Infant Safe Sleep Outreach Project (EMERGENCY)

The Mississippi State Department of Health is seeking applications for the Mississippi Infant Safe Sleep Outreach Project Mini-Grants. The goal of this project is to reduce the risk of Sudden Unexpected Infant Death (SUID), Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS), Accidental Suffocation and Strangulation in Bed (ASSB), and other sleep-related causes of infant death in the state of Mississippi. The project will focus on community education efforts, particularly in African American communities, to increase public awareness about the impact of SUID, SIDS, ASSB, and other sleep-related causes of infant death, and to teach ways to create and provide access to safe infant sleep environments. The selected vendors will be expected to develop and execute a comprehensive outreach strategy, provide portable cribs to individuals in need, and offer standardized educational sessions, crib set-up demonstrations, and safe sleep positioning training. Key performance measures will include the number of cribs distributed, the number of participants reached with safe sleep education, and the percentage of infants placed to sleep on their backs, on a separate approved sleep surface, and without soft objects or loose bedding. • The project will target high-risk populations, including mothers-to-be, new mothers, fathers, grandparents, infant caregivers, and healthcare providers. • The selected vendors will be required to submit quarterly progress reports, participate in virtual orientation and technical assistance meetings, and conduct a final evaluation report. • The project will be funded through the Title V Maternal and Child Health Block Grant to the States Program, with a total of $150,000 available for subgrants. • The maximum award amount per organization is $15,000, and the project period is from June 1, 2026, to May 31, 2027.