About BSS

In 2008, a small group of professionals gathered together to discuss the disturbing trend of unsafe sleep fatalities in Monroe County, identified by the local Child Fatality Review Team. From that group, the Baby Safe Sleep Coalition was formed.

In January 2011, the Coalition, then a collaborative of 15 agencies, became a program of Jewish Family Service of Rochester, a 501(c)(3) non-profit agency. It began as an entirely volunteer effort whose funds were and continue to be 80% privately raised.

Our Mission

The Baby Safe Sleep Coalition is a diverse collaborative of professionals, organizations and concerned individuals who are committed to eliminating preventable infant fatalities caused by unsafe sleep practices in Monroe County. The Coalition works to advocate and educate; its goal is to improve knowledge, attitudes and beliefs about the risk of unsafe sleep environments and thus change social norms and parent and caretaker behavior. Our work is inspired by a passion to ensure that babies have the opportunity to thrive and become healthy adults.

The Baby Safe Sleep Coalition is a group of men and women committed to eliminating infant deaths from unsafe sleeping accidents. They are people whose professional lives are involved in some way with infant safety and health. Coalition members include the following organizations and individuals:

Anthony L. Jordan Health Center

Bivona Child Advocacy Center

Eastside Pediatrics

Healthy Baby Network/Healthy Start Rochester

Hillside Children’s Center/Family Resource Centers

Monroe County Child Protective Services

Injury Free Coalition for Kids of Rochester

Jewish Family Service of Rochester, Inc.

Lifetime Care

Monroe County Department of Public Health

Mt. Hope Family Center-UR Medical

NYS Office of Children and Family Services

Rochester Police Department

Rochester Regional Health System – Rochester General Hospital & Unity Hospital

Safe Crib Project, Program of Baby Safe Sleep Coalition

Society for the Protection and Care of Children

UR Medicine – Baby Love Program

UR Medicine – Golisano Children’s Hospital/REACH, Highland Hospital & Strong Memorial Hospital

Donna Brower, Nurse

Caroline R. Dignan, M.D, Assistant Professor, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine/Director, Autopsy Service, University of Rochester Medical Center

Diane Larter, Greater Rochester Health Foundation

Sue VanStrydonck, Retired Public Child Welfare Administrator

And Many Community Supporters