Contra Costa Health Services’ Public Health Nursing Car Seat Project will help parents and caregivers keep their children as safe as possible in the car thanks to a $83,000 grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS).
The one-year grant from Oct. 1, 2020 to Sept. 30, 2021 funds a car seat education program that encourages the proper installation and use of child safety seats.
The grant funds the following activities:
- One-on-one/virtual appointments to inspect and install car seats.
- Child safety seat education classes for parents and caregivers.
- Child safety seats at no-cost to nursing case management clients and low-income families following education classes.
- Promote safety seat recycling and importance of discarding used and expired car seats
- Work with community partners to promote child passenger safety education.
“The Public Health Nursing Program in Contra Costa County serves vulnerable, low-income families who are impacted daily by health inequities,” said Program Manager Michelle Rivero, Program. “Our families struggle with meeting the basic needs of the children. Rent, food, clothing all become priorities over car seats, and many of our families use old, expired car seats. This program is a much-needed resource to help keep children safe.”
From CA Office of Traffic Safety.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), 46% of car seats are misused.
“Car seats save lives,” OTS Director Barbara Rooney said. “Keeping children safe in a vehicle is as important as ever, and funding for car seat programs play a vital role in ensuring the proper use of child safety seats.”
Funding for this program was provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. To find the right car seat for your child, click here.
For more information contact Rivero at (925) 608-5119 or Child Passenger Safety Technician, Jessica Recinos, at (925) 532-2152.
Allen Payton contributed to this report.
I am writing to ask for help with finding a safe car seat for my 6-year-old child. My child is shorter in height but has a higher body weight, and regular car seats and boosters do not fit properly. The straps are too short and cannot secure my child safely.
Do you provide evaluations or recommendations for special-needs / adaptive car seats? If not, could you please recommend any programs, clinics, or resources that can help families obtain the correct seat?
Thank you very much for your guidance