The Colorado Infant Safe Sleep Partnership (ISSP) is on a mission to ensure that families, healthcare providers, organizations, and policymakers are equipped with the tools and knowledge needed to improve infant safe sleep practices. By addressing barriers related to infant sleep safety, the ISSP aims to increase awareness through education, systems improvement, and practice change.

In 2025, the ISSP is working to create a resource that will have a lasting impact on families and professionals alike: the Safer Sleep Conversation Guide. This collaborative effort is designed to support professionals and providers who work with families in building stronger, more supportive relationships with families, helping them navigate sensitive topics relating to safe sleep practices.

A Shared Vision for Safer Sleep Conversations

The goal of the Safer Sleep Conversation Guide is simple: to create a resource that encourages honest and trauma-informed discussions about safe sleep practices that are also grounded in community values. The guide will serve as a tool for professionals working with families, enabling them to approach these conversations in a non-judgmental, empathetic way. By understanding the context behind why some families may choose bed-sharing or other sleep alternatives, providers can better support families without stigmatizing them.

The importance of this guide is rooted in the ISSP’s three priority areas: education, systems improvement, and practice change. This collaborative effort embodies all three principles and helps to advance the ISSP’s vision of a Colorado where all families, providers, organizations, and policymakers have knowledge, resources, and support for infant safe sleep practices.

Engaging Professionals to Lead the Way

Creating the Safer Sleep Conversation Guide will be a highly collaborative process. The ISSP understands that those on the front lines—providers who interact with families on a regular basis—are the best voices to contribute to this project. As such, the ISSP made the decision to provide dedicated working time outside of their regular bimonthly meetings for individuals who wanted to actively participate. This approach ensures that the voices of those who work directly with families are heard loud and clear.

The process officially began in February with an initial meeting, where group norms were established, and a work plan was reviewed. At this meeting, members took the first steps in mapping out how responsibilities would be shared throughout the year. Participation in this process is open to all members, giving everyone an opportunity to contribute to the creation of the guide.

Looking Ahead: The Path for 2025

The next working meeting for the Safer Sleep Conversation Guide is scheduled for June 9th, from 9 to 10:30am, and the ISSP is eager to continue building on the momentum from their earlier discussions. By the end of 2025, the goal is to have a draft of the guide ready for review, with clearly defined processes for sharing and distributing it to those who will benefit most.

Ultimately, the conversation guide will be a resource that not only improves individual practice but also supports broader systems change. By making conversations about safe sleep less stigmatized and more relationship-based, the ISSP aims to shift the way families and providers interact. Through this process, the ISSP hopes to improve the systems in which families receive services, ensuring that every family has access to the knowledge and resources they need to practice safe sleep for their infants.

How to Get Involved

To get involved in this exciting project, consider becoming a member of the ISSP. Become a member today to learn more about the Safer Sleep Conversation Guide and opportunities to contribute to its development.

By working together, the ISSP is paving the way for a safer, more supportive environment for families across Colorado. Join the movement today to help make a lasting impact on infant safe sleep practices.

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