CALIFORNIA
Nurses and Cops Caring for Contra Costa Children

 

PROJECT CHARACTERISTICS PROGRAM AREA(S)
  Outstanding collaborative effort
Increased media visibility
  Child Passenger Safety
       
TYPE OF JURISDICTION    
  County    
       
TARGETED POPULATION(S) JURISDICTION SIZE
  Parents   900,000


PROBLEM IDENTIFICATION
Since 1995, Contra Costa County, California has focused community-wide attention on injury prevention initiatives through the implementation of extensive Safe Communities programs, especially those related to childhood injury prevention. In its efforts to lower injury rates throughout the community, the Contra Costa County Community Wellness and Prevention Program targeted child passenger safety through the development of the Nurses and Cops Caring for Contra Costa Children program.


GOALS AND OBJECTIVES
The Nurses and Cops Caring for Contra Costa Children program was introduced in May 1998 to train individuals to educate Contra Costa County families on the correct use of child safety seats. Although the program did not initially include nurses, most nurses who received the child passenger safety training became permanent staff members. Specific program objectives include:

  • Providing child safety seats free of charge to needy county parents
  • Conducting safety seat checkpoint and check-up operations at specified locations in the county throughout the year
  • Enlisting support from the media to increase public awareness of the program


STRATEGIES AND ACTIVITIES
The kick-off event for the Nurses and Cops Caring for Contra Costa Children program was arranged to take place during Buckle Up America! week in May 1998. Several county police departments and nurses from various hospitals county-wide participated. Four child safety seat check-up locations were set up, along with one safety seat checkpoint. The location of the check-up/checkpoints was rotated throughout the county during the week to give all participating police departments an opportunity to be involved.

At each of the four check-up locations, parents drove by with their child safety seats to have them inspected and properly installed in their vehicles. Unsafe seats were replaced with new seats donated by a local medical center. At the checkpoint location, vehicles transporting young children were stopped and inspected to make sure child safety seats were being properly used.

In September 1998, a four-day workshop was conducted to provide training in the skills and techniques required to educate county parents about the correct use of their child safety seats. Certified technicians and instructors made presentations on Child Passenger Safety.

Local television, radio and newspaper affiliates provided the program with extensive media exposure, increasing public awareness of the services it provides.


RESULTS
During 1998, 276 safety seat inspections/installations were performed by program staff. Twenty-six new seats were provided to needy parents to replace those that were determined to be unsafe.

Currently, 18 nationally certified technicians and 2 certified technician instructors have been trained through the program.

Contra Costa community members have provided overwhelming support for the Nurses and Cops Caring for Contra Costa Children campaign. The group receives an average of 10 calls per day concerning requests for information and training.

 

FUNDING
  Section 402: $30,000
CONTACT  
 

Donald Uelmen
Regional Programs Manager
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
201 Mission Street, Suite 2230
San Francisco, CA 94105
(415) 744-3089


NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION

SPRING 1999