WHEREAS, Hospital-based education programs, such as the
nationally recognized Shaken Baby Syndrome Prevention and
Awareness Program developed by Dr. Mark Dias of Penn State
Hershey Medical Center, provide critically important information
about shaken baby syndrome to every parent of every child born
in this Commonwealth; and
WHEREAS, In 2002, the Shaken Baby Syndrome Education Act was
enacted, establishing the Shaken Baby Syndrome Education and
Prevention Program; and
WHEREAS, The Shaken Baby Syndrome Education and Prevention
Program partnered with the Department of Health, and, in 2006,
Pennsylvania became the first state in the nation to provide
consistent hospital-based education in 100% of all birthing and
children's hospitals in this Commonwealth; and
WHEREAS, Prevention and awareness efforts are supported by
national and local organizations, including the Department of
Health, the Brain Injury Association of Pennsylvania, the
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the American Academy
of Pediatrics, Prevent Child Abuse Pennsylvania, the Cynthia
Gibbs Foundation, the SKIPPER Initiative, the National Center on
Shaken Baby Syndrome, the Children's Defense Fund, the Child
Welfare League of America, the Shaken Baby Alliance and the
Pennsylvania Family Support Alliance; and
WHEREAS, These national and local organizations all work to
educate new parents and caregivers and increase awareness and
support for victims and their families in the health care and
criminal justice systems; and
WHEREAS, Prevention and awareness efforts provide critically
important information about shaken baby syndrome to parents,
caregivers, day-care workers, child protection employees, law
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