Baby Safety Alliance® and Baby Safety Foundation Welcome Alison Jacobson as Executive Director
Nationally recognized child safety expert and nonprofit leader brings more than 20 years of experience to advance infant and child safety
MOUNT LAUREL, N.J., September 9, 2026 — The Baby Safety Alliance® (The Alliance) and Baby Safety Foundation (The Foundation) are pleased to announce the appointment of Alison Jacobson as Executive Director of both organizations. A nationally recognized child safety expert, nonprofit executive, and strategic communications leader, Jacobson brings more than 20 years of experience spanning the juvenile products industry, public health, consumer education, and child safety.
Prior to joining The Alliance and The Foundation, Jacobson served as CEO of First Candle, a national nonprofit dedicated to preventing Sudden Unexpected Infant Death (SUID) and supporting families impacted by infant loss. During her tenure, she developed community-based programming designed to go beyond simply providing families with safety information to understanding and addressing the barriers that can prevent them from acting on it.
Central to that work was partnering with trusted community organizations and individuals with lived experience to deliver practical, relevant education directly to families. Jacobson will bring that experience to the Baby Safety Foundation as it expands its consumer education, community partnerships, and programs designed to provide families with the information and resources they need to keep babies and children safe.
“Alison’s depth of expertise makes her an outstanding choice to lead the Baby Safety Alliance and Baby Safety Foundation,” commented Walter Lehneis, Chair of the Baby Safety Alliance. “She brings a unique understanding of child safety, the juvenile products industry and, importantly, the needs of families. Her ability to connect those perspectives creates an exciting opportunity to strengthen the impact of both organizations.”
Jacobson also brings extensive experience at the intersection of consumer safety and the juvenile products industry. She has served on ASTM standards committees alongside manufacturers and safety experts and has worked throughout her career to help translate complex safety recommendations into clear, practical guidance for parents and caregivers. She also founded The Safety Mom, a national child and family safety advocacy and consulting platform, building on her longstanding commitment to keeping children and families safe.
“Families don’t need more information simply for information’s sake, they need safety guidance that is clear, practical, and achievable,” said Jacobson. “What excites me about leading both the Baby Safety Alliance and Baby Safety Foundation is the opportunity to connect the expertise of the juvenile products industry with the experiences and needs of families. Together, we can strengthen product safety while ensuring that trusted information and resources reach families in ways that can make a measurable difference in the safety of babies and children.”
As Executive Director of both organizations, Jacobson will lead the Baby Safety Alliance’s work with manufacturers, safety experts and other stakeholders to advance product safety and best practices across the juvenile products industry. She will simultaneously lead the Baby Safety Foundation’s consumer-facing work, expanding education, community partnerships and initiatives that bring trusted safety information and resources directly to families.
“Alison brings the experience, relationships, and passion for baby safety that align extremely well with our vision for the next chapter of the Baby Safety Foundation,” said Rob Gardner, Chair of the Baby Safety Foundation Board of Directors. “We want to expand our direct engagement with parents, caregivers and children through meaningful community events and programs, while building the partnerships and resources needed to broaden our reach and impact. Alison’s ability to connect safety education with families, industry partners and supporters will be instrumental in helping us turn that vision into action.”
Michael Dwyer, CAE, President of the Baby Safety Alliance added, “Alison’s extensive experience provides a strong foundation for a seamless transition. That transition is further supported by the Baby Safety Alliance’s longtime association management partner, Association Headquarters, and AH’s commitment to providing ongoing support.”
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About the Baby Safety Alliance®
The Baby Safety Alliance is the trusted voice for baby and children’s product safety across North America. Formerly known as the Juvenile Product Manufacturers Association (JPMA), the Alliance advances safety through advocacy, education, product testing, and philanthropy. Its Verification Program independently tests thousands of products annually across 30+ categories to ensure they meet the highest functionality, performance, and safety standards. The Alliance also offers free consumer education for parents and caregivers through Baby Safety University and supports families through the Baby Safety Foundation, a 501(c)(3) charity.
About the Baby Safety Foundation
Founded in 2021, the Baby Safety Foundation is the philanthropic arm of the Baby Safety Alliance and a 501(c)(3) charitable organization dedicated to protecting every baby by channeling industry expertise and resources. Its signature educational resource, Baby Safety 101®, is a research-based, expert-backed guide that delivers the essential baby safety information every parent needs in a convenient, mobile-friendly format that can be read in under 60 minutes.
Media Contact:
Amy Chezem
achezem@babysafetyalliance.org
609-410-6590
