Every parent’s priority is the safety of their children, especially when traveling by car. Motor vehicle accidents are a significant threat to children’s safety, making proper car seat usage crucial. Recognizing this vital need, Georgia has a robust free car seat program designed to protect its youngest residents. Through collaborative efforts and dedicated funding, families across Georgia can access the resources necessary to keep their children safe on the road.
Georgia Counties Benefit from Car Seat Mini-Grant Program
The Georgia Department of Public Health (DPH) Injury Prevention Program has announced the recipients of the 2023 Child Passenger Safety Mini-Grant. This initiative underscores Georgia’s commitment to reducing child injuries and fatalities resulting from vehicle crashes. For 2023, this crucial funding will empower 113 counties to purchase and distribute car seats to families in need. The Governor’s Office of Highway Safety (GOHS) provides the financial backing for this program, demonstrating a statewide dedication to child passenger safety.
Since its inception in 2007, the Child Passenger Safety Mini-Grant program has made a tangible difference in Georgia. By providing education, car seats, and booster seats, the program is credited with preventing serious injuries and saving the lives of over 437 children involved in car accidents. This remarkable impact highlights the effectiveness of proactive measures in ensuring child safety.
Accessing Free Car Seats and Safety Education in Your County
The core mission of this program is to ensure every child is “buckled up right, every trip, every time.” Across Georgia, the DPH and county health departments are working diligently with local partners to achieve this goal. These partnerships focus on educating parents and caregivers on the correct installation and usage of car seats. Furthermore, they offer car seat inspections to guarantee proper setup and provide free car seats and booster seats to families who meet financial eligibility requirements.
The Car Seat Mini-Grant directly supports agencies in 113 counties, enabling them to provide these essential services. By participating in these local programs, families can gain valuable knowledge and resources to protect their children while traveling. This widespread availability ensures that help is accessible within communities throughout Georgia.
Why Child Car Seat Safety is Paramount
“Motor vehicle crashes are a leading cause of death for children, and it’s up to all of us to do everything we can to protect our children in vehicles,” states Kathleen E. Toomey, M.D., M.P.H., commissioner of the Georgia Department of Public Health. This statement emphasizes the critical importance of car seat safety and the collective responsibility to safeguard children. Utilizing car seats correctly is unequivocally the most effective way to prevent injuries and save young lives in the event of a crash.
The Georgia DPH is dedicated to enhancing community outreach programs and believes that through collaborative efforts, significant strides can be made in child occupant safety. For individuals seeking further information about the Child Occupant Safety Project, reaching out via email at [email protected] or by phone at 404-463-1487 will connect you with resources and support.
2024 County Mini-Grant Awardees:
Appling, Atkinson, Bacon, Baker, Banks, Barrow, Ben Hill, Berrien, Bibb, Bleckley, Brantley, Brooks, Bryan, Bulloch, Calhoun, Camden, Carroll, Chatham, Chattahoochee, Cherokee, Clarke, Clay, Clayton, Clinch, Cobb, Coffee, Colquitt, Columbia, Cook, Crawford, Crisp, Dawson, DeKalb, Dodge, Dooly, Dougherty, Douglas, Early, Echols, Effingham, Elbert, Fayette, Gilmer, Glynn, Grady, Greene, Gwinnett, Habersham, Hall, Hancock, Haralson, Harris, Houston, Irwin, Jackson, Jasper, Jeff Davis, Johnson, Jones, Lamar, Lanier, Laurens, Lee, Liberty, Long, Lowndes, Macon, Madison, Marion, McIntosh, Meriwether, Miller, Mitchell, Montgomery, Morgan, Muscogee, Newton, Oconee, Oglethorpe, Paulding, Peach, Pike, Polk, Pulaski, Putnam, Quitman, Randolph, Richmond, Rockdale, Schley, Seminole, Spalding, Stewart, Sumter, Talbot, Taliaferro, Taylor, Telfair, Thomas, Tift, Toombs, Treutlen, Troup, Turner, Union, Upson, Ware, Washington, Webster, Wheeler, White, Whitfield, Worth.
