WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (CBS12) — A new statewide program is designed to improve outcomes for children in Florida by reducing the number of babies affected by Abusive Head Trauma.

Thousands suffer from this type of injury, which happens when a baby or young child is violently shaken – leading to serious or fatal brain damage.

“When babies cry, it’s stressful,” explains Shelby Gerner with Prevent Abuse Florida. “Whether you’re in the restaurant with a crying baby, you’re home with a crying baby, you’re trying to get a crying baby to sleep, it’s exhausting, and that’s real, that’s raw, that’s honest, it’s human. And those feelings are valid. It’s okay to be frustrated by it, it’s what you do in that moment.”

Education on what to do in that moment is what the new statewide “Shaken Baby Prevention Program, The PURPLE crying” is all about.

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“When looking at the states and countries that have implemented PURPLE, it’s been shown to reduce overall physical abuse,” Shelby says. “It’s been shown to reduce the number of cases that are brought before the ER for babies crying. Overall, it’s preventing any further harm and really boosting parental support and parental confidence.”

The name of the program- PURPLE- serves as a reminder of what this type of crying looks and sounds like.

“It’s going to happen unexpectedly, it’s going to resist soothing, it happens in the evening, it’s long-lasting, and it is only truly from the second week of life into the fifth month of life, peaking in the second month. The curriculum for families, the training we provide, just reinforces that.” Shelby says.

And PURPLE isn’t just for parents. It’s for any caregiver.

Families and organizations interested in receiving education and materials on PURPLE, and other child abuse prevention strategies can visit www.preventchildabusefl.org. These materials are free and will be shipped directly to the door.

For more Forever Family stories, visit ForeverFamily.org in partnership with ChildNet.

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