SafetyBeltSafe U.S.A.

Background

Program Goals:

Through a number of services and initiatives, the program’s goal is to help reduce the number of serious and fatal traffic injuries suffered by children by promoting the correct and consistent use of safety seats and safety belts

Intent:

Unintentional

Risk Factors Addressed:

Child Passenger Safety

Place of occurrence:

Community

Age/Age Range:

Infants / Children

Resources

Year Developed:

1980

Collaborative Organization(s):

Numerous partnerships, affiliates and members, including members from local and international corporations (i.e., Nissan North America, American Honda, Allstate Insurance Company, Toyota Motor Sales USA, among others)
American law enforcement agencies 

Funding Resource(s):

independently funded through initiatives, contracts and grants

Implementation

Context/Setting

Community-based implementation

Strategies Used:

Evaluation, Education, Engineering, Enactment 

Activities Used:

Many initiatives in the area of child passenger safety including certification, check-ups, voucher programs and education;
Campaigns involve law enforcement, health services and community

Program Evaluation:

Programs have evaluations but are not controlled studies

Source of Best Practice:

Volpe, R., Lewko, J., & Battra, A. (2002). A Compendium of Effective, Evidence-Based Best Practices in Prevention of Neurotrauma. University of Toronto Press, Toronto.

Original Source:

SafetyBeltSafe U.S.A. (1998). Expanding the child passenger safety net. Project No. OP9914. Torrance, CA.

Supplementary Material:

Safe Ride Helpline : www.carseat.org

Local Example(s):

N/A 

Contact Information: 

Stephanie M. Tombrello, LCSW
Executive Director
SafetyBeltSafe U.S.A.
1124 W. Carson Street, REI, Bldg. B-4
Torrance, CA  90502
Telephone (310) 222-6860
Fax (310) 222-6862 

Outcomes

Long-term outcomes/Effectiveness:

Organization has had successes in many areas including legislation and regulation changes, design changes, improved assessment techniques, training programs and education 

Short-term outcomes:

Report on the first year of the 3-year plan indicated that program objectives that targeted levels of safety seat usage for infants and toddlers have been surpassed and that misuse levels are lower than the targeted reduction;
Objectives for education and enforcement have been met

Other

Date of Review:

2000

Classification:

Best Practice