ATLANTA — The Georgia Department of Human Resources is launching a crib matching initiative to improve Georgia’s infant mortality rate and to support healthy birth outcomes.

The crib matching program will help reduce incidents of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome by providing qualified families with safe sleep education and resources for children.

SIDS is the sudden and unexplained death of a baby under the age of 1. It is the leading cause of death among infants between the ages of a month and one year old. More than 500 infants in Georgia died from SIDS between 2002 and 2005.

DHR has approximately 400 such cribs available to match with participating agencies such as the Division of Family and Children Services and the Georgia Fatality Review.  

Organizations that want more information about DHR’s Crib Matching program can contact Monica L. Barnett at (404) 463-2117 or mlbarnett@dhr.state.ga.us. For information about SIDS, visit: http://health.state.ga.us/programs/sids/.