Meet the Innovator: Shantell Roberts of Touching Young Lives
TYL is part of Social Innovation Lab’s 2016–17 Cohort. To learn more about SIL and the cohort, click here.
SIL: Tell us about TYL in just a few sentences.
Shantell: Touching Young Lives focuses on the health and well-being of infants and children. In 2017, Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) is still an issue among parents and caregivers. A new baby is born every day to a parent that has not been properly educated on Safe Sleep practices or even after birth is unable to provide a safe sleeping space for their baby. By introducing the Portable Alternative Crib (PAC) parents are afforded a safe sleeping space in its simplest form. The PAC is a box that contains maternal self-care products and baby items but most importantly also has a mattress at the bottom that serves as a baby’s first sleeping space.
SIL: Why did you decide to start this? Where did the idea come from?
Shantell: I currently work as a home visitor in Baltimore city and discovered two problems. One, sometimes the “pack n play” offered is too big for a family’s living space. Second, when receiving calls for assistance outside of Baltimore city I am unable to assist these families. In April 2016, I read an article about Dr. Megan Heere and the launch of the “S.A.F.E.T.” baby box at Temple University Hospital. After meeting with her, understanding the rich history behind the traditional Finnish baby box and all of the positive attributes associated with it, I decided to implement this solution in Maryland to help combat instances of SIDS.
SIL: What would you consider success for your venture and how would the world be different if it is successful?
Shantell: Success will be a Portable Alternative Crib (PAC) in every home of a parent or caregiver; especially those that are in need of a safe sleeping space for their child. Understanding that maternal health is a factor in producing healthy infants, by providing education on maternal care as well as using the portable alternative crib as a safe sleeping space will save babies across socioeconomic lines.
SIL: Tell us about yourself? What got you interested in this issue? Any work experience or past professional/life experience that informs your work now?
Shantell: In 2011, after a very brief illness, my 1 year old daughter died from MRSA Pneumonia. I was devastated. After connecting with other parents that had suffered infant losses, I learned about SIDS and how this preventable tragedy often affects families. In 2014, I became an advisory board member for the University Of Maryland Department Of Pediatrics’ Center for Infant and Child Loss and I am currently the Safe Sleep Coordinator for Baltimore City under the B’more for Healthy Babies Safe Sleep Initiative. In this position, I accept referrals from families that are in need of safe sleeping spaces for their babies and am able to provide them with a free Pack-n-Play. Two major issues that I encountered in this position include: the Pack-n-Play being too large for some living spaces and not being able to serve families outside of Baltimore city. By implementing the Portable Alternative Crib through TYL, not only will families across jurisdictions be provided with a safe sleeping space for their baby, but it is a portable, affordable, safe, and impactful solution.
SIL: What’s your favorite place or thing to do in Baltimore?
Shantell: I was born in Cambridge, Maryland and moved to Baltimore when I was 8 years old. During the summer months, my family and I would go crabbing, cook the crabs at home, and sit outside in the backyard to eat them. The same holds true now in my adulthood. I love a beautiful day, grabbing some crabs with family or friends and enjoying some good steamed crabs!
SIL: What advice do you have for would-be social entrepreneurs thinking about starting a venture?
Shantell: I was not the first or the last mother to experience a painful and tragic loss. However, I chose to turn my pain into a purpose! Through creating this organization, my mission has always been to prevent others from experiencing that same pain. If you have a dream, do something every day that contributes to making that dream happen! It can be as little or as big as you like, but do something!
