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Our
History
The
Alliance
for Infant Survival, which was formerly known as the North Texas
Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS)
Alliance
, was formed in 1994 by a small group of
North Texas
parents seeking support after losing babies to SIDS.
The group offered support groups and partnered with other
organizations in Tarrant, Dallas, and Collin counties to reach out
to grieving families.
Before
long, in an effort to reduce the number of babies lost to SIDS,
the group began offering community trainings to individuals, child
care workers, medical professions and others concerned about the
survival of infants. Training
of child care workers increased dramatically in 2001 with the
launch of Wee Care—a CJ Foundation-funded initiative to provide
outreach to registered and licensed day care workers who are
required by state law to receive SIDS training each year.
With our name change in 2002, the agency’s mission
broadened to include other causes of sudden infant death in our
scope of service. Our
support services were being made available to those grieving the
loss of a baby to any sudden, unexpected or accidental cause.
Additionally, we began providing one-on-one counseling,
peer support coordination, memorial activities and events, and
referrals to other community resources.
Advocacy
efforts have grown in recent years as the
Alliance
broadened its collaborative efforts in the community.
More recently, doors have been opened that have allowed us
to provide input on state legislation mandating annual child care
training on SIDS and Shaken Baby Syndrome.
Collaboration with Texas Healthy Start and Tarrant County
Infant Mortality Network has placed the
Alliance
at the center of efforts to better track causes and circumstances
of infant death, thereby better able to impact future policies and
initiatives to further reduce the number of babies who die.
On a national level, the
Alliance
works with First Candle and others to appeal for continued and
increased funding for SIDS research and services in
Washington
,
D.C.
In
February 2008 the Alliance partnered with Catholic Charities Diocese of Fort Worth, Inc., to
increase awareness of proactive steps that parents, caregivers and
concerned others can take to help their baby survive and thrive.
The
Alliance
for Infant Survival works actively to reduce infant death through
education/training and advocacy.
We also provide compassionate support to each family that
mourns a sweet baby.
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