Safe Sleep Saves Lives

About the Session: This practical and interactive webinar equips professionals with the knowledge and tools to confidently identify unsafe sleep practices, educate families using evidence-based recommendations, and promote safer sleep environments for infants. Participants will explore the critical role providers play in supporting new and expectant parents and will receive hands-on training using the Healthy New Moms Safe Sleep Assessment Tool, developed in partnership with Maryland’s Behavioral Health Administration.

Whether you work in healthcare, behavioral health, social services, home visiting, or family support, this session will provide practical strategies that can be immediately integrated into your work with families.

By the end of this webinar, participants will be able to:

• Identify evidence-based safe sleep recommendations and recognize common unsafe sleep practices.
• Effectively use the Healthy New Moms Safe Sleep Assessment Tool to assess risk and guide conversations with families.
• Apply practical communication strategies to educate and support expectant and new parents in creating safe sleep environments.

Approximately 3,500 infants die each year in the United States due to sleep-related deaths, many of which are preventable through consistent education and safe sleep practices. Together, through knowledge, practical tools, and meaningful conversations, we can help reduce preventable infant deaths and better support the health and well-being of mothers, babies, and families.

About the Speaker: Rony Ngamliya-Ndam is a passionate advocate for child and maternal mental health, with a deep commitment to advancing equity and access for families across Maryland. As the Child and Family Program Manager at the Mental Health Association of Maryland (MHAMD), she oversees Healthy New Moms and co-leads the statewide public education campaign Children’s Mental Health Matters. Through these initiatives, Rony connects providers, families, and communities with vital resources to support early intervention, reduce stigma, and improve mental health outcomes.

Rony brings over five years of experience in mental health research, education, and advocacy. Her professional work has explored how maternal trauma, emotional neglect, and experiences of discrimination can impact child development and behavior, particularly through the lens of social support and parental mental health.

Rony holds a B.A. in Psychology from the University of Maryland, Baltimore County, and brings over five years of experience in mental health research, education, and advocacy, including community-based work as a Facilitator and Consultant with the Strengthening Families Program.

Certificates of Attendance are available upon request. A link to request a certificate will be provided to webinar attendees. Please note that CEUs are not available at this time.