WED-104 - Using Community Baby Showers as a Health Education Intervention
Wednesday, April 22, 2026
6:00 PM - 7:00 PM PST
Location: Plaza Foyer, Plaza Level
Area of Responsibility: Area III: Implementation Keywords: Health Promotion@@@Maternal and Child Health@@@Partnerships and Coalitions, Subcompetencies: 2.3.4 Adopt, adapt, and/or develop tailored intervention(s) for priority population(s) to achieve desired outcomes., 2.3.6 Conduct a pilot test of intervention(s). Research or Practice: Research
Assistant Professor Suny At Old Westbury New York, New York, United States
Learning Objectives:
At the end of this session, participants will be able to:
Design a tailored community baby shower intervention model addressing the health education needs of expectant parents, focusing on car seat safety, safe sleep, and breastfeeding to improve health outcomes.
Evaluate the pilot test of the community baby shower intervention, measuring changes in participants’ knowledge and attitudes on safe sleep, breastfeeding, and car seat safety through pre- and post-surveys.
Develop a framework for planning and implemeting community baby showers as health interventions.
Brief Abstract Summary: This research explores the use of community baby showers as innovative health education interventions to improve maternal and child health outcomes in Southeast Queens, NYC. These events target expectant parents aged 18–40 and are conducted in partnership with local nonprofits, city agencies, and hospitals. The interdisciplinary approach includes car seat safety education, safe sleep training, and breastfeeding support. Additional partners such as the Daycare Council, Nurse Family Partnership, and early intervention programs provide resources. Students play a key role in planning, coordination, and participant engagement. Pre- and post-tests measure changes in knowledge and attitudes around key health topics. Preliminary findings show increased knowledge in car seat safety and safe sleep, as well as reduced social isolation. The events also serve as resource fairs, connecting families with services and addressing food insecurity.
Detailed abstract description: If you’re looking for innovative, community-driven strategies to improve maternal and child health outcomes, this presentation offers actionable insights and replicable models that center real-world impact. Attendees will learn how community baby showers are designed as engaging health education interventions to increase knowledge, build trust, and connect expectant parents with essential services.
This presentation will demonstrate how to build cross-sector partnerships that work. You'll hear how researchers worked with local nonprofits, city agencies like the Department of Transportation and Children’s Services, hospitals, and grassroots organizations to provide education on car seat safety, safe sleep practices, breastfeeding, postpartum mental health, and more all in one accessible, celebratory space.
This session will break down how community baby showers double as resource fairs, tackling health disparities while addressing food insecurity, access to healthcare, and social isolation. This session will discuss how families benefit through immediate access to support like health insurance enrollment, childcare and food stamp screenings, and material goods like car seats and portable cribs.
If you're a public health professional, educator, policymaker, or community leader, you'll walk away with:
A step-by-step framework for planning and implementing community-centered health events.
Strategies to integrate student involvement, strengthen community trust, and build sustainable partnerships.
Most importantly, this presentation will challenge you to think beyond the clinic or classroom and reimagine health education as something vibrant, inclusive, and rooted in equity. Join us and leave inspired to replicate or adapt this innovative model in your own community.
