Guide to Free and Low-cost Car Seats in Hennepin County

Guide to Free and Low-cost Car Seats in Hennepin County Source Eligibility Requirements MinnesotaCare Program or Medical Assistance Blue Plus Program members who are at least six months pregnant or are children ages birth to 24 months How it Works Eligible members can call customer service to receive a voucher, which is redeemable for a car seat at various stores in the Twin Cities. Contact Information Blue Cross Blue Shield Customer Service at 651-662-5545 Medica Choice Care or Medica MinnesotaCare members (ID numbers beginning with 59) who are at least six months pregnant or are children ages birth to 24 months Medica Choice Care Medica MinnesotaCare MHP Medical Assistance, General Assistance and MinnesotaCare members who are at least six months pregnant or are children who weigh under 40 pounds When members call Medica Customer Service, they will be referred to the Minnesota Visiting Nurse Agency (MVNA), which will provide a car seat at no cost and instruct parents on its proper use. Medica also provides a free video in English, on proper car-seat use if a visit with a MVNA nurse is not possible. Medica Customer Service English: Spanish: Hmong: Somali: Russian: Vietnamese: 952-992-2322 952-992-2297 952-992-2296 952-992-2260 952-992-2294 952-992-2295 Eligible parents will be referred to a child passenger safety class, where parents/guardians will receive instruction and education on proper car-seat use. At the end of the class, parents will be issued a convertible car seat. A public health nurse from the MVNA will deliver a free convertible car seat to enrollees' homes and instruct them on its proper use. Limit one car seat per member per lifetime. Shereese McIntosh, MHP at 612-347-4894 UCare Minnesota members who are pregnant women or children under 40 pounds MVNA at 612-617-4700 or UCare Customer Service at 612-676-3200 or 1-800-203-7225 This information was compiled by the Hennepin County Community Health Department and was accurate as of October 2003. More Source Eligibility Requirements Low-income families in Hennepin County who use the HCMC system or related clinics. Families must qualify for Medical Assistance, MinnesotaCare or have no health insurance. How it Works The Family Safety Resource Center provides education on child passenger safety and provides car seats to eligible families. A parent or caregiver must attend the child passenger safety class to receive a car seat. Contact Information Car-seat classes are offered by appointment only. Contact HCMC’s Family Safety Resource Center at 612-347-3682. HCMC Family Safety Resource Center Hispanic and Latino families living in the metro area This program distributes free convertible car seats to eligible UCare and MHP members, and helps other Latino families access seats. Instruction and materials available only for Spanish-speaking families. Infant-only car seats are available for purchase from the Family Resource Center. With the purchase of any seat, parents receive education about its proper use. Jessie Kemmick at 612-874-1412 Must be a patient of Children’s Hospitals and Clinics Services are available by appointment only. Contact the Family Resource Center, Children’s Hospitals and Clinics at 612-813-6816 Services are available by appointment only. Contact the SAFE KIDS Northwest Metro Minneapolis Coalition, North Memorial Medical Center at 763-520-4287 Available to the public during scheduled car-seat inspections or by individual appointment Convertible car seats and booster seats are available for purchase. With the purchase of any seat, parents receive education about its installation and proper use. Helpful Resources Web sites www.buckleupkids.state.mn.us Information about car seats, car-seat recalls, order forms for brochures and a schedule of car-seat check-up events www.nhtsa.dot.gov/people/injury/childps/index.cfm Helpful guidelines about proper car-seat use, types of car seats, car-seat training and more Brochures A variety of child passenger-safety brochures are available in English, Spanish and Somali. Call the Minnesota Child Passenger Safety Program at 651-215-9093. These materials are also available online at www.buckleupkids.state.mn.us. This information was compiled by the Hennepin County Community Health Department and was accurate as of October 2003.