This article was published for Crib Conversations, a bimonthly digest of news, resources and updates about infant safe sleep.
August is National Breastfeeding Month, which means that the end of August is a great time to think about how we can support new parents, help them reach their breastfeeding goals, and empower them with consistent information from trusted sources throughout the year.
Pediatrician Marianne Neifert, MD, is a member of the Infant Safe Sleep Partnership. Below, she provides information about the relationship between breastfeeding and safe sleep, and she encourages us all to be a part of the conversation to increase breastfeeding and infant safe sleep practices.
Q & A with Pediatrician Marianne Neifert, MD
Q: This year’s National Breastfeeding Month theme is “Together We Do Great Things,” a message that celebrates the power and impact of our collective efforts. How can safe sleep champions and breastfeeding advocates do great things together?
Neifert: It’s fitting that last month, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) released updated policy statements on both “Breastfeeding and the Use of Human Milk” and “Sleep-Related Infant Deaths,” two key issues that impact new families. Infant feeding and sleeping are the two most daunting challenges that new parents face, and these fundamental infant activities impact one another.
Breastfeeding is a protective factor against sleep-related deaths and is important for the overall health and well-being of infants throughout their life. Yet, mothers who choose to nurse their babies do not always achieve their breastfeeding goals, and breastfeeding parents do not always apply what they know about infant safe sleep. Both breastfeeding and safe infant sleep practices are impactedby cultural values, unrealistic expectations, personal barriers, support systems, and variable daily circumstances. Furthermore, racial and ethnic disparities persist in both breastfeeding and safe infant sleep routines.
Marianne Neifert, MD
Marianne Neifert, MD, MTS, FAAP, aka Dr. Mom®, is a well-known pediatrician and nationally recognized expert in lactation management, who is among the most experienced and dynamic speakers who provide breastfeeding education for diverse health professionals. Dr. Neifert graduated with honors from University of Colorado School of Medicine and completed her residency training at University of Colorado Medical Center and Affiliated Hospitals. She is the Managing Member of Dr. Mom Presentations LLC and a clinical professor of pediatrics at University of Colorado Denver School of Medicine.
Q: What were some of the key takeaways from the updated 2022 AAP Breastfeeding Policy?
Neifert: Traditionally the AAP has recommended exclusive breastfeeding for about six months, with continued breastfeeding through 12 months and beyond, as mutually desired by mother and baby, and as solid foods are added. In the 2022 policy, the AAP, consistent with the World Health Organization (WHO), supports continued breastfeeding for two years or beyond, acknowledging that mothers who decide to breastfeed beyond the first year often feel alienated and unsupported in their choice. Yet, human milk during the second year of life continues to be an important source of nutrients and immunologic factors for toddlers. Research emphasizes the importance of nutrition during “the first 1000 days” (conception to two years of age) on neurodevelopment and lifelong health. Breastfeeding beyond 12 months also continues to have a positive impact on maternal health, decreasing the risk of diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and breast and ovarian cancer.
A major emphasis of the 2022 AAP Breastfeeding Policy Statement and accompanying Technical Report was an extensive review of the documented improved infant and maternal health outcomes linked with breastfeeding, including breastfeeding beyond one year. The 2022 policy statement also repeated past recommendations that birthing facilities implement maternity care practices that promote and support breastfeeding, such as WHO’s Ten Steps to Successful Breastfeeding, including early skin-to-skin contact, frequent breastfeeding, and skilled lactation support.
The AAP again acknowledged the importance of supporting breastfeeding and the use of human milk in reducing short- and long-term morbidities among very low birth weight infants. When a mother’s own milk is not available for these vulnerable infants, the AAP recommends pasteurized donor human milk.
The updated breastfeeding policy also re-emphasized that pediatricians need to be knowledgeable about breastfeeding benefits, management, and the provision of culturally congruent breastfeeding care; partner with community resources to improve breastfeeding support; and address inequities in the delivery of care to eliminate breastfeeding disparities. The AAP addressed the significant breastfeeding inequity issue that predominantly impacts the non-Hispanic Black population and acknowledged that breastfeeding-supportive hospital practices and peer support interventions for women enrolled in the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) have been shown to reduce breastfeeding disparities. The full policy statement and technical report can be downloaded below.
Q: Why do lactation care providers make ideal partners in promoting safe infant sleep?
Neifert: I view breastfeeding and safe infant sleep as dual aligned public health priorities and consider safe sleep proponents and breastfeeding advocates as ideal partners in safeguarding infant wellbeing. Lactation consultants and other lactation care providers are deeply committed to the welfare of infants and mothers and to reducing health disparities. They recognize the importance of breastfeeding in improving maternal-child health, including reducing sleep-related infant deaths. Lactation care providers develop quality client relationships within which empowering health information can be shared, and they work in maternity, pediatric, and public health settings. In addition, lactation care professionals are committed to lifelong learning and the use of evidence-based practices.
Lactation care providers who work with expectant and new mothers have the opportunity and ethical responsibility to help prevent sleep-related infant deaths.The postpartum hospital stay provides a convenient early opportunity for hospital-based lactation consultants to teach and model safe infant sleep practices as part of their education about safe skin-to-skin care.
Q: Can collaboration between safe sleep proponents and breastfeeding advocates more effectively promote safe infant sleep?
Neifert: In 2015, the National Action Partnership to Promote Safe Sleep and Breastfeeding Improvement and Innovation Network (NAPPSS-IIN) was launched to create a national coordinated strategy to engage the full set of partners to make safe infant sleep and breastfeeding the national norm.
Some of us may have only one-time or limited contact with expectant or new parents—such as at a prenatal class—where we can offer conversation starters concerning the topic of safe infant sleep and elicit questions and concerns. Others will have ongoing interactions over a limited time period—such as during the postpartum hospital stay—where nurses and lactation consultants can facilitate safe sleep conversation deepeners. Still others—such as visiting nurses, WIC staff, or primary care providers–will engage with families through continuing interactions that permit ongoing dialogues. What’s important to remember is that compliance with safe infant sleep recommendations is increased when clients hear consistent information from multiple trusted sources and multiple times!
Q: What if parents won’t commit to implementing the AAP recommendations?
Neifert: Despite our passion about safe infant sleep practices, we have to recognize that parents and other caretakers are the ultimate decision-makers about where and how their babies sleep. We must begin by meeting families where they are and conducting individualized, open, culturally appropriate, and non-judgmental conversations about their infant sleep practices.We can seek to understand personal, cultural, and community values and families’ life realities. And, we can learn to shift our attitude about our role as “experts” who make recommendations to being “resources” who support families to make their own decisions.
