St. Marys, Ohio: March 13, 2025 – Joint Township District Memorial Hospital is proud to announce that it has achieved recertification as a Gold Cribs for Kids® National Safe Sleep Hospital. This certification is the Cribs for Kids’ highest designation and recognizes our healthcare team members’ commitment to best practices in infant safe sleep. By earning this certification, JTDMH demonstrates adherence to rigorous guidelines established by the Cribs for Kids® National Safe Sleep Hospital Certification Program.

Cribs for Kids® is a national safe sleep initiative dedicated to reducing infant mortality. “Sleep related deaths are the number one reason we lose our babies each year—3,400 infants annually”, said Michael H. Goodstein, M.D., neonatologist and medical director at Cribs for Kids, adding, “we know that parents do at home what they see done in the hospital so modeling safe sleep and providing education to families will have an impact on infant mortality.  Cribs for Kids program recognizes hospitals making this commitment.”

“Our team has worked diligently to meet the requirements to earn this certification and underscores our dedication to providing safe sleep care for our babies.  At JTDMH, we recognize that education is the key to prevention. By providing parents with the knowledge and tools they need to create safe sleep environments, we are making a positive, lasting impact on the health and safety of the children in our community,” said Amy Becker, Birthing Center Nurse Manager.

Judy Bannon, CEO, and founder of Cribs for Kids explains, “The National Infant Safe Sleep Hospital Certification Program launched in 2015.  It is rooted in the Safe Sleep Recommendations made by American Academy of Pediatrics and the research that demonstrates families do at home what they see done in the hospital.  There are over 500 infant safe sleep certified hospitals across the country and beyond.  We are proud to recertify Joint Township District Memorial Hospital in our hospital safe sleep program.  It will have a profound effect on saving babies’ lives.”

For more information about Cribs for Kids® National Safe Sleep Hospital Certification Program, visit grandlakehealth.org or cribsforkids.org/hospitalcertification