Rainbow Connection Continues Support for Safe Sleep Program at Cleveland Clinic Union Hospital

For more than 30 years, The Rainbow Connection and Cleveland Clinic Union Hospital’s Maternity Care Unit have partnered to prepare parents of newborns. At their May meeting, the Rainbow Connection Board of Directors voted to continue this support with the purchase of 650 Sleeper Swaddles to assist with the hospital’s Safe Sleep program. The agency has provided more than 5,200 swaddles to newborns since 2014.

“The swaddles are designed to help parents correctly position their infants for safer sleep,” said Maternity Care Manager Lauren Smith. “Our Safe Sleep program teaches parents to place their infant alone, always on the baby’s back, and in a crib or bassinet with a firm flat mattress for sleep.”

Cleveland Clinic Union Hospital is one of over 100 hospitals in the state working to improve Ohio’s position as one of the lowest ranked in the nation for curtailing infant mortality rates. According to recent data from the March of Dimes, 7.1 infants per 1,000 live births die in Ohio each year. Behind birth defects and prematurity, the third leading cause for these deaths are sleep-related, Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS), accidental suffocation, and other undetermined factors. From 2012 – 2022 Ohio’s overall Infant Mortality Rate has decreased more than 5%; however, the proportion of those total infant deaths attributed to SIDS has drastically increased since 2019 from 39.4 to 57.7 per 100,000 live births in 2022.

“The goal of this project is to make sure every baby born at Union Hospital leaves with a swaddle," said Rainbow Connection Executive Director Perci Garner. “I believe Tuscarawas County shows up for us year in and year out because of projects like this. It’s incredible to know that we are helping to keep 650 babies safe with just this one initiative.”

"We've been working with the Maternity Care Unit since 1993," Garner continued, "purchasing car seats for parents who did not have them and informational books and videos for new parents, in addition to the swaddles. We're happy to collaborate with Union Hospital to care for our most precious community members."

At the Rainbow Connection’s May board meeting, the board approved $18,672.46 of assistance, including almost $9,000.00 in medical and school equipment, more than $7,000.00 in medical and dental bills, and over $2,500.00 for prescription and vision assistance. The organization raised $352,503.13 at its March 2025 Telethon and has since awarded $91,478.73 to disabled and disadvantaged Tuscarawas County residents and the schools and nonprofit organizations who support them.

If you or someone you know needs assistance with health or medical expenses, visit tuscrainbow.org or call 330.343.8686 to apply.