S. 1204, The Shaken Baby Syndrome Prevention Act of 2007

This important legislation would establish a national public health campaign to raise awareness about Shaken Baby Syndrome, encourage prevention programs, and provide supports to both families affected by abusive head trauma incidents as well as preventative supports for frustrated parents and caregivers.

Background:

  • The National Child Abuse and Neglect Data System indicates that 900,000 children were victims of abuse and neglect in the United States in 2005. Children aged 1 year or younger accounted for nearly 42 percent of all child abuse and neglect fatalities, and children aged 3 years or younger accounted for 76.6 percent of all child abuse and neglect facilities.
  • Shaken Baby Syndrome (SBS) describes the trauma resulting from the violent shaking or abusive impact to the head of an infant or young child. SBS is a form of child abuse affecting between 1,200 and 1,600 children every year, of which between one-quarter and one-third will die and another one-third will suffer permanent, severe disabilities.
  • Shaken Baby Syndrome is completely preventable. Prevention programs have demonstrated that educating new parents and caregivers about the danger of shaking young children can bring about a significant reduction in the number of cases of Shaken Baby Syndrome.

Public Health Campaign:

  • Directs the Secretary of HHS to develop a National Action Plan to identify effective, evidence-based strategies for prevention and awareness of SBS; to implement activities through the coordination of existing programs and/or the establishment of new efforts.
  • Informs the general public, parents, child care providers, health care professionals and others about the dangers of shaking, as well as healthy approaches for frustrated parents and caregivers who are coping with a crying baby, through the dissemination of educational and informational materials.
  • Provides training and education to parents, child care providers, health care professionals and others on ways to prevent abusive head trauma and skills for coping with infant crying and related frustrations.
  • Provides supports for families and caregivers struggling with infant crying, as well as support for families who have been affected by SBS.
  • Establishes of a Shaken Baby Awareness Advisory Council to advise the Secretary in these efforts.

For more information, please contact Sharon Lewisin Senator Dodd’s office.