 2005.

This DVD includes both English/Spanish versions. It describes what happens when a SIDS death occurs in a child care setting, the effect of a SIDS death on child care providers and other children in their care, and procedures to follow should an infant become unresponsive while in their care.

Available from: http://www.infantandchildloss.org

North Carolina Healthy Start Foundation/ Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina/ CJ Foundation for SIDS. Baby's Easy Safe Sleep Training Kit (BESST kit). 2005. 20p.

The BESST kit is an educational flip chart and guide that offers important tips about infant safe sleep and ways to reduce the risks of SIDS. This tool is aimed primarily assist parents, caregivers, childcare providers, healthcare professionals and others in raising awareness about, and reducing the incidence of SIDS. The kit includes tabletop flip chart with 16 illustrations, training guide, presentation tips, prop ideas, outreach tips and samples of safe sleep materials from the North Carolina Healthy Start Foundation. The kit is also available in Spanish.

Available from: http://www.nchealthystart.org/BESST/flip_chart_info.htm

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services/Maternal and Child Health Bureau, National SIDS/Infant Death Resource Center (NSIDRC)
Sudden, Unexpected Infant Death: Information for the Emergency Medical Technician. 2004. 4p.

This fact sheet provides information for EMT professionals who are often the first on the scene following the discovery of a lifeless infant.

Available for full-text downloading from: http://www.sidscenter.org/MedicalTechnician.html

Middle Tennessee State university/Tennessee Department of Health Prevention through Understanding: Investigating Unexpected Infant Death. 2004.

The program follows the TOT (train-the-trainer model and focuses on teaching first responders how to investigate sudden infant deaths. An educational video as well as trainer and trainee manuals have been developed and are used as the curriculum for the program.

Available from: http://www.mtsu.edu/~sidsproj

McClain M, Arnold J, Longchamp E, Shaefer J.
Bereavement Counseling for Sudden Infant Death Syndrome and Infant Mortality: Core Competencies for the Health Professional. 2004. 39p.

This Guide presents core competencies essential for the health care professional to provide appropriate and effective bereavement counseling and support for a family. Includes references and suggested reading list on infant mortality statistics, risk reduction education, bereavement counseling support, helpful books for children, list of ASIP publications and collaborating organizations. Includes list of organizations dealing with grief and bereavement.

Available for full-text downloading from: http://www.sidsprojectimpact.com/_assets/documents/pdf/BerCouns--CoreComp.pdf

SIDS Foundation of Washington
Infant Death Investigation: Responding to Sudden Deaths in Infants and Young Children. Interactive Training Guide for Death Investigators, Law Enforcement, and Emergency Medical Personnel. 2003.

This interactive CD-ROM contains self-directed training material designed for law enforcement personnel, fire/EMS responders, death investigators, and medical examiners. The viewer needs only to “point and click.� Each of the four training modules also includes PowerPoint slides and other downloadable materials, as well as links to other resources.

Available from: http://thesidsfoundation.org

CJ Foundation for SIDS.
Face up to Wake Up: SIDS Risk Reduction Resource Kit. 2003.

This culturally appropriate kit is intended to support the reduction of racial and ethnic disparities in Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) among American Indians. The kit includes a manual designed not only to assist the educator in both one-on-one and classroom instruction but also to enhance the instructors’ current level of understanding regarding SIDS. To further assist instructors, two videos in both VHS and CD-ROM format are also included. There is also a resource CD that contains posters, brochures, and other educational materials ready to be printed. These resources can be used to educate through display, distribution, and individual instruction. The culturally appropriate materials are an invaluable resource for health care professionals and health educators who work with Native community members to help reduce infant mortality rates.

Available from: http://www.cjsids.com

Gemma, PB, Arnold J, Wieczorek RR. Ed. Loss and Grieving in Pregnancy and the First year of Life: A Caring Resource for Nurses. 2002.

Discusses grief associated with death during the perinatal through postnatal periods; heightens nursing awareness and understanding of parental and family grief; provides guidelines for nursing interventions and support mechanisms.

Available from: http://www.marchofdimes.com/gyponline/index.bm2?cid=00000003&spid=ne_s2_1&tpid=ne_s2_1_2

Shaefer J, Noell D.
Fetal and Infant Mortality Review: A Guide for Home Interviewers. 2002.

This resource guide was produced in an effort to provide home interviewers with technical skills and information on best practices necessary to conduct maternal interviews with women grieving the loss of a pregnancy or infant death. Includes references, bibliography, about the authors and appendices.

Available for full-text downloading from: http://www.acog.org/from_home/departments/NFIMRHomeInterviewers02.pdf

National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD), Back to Sleep Campaign.
Babies Sleep Safest on Their Backs: A Resource Kit for Reducing SIDS in African American Communities (Includes 15-, 30-, and 60-minute training modules, background material on SIDS, resources, 10 brochures, 10 magnets, and 1 video) 2001.

This kit is part of the Back to Sleep campaign, an effort to educate families and caregivers about putting healthy babies on their backs to sleep, to help reduce the risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). In 2000, the NICHD and its partners in Back to Sleep worked with national African American organizations to design materials and messages about SIDS for African American families and communities, including this kit and its contents. This kit provides background information, resources, and materials for conducting community outreach about ways parents and caregivers can reduce the risks of SIDS and provide a safe sleep environment for infants.

Available full-text from: http://www.nichd.nih.gov/sids/Resource_kit.cfm

California Department of Health Services, Maternal and Child Health Branch
Sudden Infant Death Syndrome: Training Guide for Training of Emergency Personnel. 2000.

This trainer's guide is intended to prepare emergency personnel for their role in supporting SIDS family members, childcare providers, foster parents, and other caregivers at a critical time. This guide provides tools needed to present a series of training modules on SIDS. Each module can be presented individually at different times or in one session for a total training time of two hours.

Available from: http://www.californiasids.com

First Candle. Peer Contact Manual for Bereavement Support.

This handbook was developed to help peer contacts as they work with other families and individuals affected by an infant /child death. It complements the peer contact training session and as the standard reference for peer contact volunteers, serves to provide consistency among volunteers in organizations throughout the country. It includes overview, position description of peer contact volunteering, SIDS facts, statistics and research information, SUDC facts, statistics and research information, peer contact policies, procedures and guidelines, peer contact skills and national and local resources.

Available for full-text downloading: http://www.sidsalliance.org/PDFs/Peer Contact Handbook final.pdf

Florida Department of Health. Safe sleep for infants. Florida Healthy Start Training.

Florida Healthy Start Self-Study training module offers SIDS training on safe sleep for infants. Upon completion of this training the participant will understand the current recommendations on infant safe sleep practices, barriers to following safe sleep recommendations, be aware of techniques for parents to use to help their children regulate their sleep/wake cycle. This training module is available as Powerpoint presentation on their website.

Available from: http://www.doh.state.fl.us/family/mch/training/sids/sids.html

(Back to the Top)