Free Car Seats Ensure Safety for Lander’s Youngest Residents

The Lander office of the Child Development Services of Fremont County, which is interested in the health and well-being of all children in the county, recently discovered that no one in the county is providing car seats for families who cannot afford them, leading to unsafe transportation options for young children. CDS has seen several families already this year who would benefit from a new car seat, and have scrambled among themselves to find appropriately sized car seats. But staff knew this wasn’t a lasting solution, so they came up with another one: Purchase about 100 car seats and provide them to families who otherwise could not afford them. All recipients of the car seats will also receive a free developmental screening for children under the age of five. CDS will work with local medical providers, daycares, preschools and church organizations, and the Division of Family Services to educate Lander residents about the availability of the car seats. Families will return the car seats when their children outgrow them, and if they are not expired they may be used for another family. This service, available to all Lander families needing a car seat, just needed a little help from LOR to launch. LOR’s funding will help with the purchase of about 100 car seats.