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.