Infant Safety Classes | Child Safety Car Seat Program | Blue Ridge Safe Sleep Crib Program | Infant Feeding Resources | Improving Pregnancy Outcome (IPO) Workgroup
Infant Safety Classes
What
Free in-person comprehensive Infant Safety Class. Pre-registration is required. Topics to be covered include:
- Safe medication storage
- Choking hazard prevention
- Room-by-room home baby proofing
- American Heart Association (AHA) Friends & Family CPR (non-certification)
- Local and national resources
For Whom
These services are open to any new or expecting parents, grandparents, family members, or others who may be caring for newborns in our Health District.
Fees
None
When
Next class TBD
Child Safety Car Seat Program
What
Free car seats available to families who qualify. To receive a car seat, applicants attend a short class to learn the correct placement and use of the car seat.
For Whom
To apply, applicants must be:
- Eligible for Medicaid, WIC, SNAP, TANF, FAMIS or qualify by income
- Resident of Charlottesville, Albemarle, Fluvanna, Greene, Louisa, or Nelson
- Parent, legal guardian, or foster parent
Complete the application below and return to your local health department.
Application in English | Application in Spanish
Fees
None
Call
For general questions or more information about the Child Safety Car Seat Program, call MCH Coordinator Diane Sampson at 434-972-6241.
More Information
Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia Car Seat and Child Passenger Safety Videos
Brief videos reviewing seat installation tips and safety for rear facing, forward facing, and booster car seats.
English Car Seat and Child Passenger Safety Videos
Spanish Car Seat and Child Passenger Safety Videos
Safe Kid’s Worldwide Ultimate Car Seat Guide
Use your child’s date of birth or due date and weight to learn about choosing and installing the right type of car seat.
Ultimate Car Seat Guide in English
Guía Definitivade Asientos de Seguridad para Niños en español
Information on car seat safety, recalls, and Virginia laws
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration: Car Seats and Booster Seats
Safe Kids Worldwide: Car Seat Safety Tips and Product Recalls
VDH: Child Passenger Safety
Blue Ridge Safe Sleep Crib Program
What
The Blue Ridge Safe Sleep Program is a community effort to educate parents and caregivers on the importance of safe sleep in the prevention of SIDS and SUID. A limited number of cribs are available by agency referral to households meeting income guidelines.
Cribettes are for babies under 6 months and weighing 30 pounds or less. The cribette has a bassinet attachment for babies under 15 pounds.
Eligibility
- Be a parent, legal guardian, or foster parent of a child under the age of 6 months
- A resident of Charlottesville/Albemarle, Louisa, Greene, Nelson, or Fluvanna
- Financially eligible or participating in Medicaid, WIC, SNAP, SSI or TANF
- Apply through a referring agency or through your local health department
- Available for review of safe sleep guidelines and crib safety education session
Fees
None
Call
For general questions or more information about the Safe Sleep Program, call MCH Coordinator Diane Sampson at 434-972-6241.
Safe Sleep Links
For parents: The Safe Sleep Academy from Cribs for Kids has short videos on a range of sleep topics, including baby safety and what to expect from your baby’s ages and stages.
For parents and providers: Learn more about SIDS/SUID and access free patient education materials in a variety of languages and formats through the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Safe to Sleep Campaign and Virginia Department of Health (VDH) Safe Sleep Virginia website.
For information on recalls of cribs, baby seats, and other infant care items visit the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission website.
Infant Feeding Resources
Improving Pregnancy Outcome (IPO) Workgroup
Community coalition coordinating efforts to reduce infant mortality/morbidity and associated racial disparities in the greater-Charlottesville area.
Past community collaborative projects include:
- Baby basics community education through a March of Dimes Grant
- Creation of a Perinatal Resource Guide
- Postpartum depression and anxiety training sessions for area perinatal professionals
Meetings are held quarterly via Zoom.
For more information or to join us contact Diane Sampson or call 434-972-6241.
More Information
VDH Maternal and Child Health Services Title V Block Grant
Listening to the Living project team is charged with developing local action plans to address racial disparity in maternal health and birth outcomes.