Sudden Unexpected Infant Death (SUID) Case Registry

CDC - SUID and SDY Case Registries - SIDS and SUID - Reproductive Health

Sudden Unexpected Infant Death (SUID) Case Registry

CDC’s Division of Reproductive Health has SUID monitoring programs in 16 states and 2 jurisdictions,

covering 30% of all SUID cases in the United States. Participating states and jurisdictions use data

about SUID trends and circumstances to develop strategies to reduce future deaths. The SUID Case

Registry builds on the National Center for Fatality Review and Prevention’s System and brings

together information about the circumstances associated with SUID cases, as well as information

about investigations into these deaths. Learn more about the SUID Case Registry[PDF - 197 KB].

Sudden Death in the Young (SDY) Case Registry

CDC and the National Institutes of Health collaborate on the Sudden Death in the Young (SDY)

Case Registry, which expands the population of the SUID Case Registry from infancy through

adolescence. The SDY Case Registry was created to increase the understanding of the prevalence,

causes, and risk factors for infants, children, and young adults who die suddenly and unexpectedly.

Currently, 10 states or jurisdictions participate in the SDY

Case Registry. Learn more about the SDY Case Registry[PDF - 100 KB].

CDC conducts SUID monitoring at 18 grantee sites, covering 30% of all SUID cases in the 

United States. Alaska, Arizona, Colorado, Louisiana, Kentucky, Michigan, New Mexico, and 

Pennsylvania participate in the SUID Case Registry (dark purple).
Delaware, Georgia, Minnesota, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, the city and county of 

San Francisco, Tennessee, the Tidewater Region of Virginia, and Wisconsin (selected counties) 

participate in the SUID and SDY Case Registries (light purple).

CDC’s Division of Reproductive Health funds the following states: Arizona, Colorado, Louisiana, 

Michigan, Minnesota, New Jersey, New Mexico, New Hampshire, Wisconsin, Alaska, Kentucky, 

and Pennsylvania. The National Institutes of Health and CDC Epilepsy fund the following states 

and jurisdictions: Delaware, Georgia, Tennessee, Nevada, the city and county of San Francisco, 

and the Tidewater Region of Virginia.

Improving Infant Death Investigations: A Case Study from New Mexico

New Mexico used its SUID Case Registry data to examine the components of infant death 

investigations. The data identified scene re-creations with doll re-enactment as an area for 

improvement. On the basis of the findings, the New Mexico Department of Health, together 

with the Office of the Medical Investigator, is training investigators to use dolls. New Mexico 

is also creating and garnering support for an institutional policy to use dolls to re-create the 

scene at every infant death investigation.

Targeting Safe Sleep Messages: A Case Study from New Jersey

New Jersey used its SUID Case Registry data to identify high-risk populations that might 

benefit from targeted interventions. The data showed that teen mothers were overrepresented 

in New Jersey SUID, and that almost every mother of an infant in the registry received prenatal 

care. On the basis of these findings, New Jersey Department of Children and Families partnered 

with the New Jersey Department of Education and Department of Health and sponsored a Safe 

Sleep art contest in middle schools throughout New Jersey. Middle school students are current 

babysitters and future parents. The winning submission was printed on a tote bag that was filled 

with safe sleep materials. The bags were distributed to 20 federally qualified health centers 

(that offer prenatal care to low-income women), 17 Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for 

Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) Offices, 22 Aid to Families with Dependent Children Offices, 

and multiple home visiting programs.

CDC - SUID and SDY Case Registries - SIDS and SUID - Reproductive Health