The Car Seat Safety Clinic & Workshop aims to reduce risks associated with motor vehicle safety for AI/AN children by educational intervention, installation and distribution of car/booster seats. - Car Seat Safety Program- An Injury Prevention Program The Sacramento Native American Health Center (SNAHC) seeks $40,000 in funding through the Indian Health Service (IHS) Tribal Injury Prevention Cooperative Agreement Program (TIPCAP) Part II to establish a focused and sustainable Tribal Injury Prevention Program aimed at improving child passenger safety among American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) community members in the Sacramento region. Motor vehicle–related injuries remain one of the leading causes of unintentional injury and death among AI/AN populations nationwide, with rates significantly higher than those observed among other racial and ethnic groups. Within Sacramento County, these disparities are compounded by limited access to culturally relevant injury prevention resources and education. As an Urban Indian Health Organization (UIHO) and Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) serving approximately 9,000 patients annually, SNAHC is uniquely positioned to integrate child passenger safety education into routine care for AI/AN families. The Car Seat Safety Program will operationalize a structured, Child Passenger Safety Technician (CPST)-aligned workflow within prenatal and pediatric encounters to identify caregivers in need of safety education, installation support, and access to age-appropriate car and booster seats. Eligible families will receive culturally tailored educational materials developed specifically for AI/AN parents and caregivers, hands-on installation verification, and car or booster seats when eligible. The program’s first-year goals include certifying two Medical Assistants as CPSTs, implementing a standardized screening and referral process within the proposed prenatal program and pediatric visits, and reaching at least 75 AI/AN families through clinical encounters and community workshops, increasing access to car and booster seats, and complying with the IHS reporting and submission requirements. SNAHC will track participation, car seat distribution, and participant survey data to evaluate progress, measure outcomes, and guide continuous improvement. Expected outcomes include increased rates of correct child restraint use and greater caregiver knowledge of passenger safety practices among AI/AN families. The program will be implemented under the leadership of SNAHC’s Medical Department, with technical guidance from certified CPST staff and support from community health educators. Long-term sustainability will be achieved by embedding car seat education into standard prenatal and pediatric workflows, ensuring that child passenger safety remains a routine component of preventive care. SNAHC has extensive experience implementing public health, prevention, and wellness initiatives tailored to the cultural values and needs of the AI/AN community. Through its multidisciplinary health education, outreach, and data teams, SNAHC is well-equipped to deliver high-quality, community-driven prevention programs. Strong partnerships with Tribal and community partners further position SNAHC to ensure the success and sustainability of this initiative. This project will advance IHS TIPCAP goals by increasing equitable access to safety resources, strengthening community capacity, and promoting sustained improvements in child passenger safety among urban AI/AN families.