In our safe sleep conversations, we can:
Ask open-ended questions. (“Have you thought about where and how your baby will sleep?”)
Practice reflective listening to confirm caretakers’ opinions, ambivalence, feelings, and concerns. (“So, you’ve heard that bedsharing makes nighttime breastfeeding easier.”)
Use affirmations/validations and a strengths-based perspective. (“It sounds like you already have a great deal of information about safe infant sleep.”)
Ask permission to share information. (“May I share some information/education you may not have heard about creating a safe infant sleep environment?”)
Other strategies to increase compliance with safe sleep recommendations include:
provide families who do not have a safe sleep space for their infant with information about low-cost or free cribs/play yards;
integrate safe sleep messaging with other health messaging, such as prevention of infant falls; and
introduce safe sleep recommendations in school curricula to educate older siblings and teen babysitters about safe infant sleep practices.
Together we can do great things and save infant lives!
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→ Select “Subscribe to Safe Sleep Blog Content & the bimonthly Crib Conversations Newsletter” under Colorado Infant Safe Sleep Partnership.
The Infant Safe Sleep Partnership is actively seeking participation from a wide variety of communitiescommitted to increasing infant safe sleep practices and address related barriers and disparities.
→ Select “Become an Active ISSP Member” under Colorado Infant Safe Sleep Partnership.
This article was published for Crib Conversations, a bimonthly digest of news, resources and updates about infant safe sleep.August is National Breastfeeding Month, which means that the end of August is a great time to think about how we can support new parents, help...
If you have a new baby in your life, or one on the way, you'll want to be aware of the new consumer safety regulations, research and safe sleep guidelines this summer. Here is a quick overview of all of the big news that you'll want to know about to reduce the risk of...
Many years ago, hospitals weren’t required to ensure that new babies went home in a car seat. That simple act of normalizing car seat safety as infants leave the hospital and head home with new, and often overwhelmed, parents and caregivers has no doubt saved...
If you have a new baby in your life, or one on the way, you’ll want to be aware of the new consumer safety regulations, research and safe sleep guidelines this summer.
Here is a quick overview of all of the big news that you’ll want to know about to reduce the risk of sleep-related infant death. Be sure to share with anyone who is helping out with child care or thinking of buying gifts for your new baby.
New Safe Sleep Guidelines from the American Academy of Pediatrics
In June, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) released its first update to safe infant sleep recommendations since 2016. The recommendations, which apply to children up to 1 year old, are based on an evidence review from nearly 160 scientific studies since 2015.
The AAP highlights that studies have demonstrated an increased risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) and sudden unexplained infant death syndrome (SUIDS) when babies overheat while sleeping. This, in part, has lead the AAP to recommend that weighted blankets, weighted sleepers and weighted swaddles should not be placed “on or near” a sleeping infant and infants should not wear hats indoors except in the first hours of life or in the neo-natal intensive care unit as it can lead to your baby overheating.
In its recommendations, the AAP also urges parents to make sure your baby sleeps on a flat – not inclined – surface during sleep and strongly discourages bedsharing. These practices are often used as means to alleviate the sleepless nights which are a stressful part of everyone’s journey through parenthood during this first year of life.
“Parents might think that their infant is waking up too much during the night and fear that something is wrong,” said Rachel Moon, MD, FAAP in a news release from AAP. “But babies by their nature wake up frequently during the night. Although this can be understandably frustrating for parents who are exhausted and losing out on their own sleep, babies have to wake to feed every 2-3 hours, so this is normal and healthy, and should be expected. When parents have questions about their infant’s sleep, they should always ask their pediatrician for guidance.”
Recommended reading
Rachel Moon, MD, FAAP is the lead author of the statement and technical report, generated by the AAP Task Force on Sudden Infant Death Syndrome and the AAP Committee on Fetus and Newborn.
Enacting this law was an important and critical next step toward creating a marketplace everywhere, for every baby, in the U.S. that will help parents and anyone shopping for families with a new infant prevent sleep-related infant deaths. Last year, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) announced a new federal rule to ensure products marketed or intended for infant sleep provide a safe sleep environment for babies under 5 months old. Any product intended or marketed for infant sleep, such as inclined sleepers, travel and compact bassinets, and in-bed sleepers, which have been linked to dozens of infant deaths, must meet this new federal safety standard.
Kate Jankovsky, childhood adversity prevention manager with the Violence and Injury Prevention-Mental Health Promotion Branch of the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment and member of the Colorado Infant Safe Sleep Partnership reflected on this new federal safety standard at the time it was announced last year. “This change will be historic and save lives in Colorado,” said Jankovsky. “[The new CPSC federal safety standard for infant sleep products] will make it easier for all consumers to buy, use and give infant sleep products as gifts. Today, many people are unknowingly buying products known to be unsafe for an infant to sleep.” Sadly, only a few days before the CPSC rule went into effect on June 23, 2022, Fisher-Price issued a safety warning about rockers after 13 infant deaths.
According to the AAP news release, while overall numbers of deaths have declined, persistent racial and ethnic disparities exist that reflect broader societal inequities, according to research. The rate of sudden unexpected infant deaths (SUIDs) among Black and American Indian/Alaska Native infants was more than double and almost triple, respectively, that of white infants (85 per 100,000 live births) in 2010-2013.
Social, economic, and environmental inequities, such as food insecurity and poverty in Colorado, provide an explanation as to why Colorado communities are experiencing significant infant mortality rate disparities. It is for this reason that the Infant Safe Sleep Partnership (ISSP) is focused on working collaboratively with families, providers and other community stakeholders to address three priority areas.
Recommended Reading
The mission of the Colorado Infant Safe SleepPartnership is to support families, providers, organizations and policymakers to increase infant safe sleep practices and address related barriers and disparities, through education, practice change and systems improvement.
What's NOT Big News - "World first breakthrough could prevent SIDS"
That’s what the press release from the Sidney Children’s Hospitals Network was titled in May of this year when new research was released related to sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). The world took notice because all families deserve to have the support they need to create environments at home and in the community for their infants to sleep safely. The ABC’s of safe sleep are simple and easy: babies should be Alone on their Backs and in a Crib. Understandably, it’s a parent’s worst nightmare to follow all the safety guidelines and advice from their pediatrician, only to have their infant tragically die while sleeping as a result of unexplained causes or SIDS.
