St. Charles County Department of Community
Health & The Environment

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: December 30, 2010

PARENTING 101 TEACHES CARE-GIVING TIPS
Attendees Earn Free Child Safety Seats upon Completion of Two-Hour Class

St. Charles County, Missouri –Through grant funding from the Community and Children’s Resource Board of St. Charles County (CCRB), the St. Charles County Department of Community Health and the Environment is now offering eligible guardians a child safety seat.  The safety seats are earned by individuals who complete the department’s free educational program entitled, Parenting 101.

Open to parents, grandparents, foster parents, and other guardians, the two-hour session will discuss many aspects of infant, child and parent safety.  Topics covered will include injury prevention, discipline, development, medical care, and more.  At the end of the class, participants will receive a brand new Scenera Convertible Child Safety Seat and will be instructed on the proper installation of this life-saving device.  Compliant with Missouri state law, this safety seat will fit infants and toddlers weighing 5-40 pounds and those 19-43 inches tall.

Two sessions of Parenting 101 are planned in January at the Department of Community Health’s Main Conference Room (located at 1650 Boone’s Lick Road in St. Charles).  The first, on Tuesday, Jan. 11, will run from 10 a.m. to noon, and the second session will be from 2-4 p.m., on Thursday, Jan. 20.  Advanced registration is required as class sizes are limited.  Interested participants should contact Rollins by email at mrollins@sccmo.org or by phone at 636-949-7400, ext. 6220.

“This is such an important class for parents,” said Molly Rollins, community health nurse and health educator.  “In addition to discovering ways to become an even better parent, attendees will take home a device that studies prove reduces or prevents injuries when used properly.”

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, thousands of children are killed or injured in automobile crashes each year — mainly because 3 out of 4 children are not properly secured, or even worse, not restrained at all.  Research shows that proper use of child safety seats will reduce death by 71 percent for infants (under age 1) and 54 percent for toddlers (age 1-4) (MODOT).

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.  Throughout the year, the Health Education division offers programs on public health and safety for schools, community organizations, and individuals.  For information on these programs and to discover ways the Department assists our community, please visit www.scchealth.org or call 636-949-7400.

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