Urge your elected officals to support S.1204 and H.R.2052

Help prevent Shaken Baby Syndrome(please visit site and help pass this)

The U.S. Congress is considering a bill that would establish a national public health campaign to prevent Shaken Baby Syndrome. Ask your elected officials to support this important legislation!

Shaken Baby Syndrome (SBS) is a form of child abuse that results from violently shaking an infant or from abusive impact to an infant's head. Between 1,200 and 1,600 of the nation's children suffer from SBS each year. Congressional findings estimate that between one-quarter and one-third of SBS victims die as a result of their injuries, while one-third suffer permanent and severe disabilities, including traumatic brain injury, paralysis, seizures and loss of hearing or vision.

To protect the nation's most vulnerable citizens from such tragic and preventable maltreatment, the U.S. Congress has introduced the Shaken Baby Syndrome Prevention Act of 2007 (S. 1204 and H.R. 2052). Introduced by Sen. Christopher Dodd (D-CT) and Rep. Nita Lowey (D-NY), the bill enables the Secretary of Health and Human Services to develop a national public health campaign on SBS prevention. Specifically, the campaign would inform the general public, new parents, child care providers, health care providers and social workers about the risks and dangers associated with SBS. The bill would also ensure that parents and caregivers of surviving and deceased SBS victims, as well as those who struggle to cope with infant crying, are provided education and training about SBS prevention, as well as around-the-clock support via a 24-hour telephone hotline and an Internet website.

To effectively address this issue and protect babies from SBS, passage of S. 1204 and H.R. 2052 is critical. Please support this important initiative for the welfare of the nation's infants and their caregivers!