El Paso Health is continuing its longstanding partnership with University Medical Center Foundation of El Paso (UMCF) with a $60,000 sponsorship to support the El Paso Health Car Seat Safety Program for 2026–2027.
Now entering its 13th year, the program provides El Paso families with access to free car seats, child passenger safety education, and hands-on installation assistance. This year also marks 10 years of partnership between El Paso Health and UMCF in supporting the program and its mission to help children travel safely.
Representatives from El Paso Health and UMCF recently came together for a check presentation recognizing the continued partnership and investment. The event also included an outdoor car seat installation demonstration and community partners sharing additional resources available to families.
“We have joined the UMC Foundation in support of the Car Seat Safety program for ten years now. El Paso Health is always committed to hosting installation events, and our staff volunteers are always at the ready to help families with this critical step in keeping their kids safe in the car,” said El Paso Health President and CEO Carol Smallwood. “As El Paso’s only local health plan, we delight in this partnership and the impact it has on El Pasoans.”
El Paso Health’s $60,000 sponsorship will help UMCF continue offering free monthly car seat safety events throughout the community while supporting the purchase of car seats for families in need. Funding will support both conventional child restraint systems and specialized car seats for children with special needs who cannot safely travel in a conventional car seat. At monthly events, trained Child Passenger Safety Technicians work directly with parents and caregivers to help determine the appropriate car seat for a child’s age, height, and weight. Families also receive hands-on instruction on how to properly install and use their child’s car seat.
“Keeping children safe on the road starts with making sure they are properly secured every time they travel. We are grateful to El Paso Health for continuing to invest in child passenger safety and for partnering with us to help families feel confident that their children are traveling as safely as possible,” said UMCF Program Director Carolyn Williams. “Together, we are strengthening child passenger safety in our community and helping protect El Paso’s youngest passengers.”
Over the last year alone, the El Paso Health Car Seat Safety Program served 455 families with car seat installation instruction and child passenger safety education. During that time, 768 children were evaluated for safe travel and 667 car seats were provided to children in need.
The program’s impact also extends to children preparing to leave the hospital. In addition to the seats distributed through community events, 85 conventional car seats and 26 specialized car seats for children with special needs were provided to patients who needed an appropriate child restraint system to safely travel home following discharge.
El Paso County Hospital District President and CEO Jacob Cintron emphasized the importance of ensuring families have access to both education and the resources necessary to protect their children.
“Every child deserves to travel safely. This program has helped El Paso families access the education and resources they need to better protect their children on the road. By helping families understand the importance of proper car seat use and providing them with the resources they need, we are helping make every trip safer for children across El Paso,” said Cintron.
Motor vehicle crashes remain a leading cause of preventable death and injury among children in the United States, making proper car seat selection, installation, and use an important part of protecting young passengers.
Through the continued support of El Paso Health, UMCF can provide families with the tools, education, and resources they need to make safer choices every time their children are on the road.
The 2026–2027 program year kicked off with National Seat Check Saturday on September 26 at the El Paso Children’s Multispecialty Center.
For more information about the El Paso Health Car Seat Safety Program, upcoming free car seat safety events, and available resources, visit the link below.
https://umcfoundationelpaso.org/programs/el-paso-health-car-seat-safety-program
University Medical Center Foundation of El Paso is the designated 501(c)(3) charitable organization for University Medical Center of El Paso. The Foundation supports healthcare services across the Southwest Border Region through philanthropic and charitable resources. Through the generosity of donors and community partners, UMCF helps support programs, equipment, services, and initiatives that strengthen healthcare throughout the El Paso community.
El Paso Health is the region’s only locally owned and operated nonprofit managed care organization. Established by the El Paso County Hospital District more than 20 years ago, El Paso Health works to improve access to high-quality medical care for residents of El Paso and Hudspeth Counties. Through its health plans, provider network, and partnerships with local organizations, El Paso Health serves nearly 100,000 members throughout the region.
