Circuit Court works with local churches and clinics to save children's lives

Press Release |

Cook County Chief Judge Timothy C. Evans today announced that the court will again participate in a public awareness campaign involving more than 50 local churches and 16 public health clinics to highlight the proper use of child safety seats. This campaign coincides with National Child Passenger Safety Week, which begins today and continues through February 17.

"Most parents and caregivers understand the importance of child passenger safety," said Chief Judge Evans. "However, much still needs to be done to raise awareness and getting the word out is the key."

To increase public awareness, the court has asked religious leaders to speak to church members after services about the need to be vigilant in using child safety seats properly. The court is also providing the churches and local health clinics with a variety of free informational publications and materials on child safety seats. Materials offered include camera-ready art, drop in articles and fact sheets for use in church bulletins, handouts, or for display. All materials are available in both English and Spanish. Churches and clinics are also being given the opportunity to sign-up for the court’s quarterly newsletter, Drive Wise, Stay Alive.

Traffic crashes are the number one cause of death and injury for children after the first year of life. Each year, 1,700 children die and almost 300,000 are injured in motor vehicle crashes. This terrible loss of life transcends all ethnic and racial boundaries. According to Judge Patrick E. McGann, Chairperson of the Circuit Court of Cook County Community Safety Initiatives, "Many people believe that their children are properly buckled in their child safety seats. However, data from actual inspections show that 80 percent of those children are improperly restrained. These cold facts indicate a great need for education."

The Circuit Court of Cook County Community Safety Initiatives receives grant funding from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration through the Illinois Department of Transportation, Division of Traffic Safety. For more information regarding the Community Safety Initiatives, call the Circuit Court of Cook County’s Chicago Traffic Center at 312-603-2597.

Below is a listing of churches and clinics participating in National Child Passenger Safety Week

2003 Parish Partnerships National Child Passenger Safety Week 
Bethelhem Unity M.B. Church, 565 West Madison Street, Chicago, IL 60644 
Bethsaida M. B. Church, 5660 South Sangamon, Chicago, IL 60621 
Central M. B. Church, 9155 South Ashland Avenue, Chicago, IL 60620 
Cornerstone Presbyterian Church, 11200 S. State Street, Chicago, IL 60628 
Evening Star M.B. Church, 4235 S. Cottage Grove, Chicago, IL 60653 
First Church of Deliverance, 4301 S. Wabash Avenue, Chicago, IL 60653 
God First Ministries, P.O. Box 490293, Chicago, IL 60649
Greater Union Baptist Church, 1956 W. Warren Boulevard, Chicago, Il 60612 
Hartzell Memorial United Methodist Church, 3330 S. Dr. M.L. King Drive, Chicago, IL 60616 
Health Advocacy Project of Little Village, 3047 W. Cermak Road, Chicago, IL 60623 
Holy Innocents Church, 743 N. Amour Street, Chicago, IL 60622 
Life Center Church of God in Christ, 5500 S. Indiana, Chicago, Il 60637 
Maranatha Church of God in Christ, 6841 S. State Street, Chicago, IL 60637 
Mt. Vernon Church, 3555 W. Huron, Chicago, IL 60624 
New Covenant Life Church, 514 E. 95th Street, Chicago, IL 60619 
Notre Dame de Chicago, 1335 West Harrison Street, Chicago, IL 60607 
Our Lady of Guadalupe Church, 3200 E. 91st Street, Chicago, IL 60617 
Our Lady Mother of the Church, 8747 West Lawrence Avenu., Chicago, IL 60656 
Peoples Church of the Harvest, 3570 W. Fifth Avenue, Chicago, IL 60624 
Precious Blood Catholic Church, 2411 West Congress Parkway, Chicago, IL 60612 
Queen of the Universe Church, 7114 South Hamilton, Chicago, IL 60629 
St. Adrian, 7000 South Fairfield Avenue, Chicago, IL 60629 
St. Bede the Venerable Church, 8200 South Kostner, Chicago, IL 60652 
St. Daniel the Prophet Church, 5330 South Nashville, Chicago, Il 60638 
St. Hyacinth, 3636 West Wolfram, Chicago, Il 60618 
St. Killian Catholic Church, 8725 South May Street, Chicago, IL 60620 
St. Ladislaus, 5345 West Roscoe Street, Chicago, IL 60641 
St. Mary of the Woods School, 7033 North Moselle, Chicago, IL 60646 
St. Mary Star of the Sea, 6424 South Kenneth, Chicago, Il 60629 
St. Matthias Parish, 2310 West Ainslie , Chicago, IL 60625
St. Michael Church, 1633 North Cleveland, Chicago, IL 60614 
St. Robert Bellarmine, 4646 North Austin Avenue, Chicago, IL 60630 
St. Thaddeus Catholic Church, 9540 South Harvard, Chicago, IL 60628 
St. Timothy Church, 6326 North Washtenaw, Chicago, IL 60659
St. William Parish, 2600 North Sayre , Chicago, IL 60707 
Third Baptist Church, 1551 West 95th Street, Chicago, IL 60643 
Vernon Park Church of God, 9011 Stony Island, Chicago, IL 60617 
Westside Ministers Coalition, 4540 West Washington Boulevard, Chicago, IL 60625 

2003 Clinic Partnerships National Child Passenger Safety Week 
Christ Hospital - Hope Children’s Hospital 440 West 95th Street Oak Lawn, IL John H. Stroger, Jr. Children’s Hospital, Fantus Clinic 621 South Winchester, Chicago, IL 
Cook County Department of Public Health- Central, 1010 Lake Street, Suite 300, Oak Park, IL 
Dept of Public Health- North, Rolling Meadow Courthouse, 2121 Euclid, Rolling Meadows, IL 
Cook County Department of Public Health- South, Markham Courthouse, 16501 South Kedzie Parkway, Markham, IL
Cook County Department of Public Health- Southwest, Bridgeview Courthouse,10220 South 76th Avenue, Bridgeview, IL
Cook County Department of Public Health-West, 1701 S. First Avenue, Maywood, IL
Ingalls Community Care Center, 120 S. Wood Street, Harvey, IL
Lutheran General Hospital, 1675 West Dempster, Park Ridge, IL
Ressurection Medical Center, Family Practice Center, 7447 West Talcott Ave, Chicago, IL
Rush Presbyterian -Pediatrics Primary Center, 1645 West Jackson, Chicago, IL
St. James Community Health Care Center, 1536 S. Vincennes, Chicago Heights, IL 
Northwestern Children’s Practice 680 N. Lake Shore Drive, Chicago, IL
University of Chicago - Friend & Family Health Center, 5843 S. Western Avenue, Chicago, IL 
University of Chicago- Friend & Family Health Center, 800 East 55th Street, Chicago, IL
University of Illinois at Chicago Dept. of Pediatrics, 840 S. Wood Street, Chicago, IL

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