Strengthening Support After Sudden Infant Death: Reflections from the 44th Annual SIDS/SUID Conference

Earlier this month, RTZ Hope’s Kiley Hanish and Kristin James joined professionals from across the state of California at the 44th Annual SIDS/SUID Conference in San Diego. Together, they led and facilitated conversations focused on connection, collaboration, and care—both for the families we serve and for those who support them.

Kristin and Kiley facilitated an interactive session with California SIDS Coordinators, guiding participants through an exploration of the continuum of care following an unexpected infant death—from the perinatal period to intervention to postvention. Through group dialogue, coordinators identified current strengths and gaps within their systems and developed strategies to improve communication, collaboration, and resource sharing across counties and disciplines.

Kiley also presented “The Weight We Carry: Tending to Our Own Self in Helping Roles,” inviting attendees to reflect on the psychological impact of cumulative grief and trauma in perinatal and caregiving professions. The session offered insight into how our nervous systems function and evidence-based strategies for building resilience, emphasizing how self-awareness and self-compassion are essential tools to sustain this important, heart-centered work.

RTZ Hope is honored to partner with the California SIDS Coordinators and healthcare professionals dedicated to improving care for families and to nurturing the wellbeing of those who walk alongside them. Together, we continue to build systems that hold both grief and hope.