Health, Doctors and Common Sense

It's a grim distinction no community would want. In our own backyard, in the Sacramento neighborhoods of south Oak Park and Del Paso Heights, babies have been dying at the highest rate in all of urban California.

Charles Cotton cuddles 5-month-old daughter Symphony. His first child, also a girl, died at 3 months in 2006. Cause of death was not determined, but the Sacramento County coro- ner cited the possibility of a “sudden unexpected infant death while co-sleeping.”

AmeriCorps parent educator Jolene Vang, in background, observes as Chante Brisco, 26, helps son Giavanni Anthony, 4, with a writing lesson at home in Del Paso Heights. At left, Brisco’s daughter Catrine Anthony eats cereal. Vang has been coaching Brisco on parenting for nearly two years.

Tags: Brisco, Catrine, Cause Of Death, Cereal, Charles Cotton, Coro, Cuddles, Del Paso Heights, Distinction, Giavanni, Infant Death, Infant Deaths, Own Backyard, Parent Educator, Sacramento County, South Oak Park, Urban California, Vang, Writing Lesson, X92