Car Seat Information
BACKGROUND
In Q1 of 2022, Little Hands had to stop car seat distribution because we simply couldn’t keep up with demand – both from a supply standpoint (we couldn’t find low cost, quality options in bulk and have them delivered fast enough) and budget standpoint. Over the last three months, we have been able to identify new funding to assist with providing car seats when it is not possible to get one through VDH; however that funding is still not yet enough to fully start providing car seats again.
Car seat availability through the Virginia Department of Health’s Low Income Safety Seat program continues to be inconsistent, particularly in certain localities. And, in areas where the program is available, the required safety class is in short supply. Little Hands is exploring becoming an official provider of car seats through VDH’s LISS program.
In the meantime, we want to share the following resources and steps to take to try to obtain a car seat for your client/patient.
Process:
1) Confirm eligibility of parent to receive a car seat through the LISS program.
2) Parent should call closest local health district office (details on who to call are below, broken out by locality). We encourage you to make a note of the date and time the call is placed so we can help facilitate the parent getting a car seat if they run into problems.
3) If parent has not received a response from their closest office within 48 hours, follow the other steps under their respective locality below. Please also notify Ashley Raggi with Little Hands that the parent has not heard back from their local health district office as we are in regular communication with VDH and the local health district offices about car seat status.
4) If the family needs a car seat immediately or does not qualify through VDH, partners should contact Ashley Raggi at Little Hands about availability of a car seat from our organization.
Residents of Richmond Henrico Health District (Richmond & Henrico)
If the family lives in Richmond or Henrico, a parent should call [PHONE NUMBER] to register for a car seat through the LISS program from Richmond Henrico Health District. Please note that mom must be in her third trimester (or the baby have been born) to be eligible for a car seat. If she meets this requirement, the Richmond Henrico Health District will register her and get her signed up for car seat safety class.
Alternatively, at this link we have compiled a list of community centers in the city of Richmond that provide car seats.
Residents of Chesterfield Health District (Chesterfield)
If the family lives in Chesterfield, a parent should call [PHONE NUMBER] to register for a car seat through teh LISS program from Chesterfield Health Distrcit. Please note that mom must be in her third trimester (or the baby have been born) to be eligible for a car seat. If she meets this requirement, the Chesterfield Health District will register her and get her signed up for car seat safety class.
As of 6/15/22, it is our understanding that proof of residency does not have to be citizenship or a driver’s license, and can be another form of verification, however we have heard from partners that families have run into roadblocks with this. Please track date and time the call is placed by you or the parent so we can help facilitate a car seat if they run into this issue.
Alternatively, at this link we have compiled a list of community centers in the city of Richmond that provide car seats.
Residents of Chickahominy Health District (Hanover, New Kent, Goochland & Charles City)
The required car seat safety class is in much shorter supply for these localities. Families in the Chickahominy Health District can use this map to identify the closest distribution site to their residence. As of 6/15/22, the Hanover site was offering the most safety classes for families.
Residents of Crater Health District (Dinwiddie, Emporia, Greensville, Hopewell, Petersburg, Prince George, Sussex & Surry)
As of 6/15/22, car seat safety classes were in short supply in this health district. We encourage you or the parent to call the Chesterfield office to register for the LISS program and attend a car seat safety class in Chesterfield County.
Please use this map if you would like to try calling the local health office first.