First Step Family Support Center has been awarded a $5,000 grant from the Washington Traffic Safety Commission to add the Child Passenger Safety Program to its menu of services designed to promote the healthy development of children and families in Clallam County.

Qualifying Clallam County families in need of new and safe car seats for their children are eligible for this program. Pregnant women on Medicaid and families whose children are on Apple Health are encouraged to apply for a free car seat.

About 70 car seats will be distributed and, those who do receive car seats will be trained on how to properly install, maintain and use them.

“We at First Step believe that parents are their child’s first and most important, teacher, protector, and advocate,” said Nita Lynn, First Step’s executive director.

In the United States during 2011, more than 650 children ages 12 years and younger died in motor vehicle crashes, and more than 148,000 were injured, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Participating low-income families will receive a convertible car seat to be used as a rear-facing seat for infants until the child faces the front and is 65 pounds. “These car seats typically retail for around $100, which is a significant investment for struggling families,” Lynn said.

For more information about this program or First Step, call 457-8355.