Joanne Craig, director of Women's and Children's
Health Services for CKHS, shows an example of
one of the cribs that are now available to
underserved Delaware County families
through CKHS' participation in the
Cribs for Kids program.
Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) is the leading cause of death among infants one month to one year old, and claims the lives of 2,500 U.S. infants each year. While the causes of SIDS are not fully understood, experts do know that certain conditions - such as bed-sharing and co-sleeping - present in an infant’s sleeping environment can lead to an increased risk of SIDS.
Cribs for Kids, a national program established in 1998 in Pittsburgh, Pa., provides underserved families with education, awareness and cribs to curtail infant deaths and injury resulting from an infant’s sleeping environment. Crozer-Keystone Health System partners with the national Cribs for Kids program to serve those in need in Delaware County.
How to Enroll in the Cribs for Kids Program in Delaware County
The program asks those in need of a crib to contact their school, church, social or human service agency to complete a referral form. The referring agency will submit the completed referral to the Delaware County Cribs for Kids program. The referral is reviewed to determine eligibility by the local chapter.
Once a family is approved, they need to come to Crozer-Keystone's Women's and Children's Health Services office in Chester and participate in a health education program prior to receiving the crib. Among the things discussed are:
A follow-up phone call is made to the family several weeks after picking up the crib to answer any questions or address any concerns that may have come up.
For Referring Agencies:
Download and print the Cribs for Kids Referral Form
Download and print the CKHS Program Guidelines for Referring Agencies
Graco Pack N Play Crib Offered
The crib offered by the program is a Graco Pack N Play® portable crib, Craig says.
It has a bassinet insert and is good for infants up to 30 pounds. The crib is compact, easy to use and can fit well in most people's homes.
To view an example of the cribs, please click here.
How You Can Help
Although the program does not accept donations of used cribs, you may purchase a crib for a family or make a monetary donation to the program itself. A $60 donation covers the cost of a new crib, fitted crib sheet and health education materials for a family.
For more information on Crozer-Keystone’s Cribs for Kids Program, please call 610-497-7344.