Lowndes Health Department Receives Car Seat Mini-Grant to Boost Child Safety Initiatives

Lowndes County has exciting news! The Lowndes County Health Departments recently received the 2025 Car Seat Mini-Grant from the Georgia Department of Public Health. This grant is an important part of the state’s Injury Prevention Program.

With this funding, the health department can conduct car seat safety education classes and distribute car seats to families who qualify. This initiative, backed by the Governor’s Office of Highway Safety, aims to keep our children safe while traveling in vehicles.

The impact of this program has been significant. Since 2007, the education and car seats provided through this Mini-Grant have saved over 460 children in Georgia from serious injuries or even death in crashes. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, using car seats can lower the risk of fatal injuries by 71% for infants and 54% for toddlers aged 1 to 4. But there’s a catch—most car seats aren’t used or installed correctly. In fact, nearly 75% of car seats have mistakes that could put kids at risk.

Valeka Carter, a Certified Child Passenger Safety Technician, emphasizes, “Keeping our children safe is a top priority. The Car Seat Mini-Grant is a great way to help families in our community and reduce the chances of serious injuries in car accidents.”

The health department team collaborates with parents and caregivers to teach the right way to install and use car seats. They also offer car seat checks and provide seats to those in need. Thanks to the Car Seat Mini-Grant, agencies in over 135 counties in Georgia are working together to ensure that kids are safe in vehicles on every trip.

The Lowndes County Health Department hosts car seat safety classes every month. If you’re interested in learning more or want to sign up for a class, you can call them at 229-333-5257.