Maternal and Child Health

Maternal and Child Health is a program area that focuses primarily on birth data and outcomes as well as mortality data for infants and children. Because maternal (mother) care is directly related to the birth of the child, how a mother takes care of herself before, during and after the pregnancy is included. One of the most important areas for monitoring and comparison relates to the health of a vulnerable population: infants and children.

Safe Sleep

In partnership with the Cuyahoga County Board of Health and Invest in Children, the Cleveland Department of Public Health is launching a campaign to prevent any further unnecessary deaths.

The Facts:

In the last 6 years...

• 124 babies died while sleeping
• 110 were in an unsafe sleep space
• 67 were sleeping with at least one other person
• 54 were not sleeping on their backs
• 104 were in a sleep area with hazards such as bumper pads, loose blankets, pillows, soft bedding and toys

Make sure your baby sleeps safe.  A safe sleep place means:

• Baby sleeps on his or her back
• Baby sleeps alone
• Baby sleeps on a firm mattress in a crib or pack n' play
• Baby sleeps in an area that is free of toys, bumper pads, pillows, loose blankets or other soft items
• Baby sleeps in a smoke free, drug free, alcohol free place
• Baby does NOT sleep on a couch, sofa or other soft furniture

Click here to watch a video on how your baby can sleep safely!

Promoting the Health of Moms and Children

In partnership with Cleveland's Action 19 News, the Cleveland Department of Public Health has launched a campaign to promote maternal and child health.  Click on the links below to view the commercials:

• Commercial - MomsFirst (.wmv file)
• Commercial - Perinatal Depression (.wmv file)