first ride home
Helping families bring baby home safely
First Ride Home is an infant transportation safety program from Interlakes Area United Way (IAUW). The program provides qualifying families in Lake, Miner, and Moody counties with infant travel systems and child passenger safety education to help ensure every newborn has a safe first ride home.
The program complements the existing South Dakota Department of Social Services Child Safety Seat Distribution Program by expanding access to infant travel systems, including an infant carrier, base, and stroller.
It’s made possible in collaboration with participating healthcare providers in Lake, Miner and Moody counties and Ace Hardware in Madison.
Families whose needs are best met with an infant travel systems may receive equipment, education and support at no cost through First Ride Home.
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.
What is included?
Each travel system includes:
- Infant car seat base
- Car seat base
- Stroller
- Child passenger safety education
- Installation guidance
Who qualifies?
You may qualify if you:
- Live in Lake, Miner or Moody County, SD
- Receive services through a participating healthcare provider
- Participate in one of the following programs: WIC, Child Care Assistance, Head Start, Medicaid, SNAP, or CHIP
*Eligibility is based on self-declaration consistent with the South Dakota Child Safety Seath Program guidelines.
How it works
- Ask your healthcare provider about First Ride Home
- Complete a simple application
- Meet with a Certified Child Passenger Safety Technician to receive passenger safety education
- Take your baby home safely in the infant travel system