Baby 1st Network

FYE 2024: Baby 1st Network (BFN) focuses on community outreach and education to promote infant health and wellness while supporting statewide efforts to decrease sleep-related infant deaths. Throughout the year, BFN provided training to a wide range of stakeholderssuch as public health nurses, coroners, and community membersshowing our dedication to involving everyone in improving infant health outcomes. Additionally, BFN offered administrative support to the Ohio Collaborative to Prevent Infant Mortality, which promotes genuine community engagement to reach those most at risk of experiencing infant death and poor birth outcomes. The Collaborative encourages sharing innovative strategies and best practices aimed at improving birth outcomes in Ohio and works to improve the collection, analysis, and sharing of relevant data among participating organizations. Also, in fiscal year 2024, Baby 1st Network (BFN) managed all aspects of planning and convening statewide quarterly meetings for the Ohio Collaborative to Prevent Infant Mortality (OCPIM). Responsibilities included securing virtual meeting platforms and in-person venues (when applicable), managing calendars, maintaining the membership database, developing agendas, confirming presenters, overseeing registration, and coordinating comprehensive post-meeting follow-up. Post-meeting activities encompassed updating OCPIMs webpage, producing the quarterly newsletter, and ensuring the timely dissemination of meeting materials. In addition to meeting management, BFN administered the Fire Starter Capacity Building Grant Program, which was developed to strengthen the capacity of small community-based organizations. This program supports educational initiatives in communities experiencing disparities in sleep-related infant deaths.