189 - Reducing Risk Through Connection: A Community-Led Safe Sleep & Infant Care Educational Intervention in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit

Publication Number: 2182.189

Mattie F.. Wolf, Emory University School of Medicine & Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, Atlanta, GA, United States; Ama Atiedu, A-Cubed Consulting, Atlanta, GA, United States; Destiny Stokes, First Candle, New Canaan, CT, United States

Background: Since 2020, Sudden Unexpected Infant Death (SUID) rates have increased to an infant mortality rate (IMR) of 1.0 per 1,000 live births in 2022. Non-Hispanic Black infants experience higher SUID IMRs (2.4) than non-Hispanic White infants (0.8) and infants born extremely prematurely (24-27 weeks' gestation) are also at increased risk (IMR 2.7). While many SUID cases are preventable through safe sleep practices, barriers such as misinformation, lack of access to culturally tailored resources, and ineffective messaging hinder prevention efforts.

Objective: To address these challenges, the "Let's Talk Community Chats" program was developed to provide culturally responsive, community-based, and evidence-based education on safe sleep and infant care.

Design/Methods: Community members were trained as facilitators to deliver accessible, nonjudgmental, and evidence-based guidance. Building on prior success in community locations, the program was expanded into the NICU of a large public safety-net hospital in Georgia, where monthly sessions were held for NICU families for 1 year. Pre- and post-event surveys assessed program educational effectiveness and gathered qualitative feedback data.

Results: In 2025, 51 participants attended and completed post-event surveys. Most participants were Black (87%) and aged 26-35 (50%). All respondents (100%) reported feeling culturally supported by facilitators, and 82% said their specific concerns were fully addressed. Most participants learned new information, particularly about back-to-sleep (76%) and the importance of a separate sleep surface (56%). After the session, 94% reported having a safe sleep plan, and 88% of those said the event influenced that plan. 100% planned to use a safe sleep space (crib, bassinet, or pack-n-play), and 92% intended to place their infant on their back to sleep. 88% planned to keep the sleep space free of soft items, though 8% still intended to use bumper pads or blankets. Participants consistently described the sessions as "comprehensive, supportive, and empowering".

Conclusion(s): The "Let's Talk" NICU program demonstrates that embedding culturally sensitive, community-led education into clinical settings can improve parental knowledge and intentions around safe sleep. Its success highlights the critical role of healthcare-community partnerships in delivering place-based, culturally informed education, especially for high-risk and historically marginalized populations. Integrating this model into existing care systems offers a scalable strategy to reduce disparities in infant mortality and improve health outcomes for vulnerable infants and families.

Figure 1: Participants' Safe Sleep Plans


Figure 2: Participants' New Knowledge about Safe Sleep