Perhaps that is why, when a new study was released in May of this year highlighting the identification of the first biochemical marker, Butyrylcholinesterase (BChE), that could help detect babies more at risk of SIDS while they are alive, the news spread quickly through social media and traditional media news outlets. What made this news even more compelling was the fact that the lead author of the study, Dr. Carmel Harrington, was a mourning mother who lost her son Damien to SIDS 29 years ago. Still, numerous news reports have cautioned that while the preliminary findings offer hope, no – the cause of SIDS has not been identified.
It is essential for any professional who works directly with families to be equipped with the tools needed to have effective conversations about substances. That’s why Illuminate Colorado developed a conversation guide for professionals to use in talking to families about substance use and preventing child maltreatment…
Smart Choices Safe Kids is a resource where families, friends, and neighbors can find accurate and helpful information on how to help kids grow and thrive through every stage of life.
This article was published for Crib Conversations, a bimonthly digest of news, resources and updates about infant safe sleep.August is National Breastfeeding Month, which means that the end of August is a great time to think about how we can support new parents, help...
If you have a new baby in your life, or one on the way, you'll want to be aware of the new consumer safety regulations, research and safe sleep guidelines this summer. Here is a quick overview of all of the big news that you'll want to know about to reduce the risk of...
Sending your kids over to play at a friend’s house to play is one of the best ways to make it through the summertime while school is out, child care is limited and the need to find activities to entertain our kids is endless. But, it can also be a scary decision for any parent to make to entrust the safety of your child with another adult. Do you know if it is a safe place to play at your playdate’s house?
Many years ago, hospitals weren’t required to ensure that new babies went home in a car seat. That simple act of normalizing car seat safety as infants leave the hospital and head home with new, and often overwhelmed, parents and caregivers has no doubt saved...
When you walk into any store to buy something for a new baby on the way, you assume that the products on the shelves are safe, but those who’ve spent some time learning about safe sleep recommendations and guidelines know that isn’t the case when it comes to infant sleep products.
Few things are more exhausting than a new baby. Increased infant crying, perhaps a few older children to care for, and trying to get back to work after a few short weeks all result in very, very tired caregivers. October is Safe Sleep Awareness month. There has been a...
To help raise awareness about safe infant sleep during Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) Awareness Month in October, we’re inviting you to participate in a fun and friendly photo activity called #SafeSleepSnap. Parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles—anyone can...
NO JUDGEMENT HERE, IT MAY BE A PART OF HOW YOU MANAGE YOUR STRESS, JUST REMEMBER TO ASK YOURSELF THESE IMPORTANT QUESTIONS. Stress is running high in many houses. We’re trying to anticipate what is happening with the new school year in the fall, while figuring out how...
Many years ago, hospitals weren’t required to ensure that new babies went home in a car seat. That simple act of normalizing car seat safety as infants leave the hospital and head home with new, and often overwhelmed, parents and caregivers has no doubt saved countless lives. Today, hospitals can play a similarly crucial role in helping every baby sleep safe.
It’s as Easy as ABC
More than 61,000 babies are born in Colorado every year.1 Those first days and months are full of joy and stress for every family, so it’s important that each baby is surrounded by parents, family, friends, neighbors, licensed and unlicensed child care providers, health care professionals and communities working to create environments for infants to thrive and sleep safely.
Health care providers and hospital staff are sources of trusted information for new parents and have a critical opportunity to help families thrive, even after a family has left the hospital, by focusing on safe sleep in these precious first few days together.
And the ABC’s of safe sleep are simple and easy: babies should be Alone on their Backs and in a Crib. This means that babies should sleep on their backs on a firm, flat surface, separate from adults or others, without any bumpers, soft bedding or stuffed toys.
Birthing Hospitals Are the First Step
Birthing hospitals play a critical role in teaching new parents and caregivers what safe sleep practices look like–so much so that, in the Colorado Child Fatality Prevention System’s most recent annual legislative report, one of the recommendations made following the review of child fatalities in Colorado was to support policies that expand education, modeling and discharge safety screening in birthing hospitals.
According to the report, at least six states require hospitals and health care providers to give parents and caregivers educational materials and information on infant safe sleep practices within health care settings, during a hospital stay or at discharge.2,3 The depth and breadth of safe sleep practices and policies at Colorado’s birthing hospitals is not widely or easily known.
Hospitals have multiple options for demonstrating their commitment to safe sleep in practice:
For hospitals looking for a straightforward place to start, the Cribs for Kids National Safe Sleep Hospital Certification Program may be the best fit. Hospitals participating in this no-cost program receive resources and support in drafting safe sleep policies for their organization, training for all health care providers in safe sleep, safe sleep educational materials for families and caregivers, support for modeling safe sleep in all settings (labor and delivery, NICUs, etc.), and messaging around safe sleep in alignment with the AAP’s recommendations.
Cribs for Kids also provides a step-by-step hospital certification toolkit that guides organizations through certification requirements at the bronze, silver or gold levels depending on their commitments, policies and practices related to infant safe sleep. Of all the hospitals in Colorado, only one is currently certified by Cribs for Kids: Valley View Hospital in Glenwood Springs, which is certified at the gold level.4
Certification programs like Cribs for Kids are just a start for shifting practice and addressing families’ needs. For long term changes in practice, ongoing support and accountability–such as through a quality improvement approach–are needed to sustain change. Additionally, input from families, especially around considerations for cultural responsiveness, linguistic accessibility and social and economic needs, is needed to develop hospital efforts that truly work for Colorado families.
While the first few days at a hospital are only one part of a new or expanding family’s safe sleep journey, Colorado has an opportunity–and an obligation–to shift practice in order to give our families the strongest and safest start possible.
Get Involved in October--and Beyond
>> October is Safe Sleep and Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) Awareness Month. Illuminate has put together some of our favorite resources to help community members and organizations alike raise awareness about this important topic, but it will take a sustained effort far beyond this month to create safe sleep for every baby everywhere in Colorado.
>> Click HERE to learn more about the Colorado Infant Safe Sleep Partnership‘s mission to support families, providers, organizations and policymakers to increase infant safe sleep practices and address related barriers and disparities through education, practice change and systems improvement.
>> Sign up to receive our safe sleep newsletter to receive more updates on this important work and ideas for parents, caregivers, organizations and communities to create safe sleep for every baby everywhere.
Child Fatality Prevention System. (2021).Child Fatality Prevention System Annual Legislative Report. Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, 41-42.
National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL). (2015). Sudden unexpected infant death legislation.
