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Our History
Sudden Infant Death Services of Illinois ("SIDS of Illinois") is dedicated to the prevention and eventual elimination of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) and other causes of infant death. SIDS, the sudden and unexpected death of an infant under one year of age which remains unexplained after a thorough investigation, is the leading cause of death among infants beyond the newborn period. It strikes without warning and without explanation, leaving families of all races and economic statuses to mourn the sudden and tragic loss of their child.

Sudden Infant Death Services of Illinois (formerly known as the SIDS Alliance of Illinois) was founded in 1968 by parents who had lost a child to SIDS as a vehicle for peer support for newly bereaved parents. However, breakthrough research in the early 1990's revealed specific behaviors that can notably lower the risk of SIDS, such as putting babies to sleep on their backs. In response to this knowledge, we expanded our mission and became active participants in the struggle to eliminate or reduce the incidence of SIDS and other forms of infant mortality through education and research.

We incorporated as a non-profit organization in 1992. Since then we have developed and sponsored numerous campaigns to educate parents, health care professionals, childcare providers and the community at large about SIDS and infant mortality risk reduction strategies. We have also expanded our bereavement services to better support all those that are affected by the tragedy of a baby's death: parents, siblings, friends and childcare providers. Services are provided without regard to age, handicap, race, color, creed, religion, sex or national orgin. In addition, our services are provided without any requirement for legal residence.

Our Mission
Our organizational mission is to:

• Educate the public and professionals about bereavement support and infant mortality reduction including SIDS,
• Support family members and others touched by the tragedy of a SIDS or post-neonatal infant death, and
• Eliminate Sudden Infant Death Syndrome through the support and implementation of appropriate research.

Our Goals:

Reduce infant mortality by decreasing the incidence of infant deaths due to SIDS, accidental suffocation, overlay, entrapment, metabolic disorders, and other accidental causes.

Improve the quantity and quality of comprehensive, family-centered bereavement services for those impacted by a sudden pediatric death.

Train professionals throughout the state who are likely to encounter cases of sudden pediatric death to better assist newly grieving families.

About SIDS
More than 2,100 babies still die each year of SIDS in the United States, at the rate of approximately one baby every four hours. In 2001, 1,379 infants in Illinois died of SIDS and other causes, at the rate of one child every six hours. Many of these deaths, however, are preventable.

Our goal is to consistently reduce the incidence of SIDS and other forms of infant mortality in Illinois through educational initiatives stressing proven risk reduction strategies. As we work towards that goal, we continue to support the families of the infants we lose as they struggle with profound and overwhelming grief.

Projects
Quilt - SIDS Illinois currently has 2 quilts made by parents in memory of their babies. We also have one quilt designed by siblings in memory of their brother or sister. The quilts currently reside in the SIDS office and are taken to many conferences and functions so that families and professionals can enjoy them and remember the children. If you would like to create a quilt square in memory of a baby, please use this form for instructions.

Cook Book - SIDS Illinois is looking to create a cookbook in memory of our babies. You an give them as gifts or keep them for yourself. Do you have a great family recipe you would like to include? Please use this form for instructions.

Baby Photo Buttons - Would you like a picture of your baby on a button? E-Mail a picture of your baby to Nancy@sidsillinois.org. The button is 2" in diameter, so the best pictures are headshots. The buttons are $5 each, including shipping. For questions, please contact the SIDS Illinois office.