This article presents an interview with Nancy Baer, manager of injury prevention programs for Contra Costa Health Services in the Community Wellness and Prevention Program in California. She is coordinating the implementation of the Child Passenger Safety Initiative for her agency. The Contra Costa system is very broad and comprehensive and, importantly for this program, includes a new hospital with an obstetric delivery unit and a nursery. It also has seven community clinics and a variety of prevention program aimed at young children. The program is in three parts: one, educating the medical and social work providers about child passenger safety; second is holding classes for parent and other caregivers on proper restraint use; third is follow up to see how well participants are complying. Referrals from health care providers, community outreach and a toll-free number are some of the ways they get participants. The biggest challenge is the fact that many families have their own transportation barriers so that it is not always possible to know when or if a car that a child will be riding in will have the proper restraint or booster seat.
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