EMS & Injury Prevention System Branch

Hawaii Cribs for Kids

 [facebook]

Healthy Mothers Healthy Babies Coalition of Hawaii (HMHB) introduced the comprehensive “Hawaii Cribs for Kids” program in March 2013. This program is the first of its kind in Hawaii and provides culturally appropriate, family-based safe sleep education to high-risk, low-income families and a free GRACO Pack N Play® crib to families who cannot otherwise afford to provide a safe place for their baby to sleep. In a nearly two-year span, “Hawaii Cribs for Kids” has assisted 104 Oahu families and has distributed 109 cribs. All families have reported an increase in safe sleep knowledge, as well as the adoption of safe sleep practices. The health of the infant is also monitored over the course of the year via phone calls, enabling HMHB to follow up with additional resources and timely information as needed.

The successful results have appealed to many organizations across the state, with numerous requests coming in for expansion to neighbor islands. A new source of funding has allowed HMHB to initiate immediate program expansion to Maui County in 2015. Organizations working with high-risk, low-income families are encouraged to contact [email protected] or (808) 737-5805 for partnership opportunities.

 

Lisa Kimura, MBA – Executive Director of Healthy Mothers Healthy Babies Coalition
Keiki Injury Prevention Coalition Member