Programs

During 2001, 2002 and 2003, DRIVE SMART Colorado Springs was the recipient of a three-year booster seat education and research grant from the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) to increase booster seat usage among children 4 years to 8 years old. Colorado Springs was chosen as the intervention community and Grand Junction Colorado was chosen as the control community. More than $100,000 was allocated to the area over the three years, for research, education and booster seat distribution.

Four unannounced booster seat observational surveys were conducted within the three year time-frame and after intense educational and distribution efforts, it was documented that the booster seat usage rate went from 11% to 20%,up to 39% and ending with a 47% booster seat usage rate.

Four focus groups occurred at two area elementary schools – two for children 5 – 8 years old, and two for parents of 5 – 8 year old children. The key points revealed in the focus groups were
o parents think that the law protects the kids
o booster seats are expensive and difficult to purchase and use
o kids said they would stay in booster seats longer if their parents made them and if they were cool

$33,000 worth of no-back and high-back booster seats was purchased to give away to the public over the three years, – representing over 900 free booster seats to date distributed in El Paso County primarily to under-served and low-income populations.

50,000 booster seat brochures were printed and distributed to hospitals, doctor’s offices, daycare centers, health and child centers on military bases, schools and other organizations that request such information. 12,000 brochures printed in Spanish were distributed.

Two separate two-month radio campaigns on 18 southern Colorado radio stations occurred. In each two-month segment over 3,400 radio spots promoting the importance of booster seat use were heard throughout southern Colorado.

A billboard campaign ran from December 25, 2001 – February 28, 2002 with 13 billboards and 12 illuminated shelters that were seen by approximately 262,800 people a day.

Colorado Springs held a Boost America event in August 2001 and gave away nearly 300 booster seats.

Hispanic and African American outreach included booths at the local Cinco De Mayo Festival and Juneteenth Celebrations where individuals received important education and a coupon good for one free booster seat. Also included at the booth was the safety belt convincer and other seat belt information for adults without kids. Additionally, presentations were made (and booster seats distributed) to families at several Spanish Speaking family nights in a low-income, diverse school district.

As a result of the influx of booster seats in DRIVE SMART Colorado Springs possession, DSCS was able to donate several-dozen booster seats to local military installations, the City-owned Hospital and social services organizations to assist them with their public in need of booster seats.

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