The Utah Hospital-Based Education program started in 1994. At that time, the program was administered as a division of the Child Abuse Prevention Center of Utah. The program was developed in response to the number of victims being admitted to the emergency room diagnosed with injuries consistent with SBS/AHT (Shaken Baby Syndrome/Abusive Head Trauma). It quickly became apparent that many new parents were taking their infants home without knowing how to cope with the frustrations that can occur when parents are faced with an inconsolable, crying baby. The hospital-based program started with the National Center on Shaken Baby Syndrome’s (NCSBS) hospital-based coordinator training hospital staff on the dangers of shaking at staff meetings. Hospital staff were trained to educate parents of new babies on the dangers of shaking and gave each family SBS/AHT prevention materials in the form of a “Crying Card”, which contained information about ways to cope with infant crying and the dangers of shaking a baby. In 2000, the NCSBS became a legal entity and continued to use this program.

In 2001, Dr. Mark Dias, Buffalo Children’s Hospital Chief Neurosurgeon, requested a meeting with NCSBS staff, Primary Children’s Hospital and the University of Utah Intermountain Injury Control Prevention Center to continue his model research and review our Utah hospital-based program. Dr. Dias’ hospital-based program provided an informational brochure on the dangers of violently shaking infants and had each parent view the film, Portrait of Promise. This film features three parents talking about their experiences with their children who were shaken, two of which are severely disabled and one has died. Dias’ program also had parents sign a commitment statement. The Utah hospital-based program followed suit with Dias’ model and began requesting signatures for a commitment statement from parents to keep their baby safe as well as educate others who may care for their child about the dangers of shaking.

In 2002, the NCSBS introduced the Dias model components into their existing program however, they used the film Elijah in the Utah program. The new components that were added to the Utah program included the commitment statements [formerly called the affidavit in the Dias model] and the use of the film Elijah Story along with the crying card. This new program was reintroduced in Utah with participating partners; NCSBS, Primary Children’s Medical Center and the University of Utah Intermountain Injury Control Prevention Center. The research study for the Utah program was conducted over 3 years. David L. Corwin, M.D., Ph.D., Medical Director, Primary Children’s Medical Center for Safe and Healthy Families, Professor and Chief, Child Protection and Family Health Division, Department of Pediatrics, University of Utah; Bruce E. Herman, M.D., Associate Professor Primary Appointment – Division of Pediatric Emergency Medicine, Primary Children’s Medical Center; Lenora Olson, M.A., Research Assistant Professor of Pediatrics, University of Utah and Associate Director of the Intermountain Injury Control Research Center; Debra Williams, B.S., and Marilyn Barr, B.S., Founder and Executive Director, NCSBS, were the investigators for this project. The research project was funded by Utah Health Insurances and Medicaid.

The NCSBS staff trained nurses at the hospitals who administered a revised program to new parents. Each nurse was given a 5-minute script and an outline to use to educate parents. Parents were then encouraged to view the film, Elijah’s Story. The documentary surrounds the short life of Elijah Fisher, an 18-month old that was shaken and killed by his biological father. The parents were given an informational brochure on SBS, a magnet with NCSBS contact information, and an opportunity to view Elijah’s Story before being discharged from the hospital.

The Utah Hospital Based SBS Prevention Program continues to be conducted in all 39 birthing hospitals throughout the state of Utah.

Each hospital had the opportunity to fine-tune the program to meet their specific needs.