- January 28, 2025
- 5 min read
In West Marin, families with young children face unique transportation challenges. Hours spent driving on winding, hazardous roads are a daily reality. Yet, many families struggle to afford car seats—costing $50 to over $300—or to access the knowledge needed to use them properly.
The Car Seats for West Marin Kids program addresses these barriers by providing free car seats, bilingual installation support, and culturally responsive training. But it’s more than a resource—it’s a model for addressing systemic inequities with solutions tailored to the needs of West Marin families.
A Collaborative Solution
Romo brought this concern to the West Marin Early Learning Collaborative Action Network (ELCAN), a cross-sector group convened by Marin Promise Partnership to address systemic barriers to early learning in West Marin. Together, partners developed Car Seats for West Marin Kids—a program designed to eliminate cost barriers, provide hands-on support, and address the community’s unique needs.
The vision became reality when partners worked alongside community members to secure $75,000 in funding through Marin County’s Participatory Budgeting grant. This democratic process empowered residents to decide how a portion of the public budget would be spent. By voting to prioritize Car Seats for West Marin Kids, the community affirmed a shared vision for a thriving, safer future where all children have the resources and opportunities they need to grow, learn, and thrive.
Building Bridges of Trust
For some families, systemic barriers—like limited bilingual resources or distrust of law enforcement—made accessing car seat support difficult. Typically, car seat safety checks are conducted by law enforcement, which can feel intimidating to families. To remove these barriers, partners developed a bilingual training course at the San Geronimo Valley Community Center, training Promotores—respected community members deeply embedded in West Marin’s neighborhoods—as child safety seat technicians. This shift ensured safety checks would be accessible, culturally responsive, and rooted in trust.
In November 2024, Car Seats for West Marin Kids hosted its first Car Seat Check and Giveaway event at the Dance Palace in Point Reyes Station. Fourteen free car seats were distributed, along with installation demonstrations and safety information for families. The Marin County Free Library’s Learning Bus entertained children, creating a fun and welcoming environment that underscored the program’s community-centered approach.
More Than Car Seats: A Foundation for Equity
Car Seats for West Marin Kids has shifted how safety checks are delivered, created local expertise through bilingual training, and established a collaborative model for addressing rural transportation challenges. These changes show how community-driven efforts do more than solve individual problems—they transform systems.
Safe, reliable transportation is not just about getting from point A to point B; it’s essential for educational equity. For children in West Marin, it means consistent access to school, early learning programs, and community activities. By addressing barriers to transportation safety, Car Seats for West Marin Kids ensures that all children have the opportunity to learn, grow, and thrive—laying the foundation for lifelong success.
Stay tuned for future car seat events and opportunities to support this inspiring work!
