County Receives Grant for Child Safety Seat Education

Stanislaus County Health Services Agency will use California Office of Traffic Safety funds for car seat education, bicycle safety and helmet distribution through September 2027.

Updated on Nov. 11, 2026 in Children’s Health

Bold flat-color vector editorial illustration of an empty child car seat in an open car door, with a bicycle helmet hanging nearby against a golden farmland horizon. — Stanislaus County Health Services Agency will use a California Office of Traffic Safety grant through September 2027 to fund car seat check-ups, helmet distribution and bicycle safety training. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

Live Poll

Do you think child car seat and pedestrian safety in your area is improving?

The Stanislaus County Health Services Agency has received a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety to fund bicyclist, pedestrian and child passenger safety education. The grant programs run through September 2027.

Why it matters

The funding will support community car seat events, distribution of seats to families in need, and training of new child passenger safety technicians. Changes to California's child passenger safety law also take effect January 1, 2027.

Under current California law, children under age eight must ride in an appropriate car seat or booster in the back seat unless they are at least 4 feet 9 inches tall. The grant programs run through September 2027, and the total funding amount and expected number of families served were not stated.

The players

Stanislaus County Health Services Agency

The county public health agency that received the state grant and runs the bicycle, pedestrian and child safety education programs.

California Office of Traffic Safety

The state office that awarded the grant funding the county's bicycle, pedestrian and child safety seat education programs.

The details

Funding for the program came through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Services include free car seat check-up events, certified passenger safety technician courses, installation assistance, youth bicycle training, helmet fitting inspections and helmet distribution to children in need.

January 1, 2027: Changes to California's child passenger safety law take effect under Assembly Bill 435, incorporating the 5-Step Test.
September 2027: Grant programs end.

Health Landscape

The grant's child seat training and check-up events prepare Stanislaus County for the 5-Step Test that Assembly Bill 435 adds to California's child passenger safety law on January 1, 2027. That law sets the state's current baseline of car seats for children under eight and seat belt fit for taller children.

Parents and caregivers in California can use free car seat check-up events and installation help to confirm their child's restraint meets the state's age and height rules. Families who qualify may also receive a seat or bicycle helmet through the program.

The takeaway

Parents of children under eight should check that their child is in an appropriate car seat or booster in the back seat, since the state's height exemption applies only once a child is at least 4 feet 9 inches tall.