GRAND RAPIDS, MI – Families in need with children ages 5 and younger can now access free and safe car seats and portable cribs thanks to the county’s early childhood millage.
Officials with the Ready by Five millage announced last week that families with a child age 5 and younger and below 200% of the federal poverty level now have three ways to get free car seats and sleeping options for their children.
The programs will also provide education on safe sleeping and care seat safety.
“Proper safe sleep and car seat education is critical – it can be the difference between life or death,” said Emily VandenBos, the early childhood community coordinator for Family Futures. “We hope that we can make a difference in the lives of as many families as possible through this important effort.”
Sleep-related infant deaths are the leading cause of death among Michigan babies, according to the state. And motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for young children. Properly restrained children have a more than 50% greater chance of surviving a crash.
Family Futures, along with Bethany Christian Services and Cherry Health, are the three organizations chosen to receive millage funding to educate parents and provide them with cribs and car seats.
Families must have a child age 5 or younger and be below 200% of the federal poverty guidelines to be eligible for the programs.
According to the United States Department of Health and Human Services, 200% of the federal poverty guidelines are: $36,620 for a household of two, $46,060 for a household of three, $55,500 for a household of four and $64,940 for a household of five.
Below is a description of each of the three programs and how to receive help.
Bethany Christian Services will provide one-on-one parent safety education to cultural and language diverse families in the county, with a focus on safe sleep and car seat safety.
Bethany can provide portable cribs and car sets to eligible caregivers who receive the individual consultation and education and who can demonstrate the proper installation of car seats as well as infant safe sleep practices.
For questions about Bethany’s Child Safety Initiative program, call 616-240-7996.
Cherry Health’s Child Safety Passenger Program includes a 30-minute appointment where a team member will provide personalized instructions to families on how to properly use car seats and watch to ensure caregivers correctly install a car seat, convertible or booster seat.
The best way to reach out about the program is to email [email protected]. Cherry Health also offers additional resources for pregnant women and new mothers and their children, including Strong Beginnings and Maternal Infant Health Programs.
Family Futures is providing education to parents on safe sleep environments and automobile safety, as well as increasing the availability of safe sleep options and car seats for families unable to afford them. People can find out more about the program at this link.
The six-year, early childhood millage, called the Ready by Five Early Childhood Millage, was approved by voters on Nov. 6, 2018, and it generates about $5.7 million each year in funding for community-based early childhood programs for children ages 5 and younger.
Parents can find out more about resources and services offered with millage funding by visiting firststepskent.org/forparents.
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