FYC Action Teams

Priority Area: Eliminating Sleep-Related Deaths

(Learn more about what we're doing in this priority area)

GOAL: By the end of 2020, Cuyahoga County's sleep-related infant deaths will be reduced from 27 in 2015 to five.

RESULTS TO DATE: There were 27 sleep-related infant deaths in Cuyahoga County in 2015. This decreased to 23 sleep-related deaths in 2020. Sleep-related deaths remain a leading cause of infant mortality.

Action Team 9: Promote safe sleep and expand sleep ambassador program. 

GOAL:  Train 15,000 Safe Sleep Heroes by December 2020; reduce the number of sleep-related infant deaths in Cuyahoga County to five in 2020.

Recent Accomplishments: FYC Action Team 9 (led by MetroHealth) has recruited and trained nearly 18,000 Safe Sleep Heroes as a sustainable community engagement effort to reduce preventable sleep-related infant deaths. The “heroes” teach the ABCDs of Safe Sleep: Alone, on their Back, in a Crib and Don't smoke. They have also hired parents and grandparents who have experienced a sleep-related loss to drive the ABCD messaging and lead safe sleep training. 

In the summer of 2020, FYC's Action Team 9 launched a comprehensive and highly visible Safe Sleep campaign including large-scale public advertising, billboards, car wraps, and daily messaging inside RTA buses circulating in Cleveland's east and central neighborhoods. In addition, local restaurants, public spaces such as libraries, and some businesses are displaying Safe Sleep posters; 25,000 pharmacy bags printed with safe sleep information were distributed; and more than 150,000 postcards with safe sleep and breastfeeding information were distributed through area Popeye’s restaurants. 

Action Team 10: Promote smoking cessation and advocate for implementation of Tobacco21 policies.

GOAL: Reduce tobacco use during pregnancy through implementation of Tobacco 21 (T21) policies in Greater Cleveland communities and increase access to the Ohio Tobacco Quit Line (1-800-QUIT NOW) by pregnant women. 

Recent Accomplishments: FYC Action Team 10 (led by the Cuyahoga County Board of Health) focused on reducing tobacco use among expectant parents and new parents through implementation of Tobacco 21 policies in Greater Cleveland communities and increasing access to the Ohio Quit Line by pregnant women, noting that all pregnant women who receive Medicaid are eligible for free services, including incentives and nicotine replacement therapy. This initiative also worked to decrease the exposure of pregnant women and infants to second- and third-hand tobacco smoke. 

FYC’s Action Team 10 was instrumental in Ohio’s “Tobacco 21” Law which took effect in October 2019, raising the age to purchase tobacco and vaping products to 21.