New initiative helps families safely bring their newborns home
Every newborn deserves a safe first ride home.
That’s the idea behind First Ride Home, a new initiative from Interlakes Area United Way (IAUW). The program helps families in Lake, Miner and Moody counties safely transport their newborns home from the hospital.
First Ride Home provides eligible families with an infant travel system—including an infant car seat, base and stroller—along with one-on-one child passenger safety education and installation guidance from a Certified Child Passenger Safety Technician.
“First Ride Home was created to meet a specific need for local families,” said IAUW Executive Director Karen Giles. “It complements South Dakota’s existing Child Safety Seat Distribution Program by providing an infant travel system that helps families safely transport their newborn home while giving them equipment they’ll continue to use every day.”
Families may qualify if they:
- Live in Lake, Miner or Moody County;
- Receive services from a participating healthcare provider; and
- Participate in an eligible income-based assistance program such as WIC, Medicaid, CHIP, SNAP, Head Start or Child Care Assistance.
Madison Regional Health System is the inaugural participating healthcare provider, helping launch the program and establish a model that can be expanded to additional healthcare organizations throughout the region.
Our goal is to give every family the knowledge and confidence to keep their baby safe,” said Claire Gors, Community Health Worker at Madison Regional Health System. “First Ride Home allows us to pair education with the right equipment and gives us the opportunity to support qualifying families with a resource that has a lasting impact on their baby’s health and safety.”
Madison Ace Hardware serves as the local supplier for the travel systems, helping to ensure equipment is available when families need it.
“We’re proud to play a small part in helping local families. It’s rewarding to know that something we provide can help give a newborn a safer start and strengthen our community,” said Bert Behrens, store manager of Madison Ace Hardware.
First Ride Home reflects United Way’s commitment to building a Healthy Community while helping families overcome barriers during one of life’s biggest milestones.
By bringing together healthcare providers, local businesses and community supporters, the program demonstrates how collaboration can strengthen community resiliency and give every child a safe start.
Community members, businesses and organizations interested in supporting the program through donations or sponsorships are encouraged to contact IAUW at 605-270-1596.
Pictured from left to right: IAUW board member Stormy Mette, Executive Director Karen Giles, board members Lori Gustaf, Scott Shewey and Carolyn Galvin, MRHS Community Health Worker Claire Gors, MRHS Certified Child Passenger Safety Technician Emily Hofman, Ace Hardware Operations Manager Lofton Covington, and Manager Bert Behrens.