Public & Private Partnerships

To adequately address the reduction of SIDS and other infant death, State SIDS/ID programs must combine the strengths of the public and private sectors. Public-private initiatives can provide continuous and consistent information for the public to effect and support behavior change.  This section of the website will highlight public and private partnerships at the national, state and local levels that State SIDS/ID Programs can adapt or join.

OMH Asking for Partners in New Campaign

In order to raise awareness about infant mortalitly with an emphasis on the African American community, the Office of Minority Health (OMH) has launched a new campaign, A Healthy Baby Begins with You, as part of the National Partnership for Action to End Health Disparities.

The campaign kicked off at the Town Hall Education Arts and Recreation Center (THEARC), a community center in Southeast Washington, D.C., with a health fair offering attendees the opportunity to participate in free health screenings and parenting classes. To help launch the campaign, national and local speakers attended the event, including campaign spokesperson Tonya Lewis Lee, author, producer, and wife of Spike Lee, Charrisse Jackson-Jordan, philanthropist and wife of Washington Wizards Coach Eddie Jordan, Justice Love, radio personality for WPGC, the Rev. Dr. Michael E. Bell Sr., pastor of Allen Chapel AME church, and Dr. Gregg A. Pane, director of the District of Columbia Department of Health.

OMH is now asking for community and faith-based organizations, city and state health departments, and private sector partners to set-up and host events in the most affected communities. In return, OMH has partnered with Behind the Bench, the National Basketball Wives Association, to connect sponsors with a local spokesperson. Additionally, OMH will organize the local event, provide all the supporting printed and electronic materials and incentives for attendees, help promote the outreach to African American women of childbearing age, pitch stories to local and national media, and more.

For more information on how your organization can become a sponsor, call 1-800-444-6472, or email iestrada@omhrc.gov. Also, visit the Office of Minority Health website, www.omhrc.gov, to learn more about the campaign and view a sample press kit.