LA County Board

15. Engaging Fathers and Male Caregivers in Safe Sleep Practices Recommendation as submitted by Supervisors Horvath and Mitchell: Direct the Director of Public Health, in partnership with the Director of Children and Families Services and First 5 LA to: Convene all relevant County Departments, including but not limited to the Department of Health Services (DHS), Department of Mental Health (DMH), Department of Public Social Services (DPSS), Chief Executive Office Anti-Racism, Diversity, and Inclusion Initiative (CEO-ARDI), Chief Executive Office Legislative Affairs and Intergovernmental Relations (CEO-LAIR), Child Support Services (CSSD), Chief Executive Office Communications, Los Angeles County Office of Education (LACOE), and County Library, along with hospitals, birthing centers, trusted community-based organizations, fatherhood-serving organizations, home visiting providers, and other relevant stakeholders, within 60 days, to develop recommendations for a culturally responsive infant safe sleep education and outreach campaign specifically designed to engage fathers, co-parents, grandparents, and other caregivers. Ensure that recommendations developed pursuant to Directive No. 1 incorporate evidence-based and culturally responsive strategies that: Increase awareness of American Academy of Pediatrics safe sleep recommendations; Utilize trusted messengers, including fathers with lived experience, community health workers, doulas, peer navigators, faith leaders, and Cultural Brokers; Address racial and ethnic disparities in sleep-related infant deaths, particularly among Black families disproportionately impacted by infant mortality; Build upon and coordinate with existing County initiatives, including DCFS’s Strong Foundations: The Black Fatherhood Legacy Initiative and DPH’s African American Infant and Maternal Mortality (AAIMM) Prevention Initiative, including Black Daddy Dialogue and the Expecting Fathers Group for Black Dads, Home Visitation Programs, Sudden Infant Death Syndrome/Sudden Unexplained Infant Death Syndrome/ Safe Sleep Program, Comprehensive Perinatal Services Program, and ABC’s of Safe Sleep Campaign; and Identify opportunities to integrate safe sleep education into existing County and community touchpoints, including prenatal care, pediatric visits, childbirth education, home visiting programs, fatherhood programs, hospitals, provider training programs, foster care and child welfare services, WIC programs, libraries, and faith-based community settings. Submit a written report back to the Board in 120 days that includes: Proposed campaign materials and messaging; A multilingual outreach and communications strategy; Recommendations for digital, print, social media, and community-based outreach; Recommendations for expanding father-focused and caregiver-focused safe sleep education; Metrics and proposed performance indicators to evaluate campaign effectiveness and community reach; and Any additional policy, funding, staffing, or legislative recommendations needed to support implementation. Submit a written report back to the Board in 180 days with a cross-departmental coordination and implementation plan that: Aligns County safe sleep messaging, resources, and prevention efforts across departments and contracted providers; Identifies opportunities to leverage existing County and philanthropic funding streams and avoid duplication of services; Establishes a centralized inventory of existing safe sleep resources, programs, and supports available to families throughout Los Angeles County; Identifies opportunities to expand access to cribs, bassinets, and other approved safe sleep environments for low-income families and families involved with County systems; Recommends strategies to improve ongoing data collection, community engagement, and public awareness regarding sleep-related infant deaths and disparities; Establishes metrics for success and plans for continued evaluation; and Explores opportunities to expand successful father-focused engagement models, including DCFS’s Strong Foundations: The Black Fatherhood Legacy Initiative and DPH AAIMM fatherhood programs, to additional Service Planning Areas (SPAs) and County offices serving families with young children ages 0-5. Report back in writing within 180 days on opportunities to partner with hospitals, managed care plans, community clinics, and philanthropic organizations to support sustainable funding and long-term implementation of infant safe sleep prevention efforts countywide. (26-3772)