Fresno County Wins Grant to Expand Child Car Seat Safety

Fresno County took a significant step toward improving child vehicle safety when the Department of Public Health received a $187,317 grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety. The grant covers activities from October 2025 through September 2026 and will fund an expansion of the county’s Child Passenger Safety Program to distribute free car seats, host car-seat inspection and education events, and offer Child Passenger Safety Technician (CPST) training and recertification.

County officials plan to focus outreach on underserved neighborhoods and rural areas where access to safety resources is limited. The effort will also prioritize Spanish- and Hmong-speaking communities, where the number of certified CPSTs is currently low. Building local capacity for language-accessible training and inspections aims to make correct car-seat installation and safe child transport more accessible across Fresno County.

The need for the program is stark. Data from Safe Kids Central California show a very high car-seat misuse rate locally, about 94 percent in 2024. High misuse increases the risk that children will not be protected effectively in crashes. The grant-funded activities are intended to reduce misuse by combining distribution of appropriate seats with hands-on instruction and professional inspections.

Operational plans include scheduled inspection events where families can have seats checked and learn correct installation techniques, plus partnerships with community organizations to reach families who face transportation, language, or economic barriers. The county will provide CPST training and recertification to increase the number of certified technicians available locally. Certified technicians are trained to evaluate installations, recommend the correct seat for a child’s age and size, and teach caregivers how to secure seats and belts properly.

For Fresno County residents, the program promises practical benefits: eligible families can receive free car seats, caregivers can get one-on-one guidance, and more local technicians will be available for follow-up help. By focusing on equity and language access, the initiative targets communities at higher risk of misuse and limited service.

The grant period runs through September 2026, during which the county and partners will roll out inspection events and training. The program aims to reduce the high misuse rate and strengthen long-term community capacity to keep children safer on Fresno County roads.