Fox 13’s “Good Day Tampa Bay” spotlighted St. Petersburg Fire Rescue first responders who volunteered their time on October 25th to pack nearly 1,000 bags filled with items designed to save babies’ lives during sleep.
St. Pete Fire Rescue is an active partner in Sleep Baby Safely, a campaign created by the Juvenile Welfare Board (JWB) that has cut infant sleep-related deaths in half since 2018.
October is National Infant Safe Sleep Month–and the perfect time to share with parents and caregivers the importance of protecting babies from suffocation during sleep, every night and every nap.
The Sleep Baby Safely campaign features consistent messaging, data-based facts and tips, and coordinated materials used by all Pinellas County birthing hospitals, doctors’ offices, parent educators, and first responders, such as St. Petersburg Fire Rescue. Learn more at www.SleepBabySafely.com.
Watch the entire Fox 13 “Good Day Tampa Bay” segment here:
While they are usually saving lives by responding to emergency calls, first responders from St. Petersburg Fire Rescue volunteered their time on October 25th to pack nearly 1,000 bags filled with items designed to save babies’ lives during sleep.
It’s all part of Sleep Baby Safely, a campaign created by the Juvenile Welfare Board (JWB) that has cut infant sleep-related deaths in half since it launched in 2018. Given October is National Infant Safe Sleep Month, it’s also the perfect time to share with parents and caregivers the importance of protecting babies from suffocation during sleep, every night and every nap.
JWB launched Sleep Baby Safely with its partners when data revealed that, on average, a healthy baby was dying every month in Pinellas County. Over a 10-year period, our county lost more than 100 babies from suffocation due to unsafe sleep practices – this represents six empty kindergarten classrooms!
The Sleep Baby Safely campaign features consistent messaging, data-based facts and tips, and coordinated materials used by all Pinellas County birthing hospitals, doctors’ offices, parent educators, and first responders, such as St. Petersburg Fire Rescue. Learn more at www.SleepBabySafely.com.
“Suffocation from unsafe sleep is the No. 1 cause of preventable child death, not just in Pinellas County but across Florida and the U.S.,” stated St. Petersburg Rescue Chief Ian Womack, who is part of the campaign. “Our men and women are usually the first to arrive on the scene. It’s a tragedy that’s 100% preventable, and we’re committed to doing whatever we can to educate and prevent these needless deaths.”
Each year in Pinellas County’s four birthing hospitals, more than 7,000 parents of newborns are given face-to-face education and Welcome Baby Bags filled with life-saving items, including a Sleep Me This Side Up onesie, Alone-Back-Crib sleep sack, and more. The bags are packed by volunteers, like St. Pete Fire Rescue first responders, and filled with items to keep babies safe during sleep in their first year of life. View the Facebook album of the event.
In addition, and thanks to the leadership and support of Governor DeSantis and the Florida Legislature, the Florida Department of Health secured funding last year to expand the Sleep Baby Safely Campaign statewide, introducing it into eight additional counties.
ABOUT SLEEP BABY SAFELY: On average, a healthy baby was dying due to unsafe sleep every month in Pinellas County. In response, JWB and its partners launched the Sleep Baby Safely campaign which features data-driven facts, consistent messages, and easy-to-remember tips for parents and caregivers. Babies need to be protected from suffocation. Share three live-saving tips to sleep babies safely every night and every nap and learn more at www.SleepBabySafely.com.
• Follow Safe Sleep ABCs: Alone, Back, Crib. Always put babies to sleep alone on their back in an empty crib, bassinet, or Pack n’ Play. Remove all items from crib, such as blankets, pillows, stuffed animals, and bumper pads. Use only a firm mattress and tight-fitting sheet. Use a one-piece sleeper or sleep sack to keep baby warm. • Share a Room, Not a Bed. Bring crib into parent’s room for baby’s first year; room-sharing keeps baby close without the risks. Never put baby to sleep on soft surfaces like adult beds, couches, futons, recliners, or air mattresses. • Stay Alert While Feeding. Set an alarm and always return baby to crib after feeding. Breastfeed if possible; it’s best for baby’s protection. Do not smoke or allow others to smoke around baby and avoid misuse of alcohol or drugs.
Fox 13 covered first responders from St. Petersburg Fire Rescue as they volunteered their time on October 25th to pack nearly 1,000 bags filled with items designed to save babies’ lives during sleep.
It’s all part of Sleep Baby Safely, a campaign created by the Juvenile Welfare Board (JWB) that has cut infant sleep-related deaths in half since it launched in 2018.
October is National Infant Safe Sleep Month–and the perfect time to share with parents and caregivers the importance of protecting babies from suffocation during sleep, every night and every nap.
The Sleep Baby Safely campaign features consistent messaging, data-based facts and tips, and coordinated materials used by all Pinellas County birthing hospitals, doctors’ offices, parent educators, and first responders, such as St. Petersburg Fire Rescue. Learn more at www.SleepBabySafely.com.
Watch the entire Fox 13 “10:00 News” segment here:
Celebrities descended on Washington D.C. for a mental health roundtable with the White House Office of Public Engagement and Domestic Policy Council.
Mädchen Amick, Kal Penn, and Katori Hall (pictured above, from left: AMY SUSSMAN/GETTY; CRAIG BARRITT/GETTY; MATT WINKELMEYER/GETTY) were just a few of the Hollywood stars who attended the conversation about how to further include accurate mental health storylines in film and television series. The roundtable was a part of President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris’ ongoing work to address the nationwide mental health crisis.
The entertainment figures and administration officials discussed the opportunities for proactive mental health storylines, according to the White House. They also spoke about the lessons they’ve learned from previous campaigns for positive representation of mental health in entertainment and how to tackle depictions of it sensitively.
