The "Story Behind the Curve" helps us understand why the data on child deaths due to unsafe sleep is the way that it is in our community. When we understand the root causes of our community problems, we have a better chance of finding the right solutions, together.

What's Helping? These are the positive forces at work in our community and beyond that influence this issue in our community.

• Haywood County Health and Human Services Agency (HHSA) distributes pack and plays to families with an identified need.    
• HHSA has a breastfeeding peer counselor program.  Lactation support is also provided through Haywood Regional Medical Center and Haywood Pediatrics.  

What's Hurting? These are the negative forces at work in our community and beyond that influence this issue in our community.

• In Haywood County, 17.7% of births were to mothers who smoked during pregnancy (NC Center for Health Statistics, 2017).  
• Over 16% of people in the county live below the poverty level.  The number increases dramatically to 45% for children under five (US Census Bureau, 2018).   
• Lack of awareness and education (WNC Health Network-WNCHN, 2018)

The partners for promoting safe sleep include:

The following actions have been identified by our Great by Eight and community members as ideas for what can work for our community to make a difference on unsafe sleep conditions.

Actions and Approaches Identified by Our Partners These are actions and approaches that our partners think can make a difference on unsafe sleep conditions.

• Safe spaces to sleep in home and child care
• Safe sleep education
• Funding through church rummage sales

What is Currently Working in Our Community These are actions and approaches that are currently in place in our community to make a difference on unsafe sleep conditions.

• Pack and play distribution through Haywood County Health and Human Services Agency (HHSA).  
• Infant sleep sack distribution through the HHSA.  

Evidence-Based Strategies These are actions and approaches that have been shown to make a difference on child deaths due to unsafe sleep conditions.

What Community Members Most Affected by Child Deaths Due to Unsafe Sleep Conditions Say These are the actions and approaches recommended by members of our community who are most affected by child deaths: 

• Find appropriate safe sleep space resources like Pack and Play
• Safe sleep education
• Partnering with the hospital and health department to identify the number of yearly live births in the community