SIDS Legislative History
In the 1970s, the American people and their leaders recognized that Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) was a public health problem, and federal attention and resources were directed toward research activities and bereavement services. Passage of the SIDS Act of 1974 marked the initiation of federal, state and local efforts to reduce SIDS deaths and to provide professional bereavement and educational services to grieving families.
Legislation enacted in 1979 established the SIDS Program Office within the Office of Maternal and Child Health (later MCHB) in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Congress also funded a clearinghouse to collect and disseminate SIDS-related information; this program is now known as the National Sudden and Unexpected Infant/Child Death and Pregnancy Loss Resource Center (NSIDRC).
When the 1980 Omnibus Reconciliation Bill was passed by Congress, the number of SIDS programs in the U.S. had reached a record level. At that time, the earlier, categorical funding for SIDS programs was folded into maternal and child health block grants, and that change gave states the power to reduce or eliminate SIDS services. As a result, the number of SIDS programs dropped to 20 by the late 1980s and the operating environment became more difficult for the remaining programs.
Currently, every state and territory (with few or temporary exceptions) has a Maternal and Child Health (MCH) statewide contact person. For further information about SIDS, other causes of infant death, and SIDS/ID programs within each state and territory, please contact the National Sudden and Unexpected Infant/Child Death and Pregnancy Loss Resource Center.
State SIDS Legislation
The National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) website has a database on State SIDS Legislation.
State Licensing and National Standards
Many resources for legislative initiatives promoting safe sleep environments are available on the website of the National Resource Center for Health and Safety in Child Care (NRC). Each state's licensing requirements can be searched for various issues such as training or sleep position.
The NRC site also offers a publication of national standards on reducing the risk of SIDS, based on Caring for Our Children, 2nd ed. The information is geared toward assisting states in forming licensing requirements to reduce rates of SIDS.
Laws and Regulations Addressing Language Needs in Health Care
State laws are a potential source of protection for limited English proficient (LEP) persons. At least 43 states have one or more laws addressing language access in health care settings. Some state laws provide detailed guidance, while others note the importance of language access but do not specify the nature of the services that will be provided.
The National Health Law Program offers a publication on this topic, “Summary of State Law Requirements Addressing Language Needs in Health Care.”
Also, the federal government website www.lep.gov is available to assist users in federal agencies, recipients of federal funds, federal programs, and federally assisted programs with issues related to the implementation of Executive Order 13166, Title VI, and the Title VI regulations regarding language access.
