Sudden Infant Death Risk Reduction and Counseling, a Program of Public Health Solutions, seeks to eliminate sudden unexpected deaths in infants and children under three years of age in New York City.

Public Health Solutions is partnering with Office of Chief Medical Examiner to provide education, training and counseling services to help families in New York City address this public health concern.

Program staff works in close collaboration with the City of New York Office of the Chief Medical Examiner (OCME). The project’s location in the Medical Examiner’s Office enables staff to comb through the daily log for death of infants and children up to three years old. Upon the Medical examiner determination, staff immediately mails culturally sensitive, relevant literature to the family of the deceased, contacting them by telephone after three to four days. Bilingual staff informs the parents about the counseling program, inviting them to use its services: bereavement counseling via telephone, in-office visits, family support groups, literature and referrals (e.g., to social services if the parents need help with funeral expenses). Program staff stays in contact with the Medical Examiner until the final cause of death is determined, serving as a liaison between the Medical Examiner and the family.

For more information on the program and services being offered please visit the program website at http://www.healthsolutions.org/sids