Supporting Families with Newborns: Family Connects Chicago and Safe Sleep Training

Welcoming a new baby is a joyful but often overwhelming time for families. Between caring for a newborn, recovering from childbirth, and adjusting to new roles, many parents have questions and need support. That’s where Family Connects Chicago steps in. This free, in-home nurse visit program is available to all families living in Chicago who deliver at participating hospitals, including foster and adoptive parents, and those with other children. The program’s mission is to ease the transition into parenthood by offering guidance and resources to help families confidently care for their babies, themselves, and each other.

To further support families, CEDA WIC/FCM has partnered with Family Connects Chicago to provide comprehensive training for all WIC/FCM staff throughout 2025. These regional trainings focus on safe sleep practices and the prevention of Sudden Unexpected Infant Death (SUID).

On May 6th, the Northwest WIC team attended the Safe Sleep and Crib Challenge Training, along with holding their first Northwest Regional Training and Team Development event at the Des Plaines Clinic. In addition to the training, staff participated in activities designed to help the team learn more about each other and engage in team-building games. They also enjoyed a potluck lunch together. It was a success and staff hope to have another one soon!

On June 11th, the City North WIC Region came alive with energy and purpose as they completed the Safe Sleep and Crib Challenge Training, along with hosting their first regional team training huddle—an inspiring day of connection, collaboration, and career growth! Held alongside the impactful Safe Sleep Training, this event marked a powerful step forward in building a stronger, more united team. With many fresh faces joining our WIC family over the past few years, the huddle was the perfect opportunity to strengthen bonds and ignite professional development. From dynamic discussions to interactive activities, the day was packed with moments that encouraged staff to share, learn, and grow together. One activity included each staff selecting the pizza ingredient they are and why. At the end, everyone decided to call the pizza “City North Team Supremo!” The conversations were rich, the energy was high, and the commitment to teamwork was unmistakable. By the end of the day, one thing was clear: when we come together with purpose and passion, there’s no limit to what Team Supremo can achieve!

Topics covered in the Safe Sleep and Crib Challenge training include:

• The history and importance of safe sleep
• Current risk factors and social determinants
• Trends in SUID rates, especially in Cook County
• The transition from safe sleep to bedsharing
• Maternal mental health and sleep deprivation
• The impact of nighttime feeding on safe sleep, particularly during the first two months

All staff also participated in the “Clear the Crib” training, a campaign launched during SIDS Awareness Month that encourages families to create safe sleep environments and take the #ClearTheCrib Challenge—a fun and educational way to raise awareness.

The urgency of this initiative is clear: Cook County ranks among the highest in the nation for infant deaths related to unsafe sleep, with 1 in 5 deaths linked to unsafe sleep environments. Alarmingly, Hispanic infants are 3–4 times more likely, and African American infants 13 times more likely, to be affected than their white counterparts. Most of these tragic losses occur on Chicago’s West and South Sides.

To address this, Family Connects Chicago has secured grant funding to provide cribs, bassinets, and pack 'n plays to families in need. They are also collaborating with shelters that serve newly arrived immigrant families to ensure every baby has a safe place to sleep.