Other celebrities who attended the roundtable include Tzi Ma, Freddie Highmore, Bianca Lawson, Lisa Ann Walter, David Shore, Milicent Shelton, Shawn Ryan and Joely Fisher. They were joined by professionals who specialize in psychology and mental health storytelling. It was organized by The Hollywood Committee, On Our Sleeves, JED Foundation, USC Annenberg Inclusion Initiative and the Juvenile Welfare Board.
Fisher, who is Carrie Fisher’s half-sister and SAG-AFTRA’s secretary-treasurer, shared a post on the actors union’s Instagram following the discussion, elaborating on the importance of mental health for those in the entertainment industry.
“This strike we are conducting carries very real pain for everyone in the industry and beyond,” she wrote in the post and caption. “This sort of environment can cause acute mental and emotional challenges. As your union leaders, we see this, and we want to declare our support, whether you are a strike captain, a volunteer or any member — we see you, and we hear you. You are not alone.”
She also took a moment to share a personal anecdote about how mental health has always played a part in her life and hits especially close to home currently.
“My brilliant sister Carrie Fisher, who would’ve celebrated her 67th birthday today, wore her mental illness like a crown and scepter,” she wrote in the post. “When she departed, I took up the mantle of supporting humans who otherwise felt alone. What I didn’t know then was that a similar challenge and diagnosis would soon strike one of my children. The struggle is real.”
On Friday, the White House Office of Public Engagement and Domestic Policy Council convened over 20 leaders from throughout the entertainment industry to discuss the inclusion of accurate mental health storylines into film and series content. This roundtable is part of the Biden-Harris Administration’s ongoing commitment to address the nationwide mental health crisis as part of President Biden’s Unity Agenda.
Administration officials and entertainment leaders discussed recent actions President Biden has taken, including strengthening the mental health workforce and system capacity, connecting more Americans to care, and creating healthy and supportive environments. As part of the conversation, participants discussed opportunities for proactive mental health storylines, lessons learned from previous campaigns to model positive behavior through entertainment, and how to sensitively navigate depictions of those experiencing mental health challenges. Participants agreed to continue the conversation and work together to foster accurate mental health storylines to decrease stigma and promote access to resources.
Administration Participants Included:
Steve Benjamin, Senior Advisor and Assistant to the President and Director of the Office of Public Engagement
Neera Tanden, Assistant to the President and Domestic Policy Advisor
Terri Tanielian, Special Assistant to the President for Veterans Affairs
Erica Loewe, Special Assistant to the President and Chief of Staff for Public Engagement
External Participants Included:
Mädchen Amick, Actor and Director
Dr. Eric Butter, Chief of Psychology at Nationwide Children’s Hospital
Michael Costigan, Producer
Alexandra Daddario, Actor
Robert Disney, Organizer
Dr. Laura Erickson-Schroth, Chief Medical Officer, The JED Foundation
Joely Fisher, Actor and Singer
Katori Hall, Playwright and Television Producer/Creator
Freddie Highmore, Actor
Dr. Ariana Hoet, Executive Clinical Director, On Our Sleeves
The Director of Strategic Communications for the Juvenile Welfare Board of Pinellas County, April Putzulu, and Pediatric Medical Director at Evara Health, Dr. Sarah Kelley, joined Gayle Guyardo, the host of the global health and wellness show, Bloom, to share more about their early childhood campaign that aims to ensure babies remain on track developmentally.
For more information and to find easy tips, activities, and resources, visit TurboBabies.com. Parents can also sign up to join the Pit Crew to receive free gifts on their baby’s birthdays.
A Juvenile Welfare Board employee has received a prestigious award for her hard work in the community.
April Putzulu has spent most of her life being an advocate for children.
“Oh, my goodness. Over 30 years, I’ve been working for youth-serving organizations, juvenile justice, behavioral health, foster care, and now with the Juvenile Welfare Board,” she said.
April is proud of all the programs she’s had a hand in: like the PACE Center for Girls, Big Game James Club with the Tampa Bay Rays for Foster Children and the Heart Gallery.
“It really has been my privilege to be part of campaigns and initiatives that are both life-changing and life-saving,” she added.
She received the Spirit of Community Award for all her hard work.
The award is given by the Florida Commission on the Status of Women to people who have improved women’s lives and serve as a positive role model for women and girls in their community.
“I was very surprised,” said April. “My mantra is to shine quietly. And I’m usually on the other side of the camera in my communications and marketing work. So, I was very humbled but very grateful.”
Grateful to be contributing to the lives of families.
“I think always growing up. I wanted to serve others through community service or my church. So, it has always been instilled in me to give children and families the tools that they need to be the best individuals that they can be,” April said.
Skills that she believes are important for children to have.
“I love the fact that, on paper, children are 16 percent of our population. They represent a very small part of our population, but they’re 100 percent of our future. So, when we look at it, we really need to invest early,” she explained.
An early investment that April says is important.
“Whether you’re serving the aging, or you’re serving children, or you’re serving veterans. But the key is to serve that. The key is to do good,” she said.
With a packed auditorium of Pinellas County high schoolers, the sixth annual “Rising Above” Youth Explosion concluded its three-day event on July 21 with a focus on teens and mental health.
Highlights included a pantomime skit that depicted how mental illness affect youth and families, performed by students from Clearwater’s North Greenwood Recreation Center, Arts Conservatory for Teens, and Gibbs High School. The performance was followed by a panel of youth with lived mental health experiences who courageously shared their journeys and fielded questions from their peers.
The event was hosted by the Clearwater Neighborhood Family Center, Juvenile Welfare Board, NAMI Pinellas, and St. Petersburg College Clearwater Campus.