This article was published for Crib Conversations, a bimonthly digest of news, resources and updates about infant safe sleep.August is National Breastfeeding Month, which means that the end of August is a great time to think about how we can support new parents, help...
If you have a new baby in your life, or one on the way, you'll want to be aware of the new consumer safety regulations, research and safe sleep guidelines this summer. Here is a quick overview of all of the big news that you'll want to know about to reduce the risk of...
Many years ago, hospitals weren’t required to ensure that new babies went home in a car seat. That simple act of normalizing car seat safety as infants leave the hospital and head home with new, and often overwhelmed, parents and caregivers has no doubt saved...
When you walk into any store to buy something for a new baby on the way, you assume that the products on the shelves are safe, but those who’ve spent some time learning about safe sleep recommendations and guidelines know that isn’t the case when it comes to infant sleep products. Earlier this month, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) announced the approval of a new federal rule to ensure products marketed or intended for infant sleep will provide a safe sleep environment for babies under 5 months old. Beginning in mid-2022, any product intended or marketed for infant sleep must meet a federal safety standard—a requirement that does not exist today.
The new mandatory standard will effectively eliminate potentially hazardous sleep products in the marketplace that do not currently meet a CPSC mandatory standard for infant sleep, such as inclined sleepers, travel and compact bassinets, and in-bed sleepers, which have been linked to dozens of infant deaths. Popular products formerly referred to as “inclined sleep products” include several styles that have beenrecalledover the years. In fact, just this week, Fisher-Price announced a recall of thousands of baby soothers, gliders after 4 infant deaths, including one baby from Colorado.
“This change will be historic and save lives in Colorado,” said Kate Jankovsky, childhood adversity prevention manager with the Violence and Injury Prevention-Mental Health Promotion Branch of the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment and member of the Colorado Infant Safe Sleep Partnership. “This will make it easier for all consumers to buy, use and give infant sleep products as gifts. Today, many people are unknowingly buying products known to be unsafe for an infant to sleep.”
The lack of regulation of infant sleep products and the abundance of unsafe sleep objects and devices manufactured and sold throughout the United States has frustrated advocates, health care professionals and parents who have lost children, alike, for years. Dr. Sunah S. Hwang, the Lula O. Lubchenco Chair in Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine and Associate Professor of Pediatrics and Director of Perinatal Health Services Research with the University of Colorado School of Medicine Department of Pediatrics Section of Neonatology, highlighted the need for action by the Commission in The Call to Translate Data Into Action to Prevent Infant Death published just last month. Stating “[a]lthough states such as Ohio, Maryland, and New York have banned the sale of unsafe items such as crib bumpers, these soft bedding objects continue to be manufactured, marketed, and sold. The Consumer Product Safety Commission voted unanimously in 2020 to proceed with developing a federal safety rule that would ban the sale of crib bumpers that limit airflow. We eagerly await the results of the federal rulemaking process.” Hwang highlighted the fact that
of SUID cases categorized as “explained” or “unexplained–possible suffocation,” 74% of airway obstructions were due to soft bedding. In short, 1145 infants may have survived their first year of life had soft bedding not been used during their sleep.”
Later this year, the Commission expects to consider federal safety standards for crib bumpers and crib mattresses. CPSC and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have long warned of the dangers of bed-sharing or co-sleeping. The new rule does not take any action against bed-sharing without sleep products. Instead, it shifts responsibility to manufacturers to assist parents who want to bed-share, by requiring them to produce only products that are safe to do so. The new rule also does not extend to items that are expressly not intended or marketed for infant sleep, such as swings and car seats.
As a reminder, the safest place for a baby to sleep is a flat, bare surface dedicated to the infant. The Colorado Infant Safe Sleep Partnership is actively recruiting members interested in getting involved to support families, providers, organizations and policymakers to increase infant safe sleep practices and address related barriers and disparities, through education, practice change and systems improvement.
Few things are more exhausting than a new baby. Increased infant crying, perhaps a few older children to care for, and trying to get back to work after a few short weeks all result in very, very tired caregivers.
October is Safe Sleep Awareness month. There has been a great deal of information shared this month around what a safe sleep crib looks like. And although it can sound a bit boring, ensuring cribs are free of objects which could lead to suffocation is worth the mental shift from “cute” to “safe”. Talking with all the family and friends who come in contact with baby about safe sleep practices is important to ensure even good-willed intentions do not lead to tragedy.
Adding Substance Use to the Mix
Imagine the last time you were beyond tired. Maybe you found yourself dozing off driving to or from work. Maybe you fell asleep watching a movie you actually wanted to see. Or maybe that last zoom call was just too long to handle. Sometimes our bodies take over even when we have every intention to stay awake.
Now take a moment and imagine adding substances that can lead to additional depression of the body’s ability to function, like alcohol, marijuana, some over the counter and prescription medications, and illicit substances. When contemplating the use of substances with a newborn in the home (separate from breastfeeding risks and substance use) it is important to be extra vigilant in ensuring your baby has a safe place to sleep.
Caregiving of an infant is exhausting. Falling asleep when feeding a baby on a couch or in bed is not uncommon for a tired caregiver. The impacts and side effects of many common substances increases the risk of positional overlay, which is when a caregiver accidentally rolls over on a baby in bed or on a couch or large chair, suffocating the infant. If you are thinking right now you would totally wake up if you rolled over on a baby, remember the times noted above. You didn’t mean to fall asleep, but you did. And if a caregiver is exhausted, and impacted by substance use, whether they were feeding the baby, or in bed with a baby and an additional caregiver, the risk of positional overlay or entrapment increases. And sleeping on a couch with a baby increases the risk even more, especially when substances are involved.
Increasing Safety in Sleeping Environments
According to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), there are several ways to increase safety in sleeping environments, including:
Until their first birthday, babies should sleep on their backs for all sleep times—for naps and at night.
Use a firm sleep surface.
Room share—keep baby’s sleep area in the same room where you sleep for the first 6 months or, ideally, for the first year.
Only bring your baby into your bed to feed or comfort.
Never place your baby to sleep on a couch, sofa, or armchair.
Bed-sharing is not recommended for any babies. However, certain situations make bed-sharing even more dangerous. Therefore, you should not bed share with your baby if:
Your baby is younger than 4 months old.
Your baby was born prematurely or with low birth weight.
You or any other person in the bed is a smoker (even if you do not smoke in bed).
You have taken any medicines or drugs that might make it harder for you to wake up.
You drank any alcohol.
You are not the baby’s parent.
