First Candle/SIDS Alliance exists to promote infant health and survival during the prenatal period through two years of age. We do this through programs of advocacy, education and research. SIDS and Other Infant Death bereavement services are a critical component of our mission.
Over the course of the past two decades, First Candle/SIDS Alliance has expended more than $4 million to fund over forty meritorious research projects at twenty-six recognized medical institutions throughout the U.S. and Canada.
We continue to provide a single, focused outlet for individuals and organizations interested in supporting research. Projects approved and supported by First Candle/SIDS Alliance meet the highest caliber of scientific merit and medical significance to furthering the understanding of SIDS, Stillbirth and other causes of infant death. The medical research program is conducted under the auspices of the Medical and Scientific Advisory Council (MSAC), an internationally recognized body of senior level pediatric scientists.
With the help of thousands of volunteers across the country, First Candle/SIDS Alliance has cultivated a strong interest in SIDS issues among U.S. Congressional members, as well as within the state legislatures. Since 1985, Federal funding for SIDS research has increased from $300,000 to over $17 million in 2002. In an effort to build upon that success, we have expanded our advocacy efforts to include increased planning and funding for Stillbirth issues.
www.firstcandle.org