9.2 Identify Existing Car Seat Programs in Your Community

Native CARS Atlas Module 9: Got Seats? Child Safety Seat Distribution Programs 9.2 Identify Existing Car Seat Programs in Your Community

 

Before you develop a child safety seat distribution program of your own, be sure to determine if there are already distribution programs in your area.

You may not want to duplicate a service that is already being provided. Your community may be eligible to receive services from an existing program.  To find these programs, first, look for local CPS technicians working in your community. Second, make inquiries at various local organizations.

Step 1: Locate a CPS Tech in your area

Since child safety seat distribution programs should be operated by CPS techs, contacting a local Child Passenger Safety Technician (CPS tech) is a good place to start. To find a CPS tech in your area, visit the Safe Kids website and click on Find a Tech (found at the bottom of the home page, under “Resources,” then “CPS Certification,” then “Find a Tech”). Specify a search area such as your city, county, or zip code.  You will be taken to a page that provides names and contact information for CPS technicians in the area. If no CPS technicians come up in your search, you may want to broaden your search area. CPS tech instructors update this when new graduates become techs, so you may want to re-check this periodically.

Another option for searching out what is being offered to your community is to look for car seat inspection sites on the Parent Central website. Locate the section on Car Seats, and then look for “Get Your Seat Inspected.” This section allows for you to search for inspection sites in your area.

Step 2: Look for Additional Contact Locations

If your search for CPS techs is not fruitful, you can contact places that may host or partner with existing distribution programs. Even if you do not find an existing distribution program, contacting these organizations is an opportunity to feel out potential partnerships if you end up creating your own distribution program.  To see a sample letter of interest you could sent to potential partners, click here.

Places to contact about existing child safety seat distribution programs include:

  • Tribal clinic
  • WIC/MCH
  • Police department
  • The county
  • Fire department
  • Hospitals
  • Health departments
  • State transportation departments
  • The Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA)
  • Schools
  • Head Start
  • Day care

 

Here is a sample script that you can use or modify to contact a partner organization:

 
 

Sample script for contacting additional places

“Hi, I’m ___ ________from the ___[tribe or organization]_______. We’re looking to partner with a child safety seat distribution program. Does your organization currently work with a child passenger safety technician or host a distribution program? …”

 

For more on developing partnerships with existing distribution programs, go to the next section.

Previous Section
Back to Module
Next Section