County administrator recognizes Cassie Stewart McCarthy as infant sleep deaths fall

The county administrator read a letter at a meeting of Clackamas County commissioners recognizing nurse home visiting supervisor Cassie Stewart McCarthy and her team for work aimed at preventing sleep-related infant deaths, saying their efforts are "literally saving lives."

The note, made on behalf of the Clackamas County Child Abuse Multidisciplinary Team and the Child Fatality Review Team, credited McCarthy and her team with direct caregiver education, community outreach, public service announcements and collaborative partnerships with the District Attorney's Office, the Oregon Department of Human Services, the Child Abuse Multidisciplinary Team and Clackamas Emergency Services.

The administrator said those activities have produced measurable results: in the years prior to 2025 the county experienced between four and six infant deaths each year tied to unsafe sleep environments. "In calendar year 2025 and currently through 2026, only one infant has passed away due to sleep conditions," the administrator said, adding, "Still one too many, but a tremendous decrease over that time."

The administrator concluded by thanking the multiple county departments involved — including the Sheriff's Office, the District Attorney's Office, Health, Housing and Human Services, and the Juvenile Department — and noting that Chair Roberts played a key role in creating the multidisciplinary team when Roberts served as sheriff. No formal action or vote was recorded during the update; the administrator closed the item by thanking commissioners and staff.