The funding will support free car seat inspections, installation assistance, educational classes and community events aimed at helping parents and caregivers properly secure children in vehicles. Photo courtesy of National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

YUBA CITY, CA (MPG) - The Sutter County Children & Families Commission has received a $194,000 grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety to expand child passenger safety education and provide car seats to families in need.

The funding will support free car seat inspections, installation assistance, educational classes and community events aimed at helping parents and caregivers properly secure children in vehicles.

The commission will also use the grant to distribute child safety seats to qualifying families and train additional child passenger safety technicians.

“We are grateful to the California Office of Traffic Safety for this continued investment in the safety of Sutter County’s youngest residents,” said Dr. Michele Blake, executive director of the Sutter County Children & Families Commission.

“This funding allows us to provide parents and caregivers with hands-on education, car seat installation assistance and access to appropriate child safety seats when needed,” Blake said. “Our goal is to give families the knowledge, resources and confidence to know their child is riding as safely as possible every time they get in the vehicle.”

The program comes as California prepares to implement changes to its child passenger safety laws on Jan. 1, 2027.

Under current state law, children younger than 8 must ride in an appropriate car seat or booster seat in the back seat unless they are at least 4 feet, 9 inches tall.

Beginning in January, Assembly Bill 435 will incorporate a five-step test to help determine whether a vehicle's seat belt properly fits a child.

The commission plans to work with local organizations to offer car seat safety events, particularly in communities where children face greater risks from improper or missing safety restraints.

The program will also provide parents and caregivers with instruction on selecting, installing and using appropriate child safety seats.

“Keeping children as safe as possible inside the vehicle is our top priority,” Office of Traffic Safety Director Stephanie Dougherty said. “By investing in programs that help families learn how to use car seats and boosters properly, we’re giving parents and caregivers the knowledge and peace of mind that their children are riding safely.”

The grant program will continue through September 2027.

Funding comes from the California Office of Traffic Safety through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.