(photo courtesy IowaPolitics.com via Flickr)Congratulations to the folks in Iowa who advocated for this legislation, and to the legislators and governor for their quick action in adopting this important protection into law.
DES MOINES, Iowa -- Gov. Chet Culver said Thursday that a new law is just the beginning of efforts to end shaken baby syndrome cases in Iowa.
The new law will establish a statewide program to educate parents and caregivers.
Culver and his wife Mari were joined by a group of advocates for children and those against child abuse as the governor signed the new bill into law.
The law now requires the Iowa Department of Public Health to establish an initiative to teach new parents and daycare provider's techniques for dealing with anger and frustration.
Culver said it's the first step in educating about the dangers of shaken baby syndrome.
"From 1997 to 2005, shaken baby syndrome was the cause of 47 of 112 homicides of infants. It was the leading cause of death of these children," said Culver.
Officials said because shaken baby syndrome cases are 100 percent preventable, the law also would make more resources available to parents to give them the tools they need to care for their children in a positive environment.
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