The Shaken Baby Alliance

The Shaken Baby Alliance (SBA) was founded in 1998 in Fort Worth, Texas, by three mothers whose lives were forever altered when their children became victims of Shaken Baby Syndrome (SBS), a severe form of Abusive Head Trauma (AHT). Faced with a devastating lack of resources and guidance, these mothers united to build a support system that did not yet exist. Today, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) classifies SBS/AHT as a completely preventable, severe form of child physical abuse. It occurs when a caregiver violently shakes and/or impacts an infant or young child's head, resulting in traumatic brain injury (TBI) or death. Tragically, it remains the leading cause of death and disability in children under five, with infant crying identified as the number-one trigger for abuse.

Over the past 28 years, SBA has evolved from a grassroots support group into a nationally and internationally recognized leader in the child physical abuse field. We advance our vital mission through a comprehensive, three-pronged approach.

We offer the following support:
Victim Family Support, Professional Training and Case Consultation, and Prevention Education.

SBA services are offered statewide, nationally, and internationally. We have trained professionals worldwide to recognize, investigate, and prevent SBS/AHT. Our international victim support group meets over Zoom. Over the past 28 years, SBA has supported families of victims, including those whose children survived abuse and those whose children died, and has become a nationally recognized provider of training and case consults in the child physical abuse field.

Through this multi-faceted approach, our historical impact speaks for itself:
Reached over 77,202 individuals impacted by child abuse and SBS/AHT.
Supported 7,863 victim family members through their darkest moments.
Trained 31,365 multidisciplinary professionals worldwide.
Provided 2,176 specialized case consultations to aid the pursuit of justice.
Educated 17,808 students and parents on healthy coping mechanisms to de-escalate infant crying.

We envision a world where no child has to endure the pain of physical abuse or neglect, and where every young life is met with a community dedicated to their protection and healing. The Shaken Baby Alliance works tirelessly toward a future where every family devastated by violent child physical abuse is immediately surrounded by support and guided toward hope. By ensuring that professionals are expertly prepared to protect the vulnerable and that parents are wrapped in the grace, tools, and understanding they need to care for their infants safely, we can break the cycle of trauma. Eliminating Abusive Head Trauma (AHT) and child physical abuse requires a united, compassionate front, and with your investment, we can build a safer, more gentle world for our children.

How You Can Help
Donate: Healing a Critical Gap in Care: When you financially support SBA, you are filling a deep, critical gap in care for children and families left broken by severe trauma. While generalized child welfare resources exist, SBA steps into the painful void left in the wake of physical violence against children and Abusive Head Trauma (AHT). Your generosity provides immediate, unconditional support, financing free, long-term case management for grieving families and year-round forensic readiness training for first responders. By partnering with us, you ensure that non-verbal infants have a voice, families are never forced to navigate their darkest days alone, and communities have the tools to prevent tragedy before it strikes.

Filling a Critical Gap in Care
The Shaken Baby Alliance steps directly into the painful void left in the wake of these tragedies. While general child welfare resources exist, our organization fills a highly specialized service gap by providing long-term, trauma-informed care for families in acute crisis and year-round forensic readiness training for those seeking justice.

We cannot do this vital work without the support of our community. Your generosity allows us to provide all of our specialized programs completely free of charge to families navigating their darkest days.