| Program development and cultural issues |
The program used the Safe Communities model. It was developed from standardized educational programs, adapted to the Hispanic community, and was further modified on the basis of results from 6 community focus groups. Activities were conducted in Spanish and in English. Classes were taught by certified child passenger safety technicians who were bilingual. Activities addressed issues of importance to the community other than child safety restraints. |
| Health center |
Classes were held biweekly. Parents were required to attend an hour-long training class on proper use and installation before receiving a child safety seat. Parents were not denied a seat if they were unable to pay the $10 deposit. Pediatricians at the health center promoted child safety seat use by distributing “prescriptions” for proper child safety seat use to patients. Class instructors also participated in health fairs and special events sponsored by the health center, distributed pamphlets about child safety seat and seat belt use, and conducted child safety seat inspections and demonstrations. |
| Day care centers |
A week-long intervention for children, parents, and day care staff included a presentation by a Hispanic policewoman, seat belt demonstrations, coloring contests, child safety seat training for day care center employees, and traffic safety workshops for parents. It emphasized the importance of seat belt use by parents as well as use of child safety seats. A second intervention involved hiring 3 local mothers as liaisons to promote child safety seat use over a 9-week period in 5 day care centers. Liaisons were responsible for developing an ongoing relationship with the day care centers and implementing interventions tailored to the centers' needs and interests. Strategies developed by the liaisons included information booths, raffles, and games designed to promote child safety seat use. |
| Neighborhoods |
Interventions implemented in several neighborhoods in the target area included neighborhood block parties, health fairs, child safety seat inspections, traffic safety workshops, and delivery of educational messages at local festivals. The traffic safety workshops included information about vehicle safety, driver's license and traffic laws, immigration and social security laws, and proper installation and use of child safety seats. At local schools, churches, and other neighborhood events, a Hispanic policewoman held classes in Spanish and English for parents and children to explain child safety laws and procedures. Educational pamphlets were distributed at churches, community centers, and local botanicas. |
| Evaluation |
Child restraint surveys were performed by trained observers, using survey forms developed by the Texas Transportation Institute. The target-area sites were a community health center, day care centers, and grocery store parking lots. The comparison-area sites were day care centers and shopping centers in other parts of the city. |
