Project Buckle Up-Buckle Up Rural St. Johns County

About the Program

Category: Criminal Justice and Public Safety (Best in Category)

Year: 2010

Project Buckle Up is a no-cost car seat inspection and installation service provided by nationally-certified technicians in the office of St. Johns County Tax Collector Dennis W. Hollingsworth, CFC. Since 2001, the no-cost car seat inspection and installation service has been available by appointment five days a week at all five branches of the Tax Collector’s office. The newest initiative, Buckle Up Rural St. Johns County, goes beyond the office appointment schedule and brings the program to the underserved rural and low-income populations through off-site fitting stations, community events and presentations to parents. Five government agencies support Project Buckle Up’s efforts in all areas of the county. For example, St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office and the St. Johns County Fire Rescue both refer citizens needing assistance with car seats to the program. New brochures were developed in-house and professionally printed by a local print shop. These brochures are placed in doctors’ offices, community partners’ offices, county libraries, target schools and daycare centers serving children residing in the target zip codes and distributed to prospective project participants at community events.