The Period of Purple Crying Certificate Training for IDP/AIDP Workers in BC

The Period of PURPLE Crying: empowering families with crying knowledge to prevent Shaken Baby Syndrome in British Columbia

Webinar Description: This presentation will review the research and rationale behind the BC Period of PURPLE Crying program and provide details for implementing the provincial initiative.
All attendees will receive a certificate of attendance.

Presenters:
Karen Sadler, MCP - Manager, Prevent SBS BC
Claire Humphreys, MSc - Manager, Prevent SBS BC

About The Period of PURPLE Crying:
Prevent Shaken Baby Syndrome BC, a program of BC Children’s Hospital, has been administering the implementation of the Period of PURPLE Crying since 2009. This province-wide initiative aims to create a cultural change in the way society understands the meaning of normal increased infant crying to prevent shaken baby syndrome (SBS) and other forms of infant abuse. Crying is the most common stimulus to shaking, and physical abuse, specifically SBS, is the leading cause of serious head injury in children aged two and under.

PURPLE is delivered to BC families via a triple-dose strategy: 1) maternity units and midwifery clinics; 2) public health units; and, 3) a public education campaign. The program is reinforced by community agencies that support families such as Infant Development, Pregnancy Outreach and Family Support Services. Parents receive crying and SBS education as well as supplementary resources to take home. Since its inception, PURPLE has been associated with a 35% decrease of SBS cases in British Columbia.

The Period of PURPLE Crying program has been institutionalized in all 49 maternity hospitals and 112 public health units as well as several community agencies in the province. Prevent Shaken Baby Syndrome BC would like to collaborate with Infant Development personnel to ensure parents receive consistent information wherever they seek support. For additional information on the Period of PURPLE Crying program, please visit www.dontshake.ca or email Claire Humphreys at chumphreys@bcchr.ca or Karen Sadler at karen.sadler@bcchr.ca.