1,000 FREE CRIBS FOR LOCAL FAMILIES HELP EMPHASIZE IMPORTANCE OF CRIB SAFETY, 1-866-SafeCrib Leads Families to Cribs and Safety Tips

The Freddie Mac Foundation and the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) have teamed up to help parents make their child's first home a safe one through the Safe Cribs for Kids Campaign. According to CPSC's statistics, almost 35 babies die each year from injuries associated with cribs, many of which are older, used cribs that are in disrepair or that predate current safety standards. In response, the Foundation has committed to donate more than 1,000 new, safe cribs to parents in the Washington, DC area who need them, along with parenting information. The CPSC is ensuring that families receive important crib safety information (pdf) (pdf-spanish) with their new cribs.

"At Freddie Mac, we finance homes, and through our Foundation, we strive to make these happy and healthy places to raise families. Getting children off to a good start by helping to ensure that their first home is as safe as possible is an important step we can take in making homes happy and healthy. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission shares our interest in safety for children, and we're proud to work with them to ensure that children have futures full of hope and opportunity," explained Maxine B. Baker, president and CEO, Freddie Mac Foundation.

"Safe cribs are essential to the health and well-being of our nation's babies. At CPSC, we've set mandatory safety standards for cribs to ensure that babies have a safe place to sleep during their first two years. Every day, we work to educate caregivers about the importance of using safe cribs and bedding for babies. We look forward to working with the Freddie Mac Foundation to save lives and prevent injuries," said CPSC Chairman Ann Brown. In addition to the deaths in unsafe cribs, as many as one-third of the babies who die from Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) each year may have suffocated in soft, fluffy bedding, such as quilts, comforters and pillows. About two-thirds of all parents say they keep these products in the crib, but this figure is even higher among minorities and low-income families. Sleeping on an adult bed also poses dangers to babies. CPSC estimates 64 babies die every year when they are put to sleep on adult beds. The conditions facing many families in our region contribute to the problem. In Washington, DC alone, 40 percent of children live in poverty and 3,400 mothers and children live in DC's shelters and transitional housing, putting their children at even greater risk.

The information provided to parents from CPSC (pdf) (pdf-spanish) includes tips on putting babies to sleep safely, such as:

- Place your baby to sleep in a safe crib that meets current safety standards.

- Make sure the mattress fits snugly.

- Put your baby to sleep on his or her back to reduce the risk of SIDS.

- Remove all soft bedding from your baby's crib to prevent suffocation.

To request a new crib along with crib safety and parenting information, new parents should call 1-866-SAFECRIB (Important: this number is for the Washington DC Metro Area Only). The toll-free number will refer them to one of 12 local non-profits who have agreed to help distribute the cribs and the information. By meeting directly with families, the non-profits will also be able to offer families other services they may want or need. After meeting, the families will receive a voucher that can be redeemed for a crib and mattress at local Toys-R-Us stores. The Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments is managing the voucher process with the non-profits.

The 12 non-profits span the region and include: Adelphi Langley Park Family Support Center, Catholic Charities, Community Action Council of Howard County, DC Developing Families Center in DC, Family Partnership of Frederick, Mary's Center for Maternal and Child Care, MotherNet/Healthy Families Loudoun, Montgomery County's Family Services Agency, Northern Virginia Family Services, Prince George's Child Care Resource Center, Progressive Life Center, and Upcounty Family Center.

"The need is tremendous in our community. Everyday we encounter young parents who desperately need cribs and access to parenting and crib information, and they represent only a fraction of the total need. That's why we are proud to participate in the Safe Cribs for Kids Campaign. By elevating the issue, we can hopefully educate parents about how they can help their children succeed," Dolores Farr, executive director, Healthy Babies Project at the DC Developing Families Center, the site of the campaign kick-off where a local parent received the first crib. Celebrating its 10th anniversary, the Freddie Mac Foundation plans to grant nearly $20 million this year to organizations working to prevent child abuse and neglect, improve early childhood education opportunities, find permanent homes for foster children and promote youth development. Supporting parenting education, such as through this Campaign, is part of the Foundation's prevention strategy.

Created by Freddie Mac in 1990, the Freddie Mac Foundation is dedicated to opening the doors to hope and opportunity to children and their families. As one of the largest corporate funders in the Washington, DC metropolitan area, Freddie Mac and the Freddie Mac Foundation have invested more than $95 million in nonprofit organizations serving children and families. (www.freddiemacfoundation.org)