FRESNO COUNTY – With help from a state grant, the Fresno County Department of Public Health is hoping to reduce the local rate of car seat misuse.
The Fresno County Department of Public Health (FCPDH) announced on Dec. 31 that it received $187,317 from the California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) for its Child Passenger Safety Program. The program aims to educate parents and caregivers about the importance and proper use of child safety seats, according to a press release.
“The Child Passenger Safety Program is a much-needed resource in an effort to reduce fatalities and injuries among children under 8 years of age,” the press release said. “With a youthful population of 27.5% under the age of 18 and 12.7% of those children having special health care needs, child safety is a priority.”
FCDPH said it received the OTS grant in October 2025 and the program funds will run through September 2026. Funding was made available through OTS by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
Funds from the grant will allow FCDPH to host community outreach events, including child safety seat inspection events and education classes, train individuals on the proper use and installation of child safety seats and distribute child safety seats at no cost to eligible families in need. The department will specifically partner with local organizations to conduct outreach in underserved and rural communities.
FCDPH will also be able to offer Child Passenger Safety Technician (CPST) training and recertification courses through the grant.
The press release said data from Safe Kids Worldwide, a nonprofit dedicated to reducing preventable injuries among children, shows that there is a shortage of certified CPSTs in Fresno County. Within the county, which has a population of just over 1 million people, there are just 20 certified CPSTs, according to Safe Kids Worldwide. Five CPSTs are Spanish-speaking and two are Hmong-speaking.
Safe Kids Central California, a local coalition of Safe Kids Worldwide, reported a car seat misuse rate of 94% in 2024, down slightly from 97% in 2022, according to the press release.
“While efforts reduced the misuse rate, it remains far above the national average of 74%-78%,” the press release said.
Common issues in car seat misuse include improper installation methods in both forward- and rear-facing car seats for children ages 1-6 and the incorrect use of seatbelts compared to LATCH systems.
Safe Kids Central California is led by Valley Children’s Hospital. Its next car seat checkup events are scheduled for Feb. 26 in Clovis and March 14 in Fresno. The coalition also has CPST training scheduled for Feb. 3-6 in Clovis and for March 10-13 in Fresno.
According to the Safe Kids Worldwide website, the only child safety seat inspection station in Fresno County is located in Orange Cove at the Orange Cove Fire Protection District station.
For more information on the FCDPH Child Passenger Safety Program, call 559-600-3330.