The surface is soft, such as a waterbed, old mattress, sofa, couch, or armchair.
There is soft bedding like pillows or blankets on the bed.
Keep soft objects, loose bedding, or any objects that could increase the risk of entrapment, suffocation, or strangulation out of the baby’s sleep area.
Being a caregiver for a newborn is exhausting. If you are a parent or caregiver reading this, know you are not alone and that feeling exhausted is normal. It will pass. You will find a new pattern and chances to catch up on sleep over the next few years. Following safe sleep practices now, including limiting substance use, and creating and using safe sleep environments, can reduce the risk of SUIDS and the risks of positional overlay. Reach out to parent groups, family or your community for support. Raising children is beyond hard!
For more information on resources to help provide safe sleep environments, call 1-800-CHILDREN, 2-1-1, or your local health department. For more information on finding support from other parents, visit CircleOfParentsCO.org.
To help raise awareness about safe infant sleep during Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) Awareness Month in October, we’re inviting you to participate in a fun and friendly photo activity called #SafeSleepSnap.
Parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles—anyone can participate by sharing a photo of a baby in a safe sleep area on their social media accounts. Make sure you use the hashtag #SafeSleepSnap so everyone can see the adorable pictures of babies in safe sleep areas.
(Not sure what a safe sleep area looks like? Check out this page for details.)
Here are the specifics:
Post a photo of your baby, grandbaby, niece, or nephew in or next to a safe sleep area on your social media accounts (Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram).
Use the hashtag #SafeSleepSnap in the post. This is how we’ll know you participated!
Give yourself kudos for taking part in #SafeSleepSnap and helping raise awareness about safe infant sleep.
Be creative! Practicing safe infant sleep can be fun. Creativity and humor are encouraged in the photos and captions, as long as the baby’s sleep area follows safe sleep recommendations. This album includes examples you can use as inspiration.
This is your opportunity to both show off your cutie and help other caregivers see that safe infant sleep can be fun! Illuminate Colorado is proud to serve in a convening role for the Colorado Infant Safe Sleep Partnership (ISSP), whose mission is to support families, providers, organizations and policymakers to increase infant safe sleep practices and address related barriers and disparities, through education, practice change, and systems improvement. We will also be posting #SafeSleepSnap photos on our accounts throughout October. Please like the photos, retweet them, and share them with your friends and followers.
We look forward to seeing your #SafeSleepSnap!
For our organizational and community partners, we encourage you to use the Safe to Sleep Campaign’s #SafeSleepSnap Digital Toolkit to help raise awareness around infant safe sleep practices. In this toolkit, you can find resources for family-serving professionals and providers, as well as for caregivers and families! Resources are available in English and Spanish, and in a variety of user-friendly formats, including videos, infographics, and interactive tools.
Visit the Safe to Sleep website to explore information and resources, and to find out more about the campaign and toolkit.
Ryan (he/him/his) joined the Illuminate team in March of 2020 and is currently the Director of Communications. In his role, Ryan leads the development and execution of strategic communication plans while promoting the organization's programs and educational opportunities. Passionate about communications work that leads to social change, Ryan knows that Illuminate’s work– and how it is communicated– is impacting lives and building better childhoods across our state. Ryan has a masters degree in Media & Public Communication from the University of Denver and comes to Illuminate with experience working with non-profit organizations, graphic design, videography, and photography.
Outside of work, Ryan enjoys snowboarding, watching NBA basketball (go OKC Thunder!), and spending evenings at home playing strategy board games with his husband. His favorite thing about living in Colorado is the great weather and snowboarding on the Western Slope!
Sarah (she/her/hers) joined the Illuminate team in August of 2022 as the Communications Associate. In her role, Sarah provides administrative support to the Communications Team, working with the entire organization and community members from all over the state to manage first impressions for Illuminate Colorado and connect people interested in the prevention of child maltreatment.
Before coming to Illuminate, Sarah worked on the development, launch, and management of ParentsThrive.org, an online tool for new and expecting parents in Colorado. Having earned her B.A. in Biochemistry from Colorado College, she is interested in early childhood wellbeing and development, and the communications involved in connecting families to the support they need to thrive.
Outside of work, Sarah loves to run, nordic ski, practice yoga, and find new podcasts. Her favorite part of living in Colorado is being close to friends and enjoying the awesome winters!
Anna joined the Illuminate team in June of 2019 and serves as the Director of Evaluation and Strategic Learning. In her role, Anna leads the data collection, evaluation, and strategic learning efforts at Illuminate with the goal of advancing organizational functioning, reach, and impact. She also oversees the design and implementation of Illuminate's data systems and infrastructure in pursuit of this same goal.
Central to Anna's role is helping to foster an organizational culture of learning at Illuminate and promote the use of data as a tool for continuous growth and improvement. In her positions prior to Illuminate, Anna was able to pursue her passion for developing learning and evaluation strategies to advance programs and services that promote the health and wellbeing of individuals, families, and communities.
Anna’s favorite things about living in Colorado are her family, the mountains, and endless sunshine!
Joan (she/her/hers) joined the Illuminate team in September of 2019 as the Director of Family Support. In her role, Joan oversees the development and implementation of the Illuminating Child Care and Circle of Parents programs. Joan came to Illuminate with over 20 years of experience in Early Childhood Education, always working to support children and families in their communities.
A big fan of the outdoors, her favorite thing to do during Colorado summers is take the trailer out for camping trips in the mountains!
Contact me about: Illuminating Child Care, Circle of Parents
Linda (she/her/hers) joined the Illuminate team in November of 2021 as the Director of Finance and Human Resources, where she provides day-to-day oversight of her team’s functioning. Coming to Illuminate with over 20 years of experience in Nonprofit Finance and Human Resources Management, Linda has been instrumental in the startup of two nonprofits where she designed and implemented financial structures and human resource functions.
Linda loves living in Colorado because she gets to be close to family. Outside of work, she enjoys spending time with her grandbabies, reading, and singing!
Sadie Rose (she/her/hers) joined the Illuminate team in January of 2021 as the Education Program Manager. In her role, Sadie Rose provides training and facilitator support for Illuminate’s Child Sexual Abuse Prevention training. Having spent a decade as a victim advocate, Sadie Rose knows that communication and education are essential to de-stigmatization and allows for open and honest conversations. “The more we talk about child maltreatment the better we can creatively problem solve and collaborate to prevent it from occurring.”
