The California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS), has awarded Sacramento County Public Health a $137,039 grant to continue and expand the reach of the car seat safety program in partnership with Dignity Health, Mercy San Juan Medical Center. The grant program runs through Sept. 30, 2026. This is the fifth consecutive year Sacramento County Public Health has received grant funding for its car seat safety program.
“Car seat safety saves lives but only when families have the knowledge and resources to use them correctly,” said Dr. Kasirye, Sacramento County Public Health Officer. “With funding from the Office of Traffic Safety and our partnership with Dignity Health, Mercy San Juan Medical Center, we’re doing our part to make sure every child can travel safely.”
Car crashes are one of the leading causes of deaths and injuries for children and many of these injuries are easily prevented using child safety seats and seat belts. Using a properly fitted child safety seat can reduce the risk of car crash deaths by 71% for infants and 54% for toddlers ages 1-4, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).
The goal of the car seat program is to give every child in Sacramento County access to the safest possible travel environment. The program provides:
- Child safety seat inspection and education classes
- Child passenger safety technician and recertification courses
- No-cost child safety seats for families in need
- Community outreach efforts in underserved communities
In 2025, the car seat safety program distributed more than 400 car seats to families in need. Over 1,300 parents, grandparents and caregivers learned about correct car seat use and installation through online workshops, in-person classes, community health fairs and school resource fairs, among other events.
“The value and importance of car seats cannot be overstated, as they are directly tied to the safety and lives of children. Many of our clients come from countries such as Afghanistan and various Arab nations, where car seats are not commonly used, and where their importance is not fully recognized,” said Zalmai Ahadi, a caseworker at Al-Misbaah – a faith-based nonprofit that partners with Dignity health to distribute car seats and educate parents. “The collaboration and educational programs offered by Mercy San Juan Car Seat Program have a vital and life-saving impact for immigrant families.”
The program hosts workshops specifically targeting underserved and refugee communities, offering resources in multiple languages to make certain families, regardless of background or ability to afford a car seat, are equipped to protect their children on the roads.
According to Loran Abassi, Program Manager with the Refugee Enrichment & Development Association (REDA), one client arrived in Sacramento in April 2025 with his five-month-old twins and was struggling to navigate life in a new country while learning how to be a first-time father. Unfamiliar with U.S. car seat laws and without the financial means to purchase car seats, he faced a critical safety gap for his children.
The Dignity Health Mercy San Juan Car Seat Program provided him with hands-on education about car seat safety and two car seats for his twins. He walked away with knowledge and tools to transport his children safely as he began a new chapter for his family in Sacramento County.
The program’s success hinges on community involvement. Certified Child Passenger Safety Technicians (CPSTs) are an integral part of the program and offer hands-on assistance at car seat inspection events. They’ve helped install over 600 car seats properly for families to make sure their children are safe.
“It has been a great privilege to do my part in ensuring that underserved and low-income families in our community have access to appropriate child safety seats, regardless of their socioeconomic status,” said Allison Boltz, a Community Injury Prevention Educator at Mercy San Juan Medical Center. “Caregivers often share their gratitude and the sense of relief that comes with knowing that they are really doing their best to keep their children safe in their car.”
Iris Austin, the First Lady at Higher Heights Community Church, shared the story of a mother who attended one of the workshops with her mother-in-law, who recalled that her own son had been in a serious car crash as a child and still carries the scar today. During the training, the grandmother became emotional, reliving the fear and trauma of that experience.
A technician with the Dignity Health, Mercy San Juan Car Seat Program took time to walk with her to her vehicle and check the car seat installation, which was found to be incorrect. When it was gently corrected, the grandmother expressed overwhelming gratitude, saying she never wanted her grandson to go through what her son had endured.
The Child Passenger Safety Program is designed to meet families where they are, whether that’s a workshop at their church or local health center, so they can receive a free car seat or learn about the importance of safe travel for their children.
Interested participants are encouraged to make a car seat safety check appointment at Methodist Hospital or Mercy San Juan Medical Center, and can call the Car Seat Hotline at (916) 864-5779 with any questions.
For more information about the program, visit Sacramento County Childhood Illness and Injury Prevention or contact Riley Stoltenburg at (916) 875-6094 or StoltenburgR@saccounty.gov.
Funding for this program was provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety, through the NHTSA.