With the support of a $97,000 grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS), San Joaquin County Public Health Services can continue to help parents and caregivers keep children safe in the car. This one-year grant funds a car seat education program encouraging the proper installation and use of child safety seats. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), car seats and boosters provide protection for infants and children in a crash – yet car crashes are a leading cause of death for children ages 1 to 13.

The grant funds the following activities through September 2022:

• One-on-one appointments to help install children’s car seats and booster seats correctly

• Education classes for parents and caregivers on child safety seats

• Child Passenger Safety Technician training and NHTSA certification

• Collaboration with community partners to promote child passenger safety education

“Not sure your child’s seat is installed correctly? Or questions about what seat is right for your child? Public Health Services has bilingual, NHTSA-certified safety technicians who can help,” shared Dr. Maggie Park, San Joaquin County Public Health Officer.

Car seat check-ups are offered by appointment on Wednesdays, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Public Health Services’ fitting station, 420 S. Wilson Way, Stockton. Call (209) 468-8914 for an appointment. To learn more, visit www.sjcphs.org/healthed/health_education_community_resources.aspx.

“Like seat belts for teens and adults, correctly installed car seats are the best protection for children while they are traveling,” OTS Director Barbara Rooney said. “Car seat programs are an important traffic safety ally.”

Funding for this program was provided by a grant from the California OTS, through the NHTSA.