British Columbia Program
In 2003 The Period of PURPLE Crying program was chosen by Prevent Shaken Baby Syndrome BC as the shaken baby syndrome prevention initiative to be used throughout the province.
Testing the Program: 2005–2007 Two large randomized controled trials were completed on the program in Vancouver, BC, Canada and Seattle, WA, USA. The trial tested change in parents’ knowledge, attitudes and behaviours about normal infant crying and the dangers of shaking. The research was funded by the B.C. Ministry of Children and Family Development for the Vancouver study. The studies were published on March 2, 2009 in the Canadian Medical Association Journal (CMAJ) and Pediatrics.
Implementation of the Program: 2008–2011 All BC hospitals and health units personnel were trained on the program. All parents in British Columbia began receiving the program by January 31, 2009. The program has a three dose approach as follows:
Dose 1. All new parents receive the Period of PURPLE Crying Booklet and DVD at the maternity ward to take home with them. Maternity nurses are trained to deliver the materials along with a short education session.
Dose 2. Community and public health nurses are also trained to educate parents about the program during their first home visit with baby. They may incorporate the materials into other aspects of their well baby programs.
Dose 3. A public education campaign will utilize both print and broadcast media to educate the general public regarding the program and its educational messages.
Reinforcement Groups: Currently training is taking place with multidisciplinary professionals who serve parents and families so they can reinforce the message. This includes: infant development programs, midwives and doulas, family physicians, and many community programs that serve parents and families.
Foster Parent Training: 2009 A training module has been developed for foster parents and is available at no cost online. In October, 2009 all foster parents in the province who look after or could look after children under the age of three received the following information through an MCFD mailout:
1. A letter from MCFD Chief Operating Officer, Mark Sieben introducing the program and encouraging foster parents to take the online training;
2. The Period of PURPLE Crying DVD/Booklet, with the advisory to review it;
3. An information sheet outlining the key points of the program; and
4. The information to access the online training module. (Foster Parent associations also promote the online training).
Sponsors for the program include: BC Ministry of Children and Family Development, BC Children’s Hospital, Child Health BC, BC Perinatal Health Program, and the National Center on Shaken Baby Syndrome, USA.
For more information, please visit: www.dontshake.ca