Precious Purple Sunday

Precious Purple Sunday is an annual event that celebrates Baltimore’s babies and creates awareness about keeping babies safe and healthy. Precious Purple Sunday has been celebrated every year since 2017. More than 100 churches participate as well as individuals and organizations of many types. The event consists of wearing purple and posting photos on social media, using the hashtag #PreciousPurpleSunday. Photos from the event are posted on the day of and the week following the event. B’more for Healthy Babies provides small ribbons to pin on clothing and talking points for pastors to use in their services, plus a special bulletin insert and other educational materials on safe sleep for infants, early childhood development, nutrition, and more. To learn more about the event, contact Pastor Meldon Dickens at pastordickensibc@gmail.com or 443-416-1071.

Referrals

Baltimore City has a network of free services and programs to support mothers, babies, and their families. These services range from home visiting programs for pregnant women to getting help for a baby with developmental concerns. Find a list of resources with key phone numbers so that you can easily refer families to these services and programs. Some programs ask that you send in a referral form. By clicking on the link below, you can access the referral form for each program:

• The Crib and Safe Sleep Program provides a free portable crib and safe sleep education to eligible families. The portable crib will be delivered and set up in the home. The best time to apply to this program is in the last 6 weeks of pregnancy.

Educational Materials

Free educational materials are available in bulk orders to hand out to congregants and the broader community. These materials focus on important topics like safe sleep for babies, support during pregnancy, breastfeeding, smoke-free homes, and more.

Community-Based Group Support Programs

B’more for Healthy Babies offers free community-based programs. Some programs have eligibility or income requirements.

• B’more Fit, a nutrition, fitness, and stress management program for mothers of children under age 5. Call 410-396-9404 (has income eligibility requirements).

Additional Resources

Some healthcare, social services, and nonprofit agencies provide services in community settings. Check with agencies in your area to see if they would be willing to provide blood pressure screenings or other services at your events. For tips on how to plan a health fair or event, check out these tips from the Saint Agnes Foundation’s Faith Toolkit.

In-Person Technical Assistance

Rev. Angela Burden, RN, MA, is BHB’s Faith Community Nurse. She specializes in the intentional integration of faith and spiritual ministry with B’more for Healthy Babies initiatives. Rev. Burden offers free advice and support to help you organize your ministry, assess the needs of your congregation, plan for confidentiality issues, and define your ministry’s overall goals, objectives, and activities based on your resources. Her services comply with Faith Community Nursing Scope and Standards of Practice. In addition, she can:

• Provide data on the issues impacting maternal and child health in Baltimore City