Born and raised in Southwest Colorado, Sadie Rose loves that she can drive two hours in any direction and be in a totally different climate. She enjoys spending time outside of work with her husband, dogs, and two retired equine therapy horses.
Contact me about: Child Sexual Abuse Prevention trainings
Sarah (she/her/hers) joined the Illuminate team in December of 2019 as the Bloom Yoga Program Manager. In her role, Sarah brings healing centered, trauma informed yoga to children, families and professionals. Coming to Illuminate with over 15 years of experience in the field of child welfare, Sarah believes that everyone should have access to yoga and regulation practices. Sarah found yoga and mindfulness in her own healing and resilience and she can’t wait to share it with others. Sarah is a registered yoga teacher, children’s yoga teacher, and is trained in trauma informed yoga.
Sarah has 2 kids, a dog (Basil), and a cat (NASA). Outside of work, Sarah loves to enjoy the Colorado fall colors by getting outside for a hike. Sarah and her family love to cook– head over for some sushi or spaghetti (their specialities!)
Eric (he/him/his) joined the Illuminate team in September of 2020 and is currently the Child Care Operations Manager. In his role, Eric works on RV Honey (part of the Illuminating Child Care program) providing child care and navigation services to families. Eric came to Illuminate with over 15 years of experience teaching and working with children, and is passionate about providing children and families with every opportunity to thrive. Eric has a degree in Human Development and has a Level 4 Certification through Colorado Shines.
Eric’s favorite part of living in Colorado is the sunshine and the mountains!
Jessica (she/her/hers) joined the Illuminate team in September of 2020 as the Senior Circle of Parents Associate. In her role, Jessica supports the management of data and dissemination of materials for the Circle of Parents program, as well as leads the Learning and Development Committee. Prior to coming to Illuminate, Jessica spent two years as an AmeriCorps member, gaining experience managing data. Jessica knows that numbers can tell overlooked stories and are essential in the effort to help families, no matter where they are in life.
Also having earned her B.A. in Criminal Justice, Jessica spent two years working as a Beauty Advisor at Sephora!
Contact me about: Circle of Parents, Learning and Development Committee
Patsy (she/her/hers) joined the Illuminate team in March of 2020 as the Child Care Manager and is currently the Core Values Committee leader. In her role, Patsy supervises lead teachers, plans ongoing professional development training, collaborates with community members to implement Illuminating Child Care in their neighborhoods, organizes daily on-site childcare services for parents, and partners with families to provide navigation services for long-term childcare. Caring deeply about the wellbeing of families and development of children, Patsy has been instrumental in the implementation of different types of early learning programs including Center Base and Home Base.
Patsy’s favorite things about living in Colorado are the open outdoor spaces and wonderful weather. She makes an effort to visit the mountains each year to reconnect with nature and take walks in the park to relax. Patsy is also always a fan of a fresh cup of ice cream!
Toni (she/her/hers) joined the Illuminate team in 2018 and is currently the Circle of Parents Program Manager. Illuminate Colorado is the state intermediary for Circle of Parents and, in her role, Toni oversees the program, providing tools and resources to help families heal. As a parent in recovery who has been facilitating Circle of Parents in Recovery groups since 2014, Toni knows that every parent is a leader and needs support to discover that about themselves. In recognition of her work, Toni has received the Casey Excellence for Children Award.
Toni has three daughters and is a kinship care provider for three grandchildren– she points to her family as her source of strength and biggest cheer section. Her favorite thing about living in Colorado are the mountains!
Cassie (she/her/hers) joined the Illuminate team in March of 2020 and is currently the Strategic Initiatives Manager. In her role, Cassie supports Illuminate's systems change efforts that are focused on organizational practice change and policy by offering backbone support to the Child Sexual Abuse Prevention Coalition and Infant Safe Sleep Partnership, supporting the CHoSEN Collaborative, and supporting Illuminate's efforts around state and federal legislative policy. Cassie came to Illuminate with experience providing services to children and families, and knows that creating a better world for children and families requires efforts at all levels of the Spectrum of Prevention and collaboration between individuals, families, and multisector professionals.
Having grown up in Louisiana and Texas, Cassie’s favorite thing about living in Colorado is being able to spend time outside in all four seasons, and how easy Colorado makes it to vote!
Contact me about: Child Sexual Abuse Prevention Coalition, Infant Safe Sleep Partnership, CHoSEN Collaborative, organizational legislative policy efforts
Dawn (she/her/hers) joined the Illuminate team in March of 2022 as the Strategic Initiatives Manager. In her role, Dawn provides backbone support to ensure the successful implementation of CDEC's Colorado Early Childhood Comprehensive Systems: Health Integration Prenatal to Three (CO-ECCS) Project. Through Dawn’s experience directly supporting children and their families in navigating services and supports, she has seen how important it is for families to feel heard and valued. She comes to systems building work in hopes to innovate and cultivate the conditions that ensure children are able to thrive, that their families are empowered and supported, and their communities are nurturing environments.
Outside of work, Dawn likes to cook and bake, as well as spend time with her two dogs, Rosie and Crosby. Her favorite thing about living in Colorado is that she doesn’t need to travel far to enjoy the solace of the outdoors, especially the backcountry!
Contact me about: CO-ECCS Project & the ECCS Working Group
Theo (they/them/theirs) joined the Illuminate team in August of 2022 as the Community Initiatives Associate. In their role, Theo provides administrative support to the Colorado Partnership for Thriving Families. Coming to Illuminate with experience in child welfare, supervising Court Appointed Special Advocates for youth with open Dependency and Neglect cases, Theo is passionate about prevention work and systems change to strengthen families. In addition to having earned their Masters of Social Work, Theo has also been published in The Journal of Baccalaureate Social Work!
Outside of work, you can find Theo crafting, playing board games with their partner (their high school sweetheart!), watching RuPaul's Drag Race, or walking their dog, Louise. Theo’s favorite thing about living in Colorado is the beautiful scenery and being able to spend time outdoors!
Contact me about: Colorado Partnership for Thriving Families
Justine (she/her/hers) joined the Illuminate team in June of 2021 and is currently the Communications Manager. In her role, Justine supports Illuminate Colorado’s work to strengthen families, organizations, and communities by connecting community members and professionals to its vision and mission through strategic communications. Coming to Illuminate with experience communicating with stakeholders such as students, families, educators, donors, board members, and community members, Justine is passionate about meaningful, transformative storytelling. She knows the importance of encouraging others to use their voices to share their own stories and inspire curiosity, growth, and equity. Justine has a Master of Arts in English from the University of Colorado Denver and a Certificate in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in the Workplace from the University of South Florida.
