St. Charles County Department of Community
Health & The Environment

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: September 13, 2010

Free Child Safety Seats For Low-Income Families
Grant-funded program also teaches parenting skills

St. Charles County, Missouri –Thanks to a grant from the Community and Children’s Resource Board (CCRB), the St. Charles County Department of Community Health and the Environment is offering free child safety seats to low-income families.

The funds provided by the CCRB will allow the department to provide child abuse and neglect prevention services. A class, titled “Parenting 101,” aims to reduce and prevent intentional and unintentional injury to children age birth to four years. The program will provide comprehensive caregiver education, covering child safety and discipline, increasing awareness of child development and communication, who to call when a child is sick, sudden infant death syndrome, safety in the home, discipline, and child passenger safety. People who register for this program will receive a free child safety seat.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death among children in the United States. Many of these deaths could have been prevented by placing children in age- and size-appropriate restraint systems.

“Proper use of a child safety seat has been shown to reduce or prevent injury in a crash,” said Hollie Milam, who oversees the free safety seat program for the department. “Our program focuses on the importance of using a safety seat, as well as providing information on proper installation.”

To qualify for the program and receive a free safety seat, a family’s income cannot exceed 185 percent of the federal poverty level. For example, for a family of four, income cannot exceed $40,793 per year. For more information about the child safety seat program, or details about qualification, call (636) 949-7400.

The St. Charles County Department of Community Health and the Environment is committed to the protection and enhancement of health and the quality of life for all members of our community. For more information, call (636) 949-7400 or visit www.scchealth.org.

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