The Oklahoma State Department of Health (OSDH) earlier this week recognized five outstanding child abuse prevention leaders and efforts at the State Capitol. The OSDH was honored to present the awards for demonstrated significant and outstanding work in preventing child maltreatment.

The following organizations were recognized for their outstanding Implementation for the “Period of PURPLE Crying” by the National Center on Shaken Baby Syndrome:

The Parent Child Center of Tulsa

Office of Perinatal Quality Improvement

Oklahoma Commission on Children and Youth

Oklahoma State Department of Health

These four organizations have been instrumental in the implementation and expansion of the “Period of PURPLE Crying” program across Oklahoma. Knowing that infant crying often increases parents’ stress levels, the program utilizes DVDs to teach parents about normal infant crying patterns and ways to soothe infants. In addition, parents are taught safe ways to cope if their child is inconsolable, but otherwise healthy, dry, fed, comfortable, etc. The DVDs are viewed by the parents at the hospital after the birth of the child with the overall goal of reducing abusive head trauma among infants. The program reached more than 85 percent of newborn parents last year.

OPQI would like to thank all the birthing hospitals in Oklahoma for implementing this program.