Outside of work Justine enjoys spending time outdoors, specifically going for hikes!
Contact me about: Strengthening Colorado Families and Communities Conference, Child Abuse Prevention Month, Events
Hayley (she/her/hers) joined the Illuminate team in January of 2022 as the Evaluation and Strategic Learning Manager. In addition to the development, maintenance, and refinement of Illuminate’s data collection and database infrastructures for its diverse programming, Hayley also supports the Director of Evaluation and Strategic Learning in monitoring and optimizing the implementation of program evaluation plans. Hayley enjoys collaborating with Illuminate’s staff and partners to continuously improve programs and is driven by the ever-growing need for family and child-focused, evidence-based supports in Colorado.
Outside of work, Hayley has fun trying to improve her downhill skiing skills, cheering for the Colorado Avalanche, and caring for a 100 lb. therapy dog named Sully.
Jade has served as the Executive Director of Illuminate Colorado since its inception in 2015, following 7 years as the Executive Director of founding partner agency, the Colorado Alliance for Drug Endangered Children. Prior to this work, she provided family support services in a variety of settings to families impacted by homelessness, domestic violence, and substance use disorders. Jade has a Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work and a Master’s Degree in Public Administration.
As the Executive Director of Illuminate Colorado, she has participated in and led many state level initiatives related to child maltreatment, substance use, child maltreatment prevention, public awareness, and collaborative community approaches.
Currently, Jade serves on the Colorado Partnership for Thriving Families Steering Committee, SuPPoRT Colorado Steering Committee, Delivery of Child Welfare Services Task Force, Home Visitation Investment Task Force, Essentials for Childhood Steering Committee, Early Childhood Department Transition Advisory Group, Safe Child Care Task Force, Plans of Safe Care Rule Writing Group, and Colorado Consortium for Prescription Drug Abuse Prevention.
Angelica (she/her/hers) joined the Illuminate team in April of 2022 as the Director of Family Connects and is currently the Director of Home Visitation. Under the guidance of the Executive Director, Angelica leads the intermediary functions of planning and implementation of the Family Connects program in Colorado. Additionally, she works in partnership with local communities to coordinate, facilitate, and lead the planning, installation, and sustainability of the program. Coming to Illuminate with over 15 years of experience in the Early Childhood sector, Angelica is passionate about providing families with support and connecting them with resources when they need them most. Angelica knows that all parents need support and believes in the importance of investing in resources and support– early and for everyone.
Angelica was born in Bogota, Colombia, has two teenage sons, and loves to hike, ride bikes, and paddle board. Her favorite thing about living in Colorado is the outdoors and the liberal mindset!
Kelli (she/her/hers) joined the Illuminate team in March of 2022 as the Strategic Initiatives Manager. In her role, Kelli facilitates coalitions and work groups with an emphasis on behavioral health system efforts. Kelli is passionate about strengthening families and organizations in order to improve well-being for families. Coming to Illuminate with experience as a Problem Solving Court and Child Welfare professional specializing in working with families impacted by substance use, she believes in the collaborative process to enhance organizational practice in order to support families and prevent child maltreatment.
Kelli’s favorite part of living in Colorado are the seasons and the ability to travel to beautiful places across the state!
Contact me about: Supporting Perinatal Substance Use Prevention, Recovery and Treatment (SuPPoRT) in Colorado. SuPPoRT Colorado Steering Committee, working/advisory groups and the SuPPoRT Colorado Family Advisory Board
Hattie (she/her/hers) joined the Illuminate team in December of 2018 as the Senior Community Initiatives Manager. In her role, Hattie provides backbone support to the Colorado Partnership for Thriving Families, leads Illuminate's family engagement efforts, and manages community capacity-building initiatives. Passionate about primary prevention, Hattie came to Illuminate with experience in reproductive health policy, advocacy, and community organizing as well as sexual assault prevention programming. Hattie knows that community and family voices are essential to making long-term impacts in the field of Public Health.
Outside of work, Hattie likes to take advantage of the Colorado sunshine and mountains by backpacking, cross-country skiing, and backcountry skiing!
Contact me about: Colorado Partnership for Thriving Families; family engagement; community capacity-building
Anne (she/her/hers) joined the Illuminate team in November of 2015, and currently serves as Deputy Director. In her role, Anne leads development and implementation for organizational program growth, including but not limited to new curricula, programs, expansion, and leverageable opportunities. She also supervises Family Support Programs, Home Visitation Programs, and Education Programs.
Additionally, Anne is trained as a facilitator in a variety of areas including substance use and families, protective factors, Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs), abusive head trauma, and child sexual abuse prevention.
Anne's career choice, like many people who serve in the field of strengthening children, families, and communities, was influenced by personal reasons from past experiences or environments. “I personally do this work because I believe I have the opportunity through my experiences and knowledge to partner with others to make a positive change in the lives of families.”
Having lived in many states and overseas, Anne eventually decided to return home to Colorado– there is no place like home, she says!
Jillian (she/her/hers) joined the Illuminate team in August of 2017 and is currently Deputy Director. In her role, Jillian leads development and implementation of systems changes strategies, responds to shifting conditions, and supports organizational and program sustainability. She also directly supervises Communications, Evaluation, Grants & Development, Policy, and Strategic Initiatives. With a background in organizing community members around opportunities to affect health policy, Jillian is passionate about her work because she wants to live a happier, healthier, and more just world where families have what they need to thrive.
Jillian lives in Denver with her husband and dog, Max. She enjoys hiking, reading, and gardening– especially growing food to share! Jillian’s favorite part about living in Colorado is the beautiful sunshine!
Jason (he/him/his) joined the Illuminate team in January of 2018 and is currently a Senior Education Program Manager. In his role, Jason develops evidence-based curricula and delivers trainings focused on strengths-based prevention and intervention concepts. With a background in serving individuals, families, and children in a variety of education and human services roles for 25 years, Jason is passionate about work that strengthens families and changes lives. Jason is Illuminate Colorado’s resident expert on substance use and families, leading the Child Welfare Training System and Smart Choices Safe Kids programs.
Jason, his wife, and their three daughters live in the foothills of the Rockies. They love many things about Colorado: blue skies, green forests, clean air, big mountains, deep snow, good concerts, rivers, hot springs, huts– the list goes on!
