Over the past decade, improvements in sleep-related infant deaths have stagnated. Now, four national action teams are working together to drive measurable change in four priority areas: Aligning National, State and Local Efforts; Promoting Conversation Modules; Supporting Early Child Care and Education; and Public Media and Media Relations. 

In honor or our 20th anniversary, we're sharing insights, memories and goals from the NICHQ team. Here, NICHQ Associate Project Director Sandra Windland shares how her love for sports and interest in Kinesiology sparked her passion for public health.

Two counties in southeast Kansas are streamlining early childhood systems to ensure effective developmental screenings and referrals to supportive services to improve children’s developmental health outcomes.

Breastfeeding peer support networks run for and by Black women fill a gap in breastfeeding support for Black women—a gap largely created by historic and systemic inequities. Here, Khadija Garrison Adams, co-founder of Black Lactation Circle (BLaC) of Central Ohio, shares how their community is empowering black pregnant and nursing mothers to meet their breastfeeding goals.

An advocacy group led by and for parents and community members spearheaded a campaign for funding to address lead in the homes throughout their city. Their successes illustrates the vital impact families play in advocating for policy change on behalf of children. Here, two parent leaders share their experiences and advice for supporting family-led civic engagement.  

The Ohio Perinatal Quality Collaborative is testing innovative strategies for improving outcomes for the thousands of families affected by the opioid crisis. Here, they share their approach, including standardizing identification and treatment for opioid exposed infants in NICUs, encouraging compassionate responses from providers, and ensuring comprehensive, coordinated maternity care.