Objectives: Upon completion of this training participants will be able to:

1. Describe the ABCs of safe sleep

2. Be able to support safe sleep efforts in SC

3. Identify unsafe sleep environments and risk factors

4. Understand the intersection of IECMH and safe sleep

5. Increase awareness of cultural practices and ability to support multicultural families around safe sleep.

Presenters

Michelle Cunningham, RNC-MNN, PCE, BSN, BA

Michelle is a DSS Senior Program Manager and DAODAS Liason focused on Training & Development, Policy & Compliance, and Advocacy for Maternal and Child Health.

She is an award-winning healthcare professional with extensive nursing experience and program management skills. She has worked on projects related to improving birth outcomes, children's advocacy, child and infant abuse prevention/advocacy, the Opioid Epidemic, substance abuse, and incarcerated pregnant and parenting women in SC. 

Jessica Sharp, MAT, IMH-E® Mentor-Policy

Jessica is an experienced leader with over two decades of direct and indirect service to children and families in South Carolina. Prior to leading SCPITC, she managed the organization’s Infant/Toddler Specialist Network. Jessica is steeped in the culture of child care in South Carolina, having begun her career as a care teacher of children birth to age five. Driven by her passion to serve children and families, she has also worked as the director of a nationally-accredited child development center, and supported early care and education at the systems level through her management of countywide initiatives at the United Way of Greenville County.

As a leader in South Carolina’s infant/toddler quality initiatives, Jessica engages in multiple intrastate and cross-state collaborations to innovate new services for infant/toddler child care providers and enhance access to resources across the state.

Jessica holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Art from Furman University, a Master of Arts in Teaching degree in Early Childhood Education from Converse College, and completed PhD coursework in Early Childhood Education at the University of South Carolina. She teaches a graduate course on Relationship-Based Caregiving for Infants and Toddlers at the University of South Carolina.

Outside of work, Jessica enjoys spending time with her husband and daughter and volunteering with local non-profit organizations. She also performs with the South Carolina Bach Choir.