Contact me about: Child Welfare Training System and Smart Choices Safe Kids
Missy (she/her/hers) joined the Illuminate team in March of 2020 and is currently a Senior Education Program Manager. In her role, Missy builds relationships with people and organizations that shift their perspective and practices in ways that benefit the long term outcomes for children and youth within communities. Her work includes developing curriculum, training and group facilitation, individual or group coaching, program planning and development, and supporting organizational implementation.
With nearly 20 years of experience in local and national child welfare, treatment, and prevention programs, Missy knows that every person needs connection to thrive. She is driven by her passion for ensuring everyone has a village around them, walking beside them through the good and the difficult parts of life.
Born and raised in Colorado, Missy says she must love everything about her home state because she refuses to leave! Missy has three incredible children that are growing up way too fast– “they keep me and my life partner on our toes, out of money, and exhausted, but I wouldn't have it any other way!”
Contact me about: Strengthening Families and Protective Factors Trainer Network, Healthy Outcomes thru Positive Experiences, Youth Thrive
Marissa (she/her/hers) joined the Illuminate team in August of 2022 as the Finance & Human Resources Manager. In her role, Marissa supports the Director of Finance & Human Resources in various accounting and HR duties. Marissa is passionate about the Human Services field and loves to use her accounting and HR background to contribute to and support Illuminate’s amazing work. After earning her Associates degree in Criminal Justice, Marissa worked in accounting before leaving to pursue her interest in HR and non-profit work.
Marissa has two dogs, Daisy and Bandit, and she loves spending time with family– preferably while also enjoying outdoor activities like fishing and camping. Her favorite things about living in Colorado are all of the seasons and the colorful environment!
Jordan Davis (she/her/hers) joined the Illuminate team in January of 2023 as an Early Childhood Teacher. In her role, Jordan works with Illuminating Child Care team members Patsy and Eric on the mobile child care units, providing child care for families while caregivers receive treatment and support. After earning a degree in Sociology and Psychology, Jordan gained experience working with at-risk youth in a residential facility setting. Kids are always bringing excitement to Jordan’s life, and she loves working with children because of how unique each child is and the joy they bring to her life every day.
Jordan is a big fan of spending time with friends, listening to and talking about music, and learning to cook! “When I grow up I want to be like Julia Child and be able to cook more than pizza rolls.”
Her favorite part of living in Colorado are the beautiful summers and enjoying time outside.
Lex Loutzenhiser (she/they) joined the Illuminate team in January of 2023 as the Policy Manager. In their role, Lex supports organizational policy activities, including conducting policy research and analysis, engaging stakeholders, and advocating for policies that support Illuminate's mission and the communities we serve. Lex came to Illuminate with a background in social work, providing direct services to individuals who use substances and people living with HIV in rural Colorado. She also has experience conducting public health outreach and education, with a focus on youth and adult behavioral health, access to low barrier health services, and harm reduction.
Lex is passionate about this work because, through personal and work experience, they have witnessed the ways in which community supports can strengthen families and empower people to thrive. She enjoys engaging in innovative, evidence-informed, community-driven policy work that creates happier, healthier communities. As Congresswoman Ayanna Presley put it, "Policy is my love language."
Lex lives in Northern Colorado with their two cats and loves to cook, hike, and explore nature photography in her free time. Their favorite part of living in Colorado is the access to nature and the outdoors!
Cristina Bejarano (she/her/ella) joined the Illuminate team in February of 2023 as the Director of Strategic Initiatives. In her role, Cristina oversees the strategic planning, facilitation, and ongoing coordination of multiple coalitions and community-based efforts working to positively impact children and families across Colorado. As a public health professional working to increase health equity, Cristina has worked with local communities, philanthropy, federal and state governments, and international organizations to build collaborative relationships for collective impact.
Cristina’s lifelong passion is working with systemic structures to increase the communities' capacity for wellbeing, and she is thrilled to be working in a role that allows her to contribute to brighter futures for kids and families.
Outside of work, you can find Cristina running around with her two kids and partner and supporting community efforts. Her favorite part about living in Colorado is the four seasons that allow for fun outside activities all year long!
Contact me about: Strategic Initiatives and the Colorado Infant Safe Sleep Partnership (ISSP)
Mike Robbins (he/him/his) joined the Illuminate team in March of 2023 as the Grants & Development Manager. In his role, Mike is responsible for shepherding Illuminate's fundraising efforts through individual giving, grants, events, and sponsorships. Before joining Illuminate, Mike studied at The Institute for Leaders in Development at Denver University, and worked in nonprofit communications, resource development, grant writing, donor stewardship, event planning, and volunteer management. Mike is passionate about the health and wellbeing of children, youth and families, and loves that he is able to use his experience in mission-driven storytelling and development to grow Illuminate’s community of donors and grant funders.
In his free time, Mike enjoys hiking, yardwork, cheering on the Nuggets and Kansas State Wildcats, plus checking out great restaurants with friends. His favorite part about living in Colorado is the generosity, grit and tenacity of Coloradans!
Karci Lockwood (she/her/hers) joined the Illuminate Colorado team in April of 2023 as the Community Initiatives Associate. In her role, Karci provides administrative support to the Colorado Partnership for Thriving Families.
Before joining Illuminate, Karci worked as the Program Director for Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) of Mesa County, training and supporting volunteers to be the voice for children with open child abuse and neglect cases.
Karci has always gravitated towards prevention work. Through her experience working with children who have been victims of child abuse, she always wondered: “how do we get up stream and keep this from ever happening?” As a new parent herself, Karci knows how important it is to feel supported and connected.
In her free time, Karci enjoys rafting, mountain biking, and camping with her family. Her favorite part about living in Colorado is how outdoor adventures wait right outside her backdoor!
Contact me about: The Colorado Partnership for Thriving Families
Sreena (she/her/hers) joined the Illuminate Colorado team in April of 2023 as an Infant Child Care Teacher. Sreena is a member of the Illuminating Child Care team, working on mobile child care unit Honey to provide child care for families while caregivers receive treatment and support. In her role, Sreena reads to infants, assists them in recognizing images and sounds, and helps kids to form positive relationships with their peers.
After graduating as a first generation scholar from the University Colorado Boulder with a degree in Communications, Sreena continued her work with school-age children in child care, providing the support and resources that kids and families need to thrive. Ever since she was young, Sreena has dreamt of becoming a teacher. She finds joy in the opportunity to both teach and learn from tomorrow’s leaders every day.
In her free time, Sreena likes to play board games with friends, cook at home, hike with her dog, and listen to audiobooks. Her favorite part about living in Colorado is enjoying the beautiful mountains!
