Health education highlights safe-sleep trailer, state publicity and community events

Health-education staff reported program outreach this quarter that included a safe-sleep mobile trailer, local events and statewide media attention. Shelby Jackson said the safe-sleep trailer debuted with a ribbon cutting and local partners and that the state public-health community is now aware of the program after Jackson presented it to more than 1,100 people on a statewide call. Jackson said the trailer is likely the first safe-sleep mobile program in the state. She credited Vector Control staff and other partners for the trailer—s preparation, said the program drew strong community participation and described plans to limit travel to events about 80 miles round-trip to conserve funding. The department also held serve-safe food-safety training sessions (nine people, eight passed) and supported a tire-amnesty disposal effort following local storms. The public-information work included interviews with WTHI, WTWO, Tribune-Star and Indianapolis television stations and internal media training with the Indiana Department of Health. Jackson said outreach included sun-safety, drowning prevention and drowning-prevention messaging that aligns with HFI priorities. Why it matters: The mobile safe-sleep unit and statewide dissemination of program lessons may increase local awareness of infant-sleep safety and related prevention services. Travel caps reflect funding constraints and a prioritization of local events. Staff said they will continue to coordinate with partners and track workload and travel impacts on program delivery.