Washington County Recognized for Child Car Seats Distribution

Press release

Washington County was recognized April 9 by UCare for its participation in the SEATS program, which distributes car seats for children.

The award recognized the Family Health Nursing Team in the Department of Public Health and Environment for its collaboration and partnership in the SEATS program. In 2012, the team was a top distributor of car seats to UCare members, distributing 200 seats.

UCare is one of two Prepaid Medical Assistance Providers to Washington County residents. A benefit offered to pregnant UCare members and to children on the program is a car seat. UCare works with local public health departments and other agencies throughout the state to provide child passenger safety education, and to distribute the car seats to eligible members.

The county’s Family Health Nursing team has eight public health nurses who are, along with their other job duties, trained as Certified Child Passenger Safety Technicians. The 247 car seats distributed in 2012 was the second largest number of distributions in the state.

The Family Health Nursing Team also provides individual child passenger safety education to home visiting clients. The nurses get additional car seats through a state grant program which allows distribution to other families in the community who otherwise have no access to the seats. The county also recently worked with the Medical Reserve Corp Volunteers in this effort.

In 2012, two volunteers were trained as Child Passenger Safety Technicians and began assisting staff in the distribution of car seats during regularly scheduled distribution days.

The nurses who are trained Child Passenger Safety Technicians also offer required Child Passenger Safety education to county licensed child care and foster care providers.