Based on feedback from many of you have provided, SAFE KIDS continues to make things easier to navigate on our Web site. We hope that these changes make things easier to find. Check back often for new developments, and feel free to contact us with any comments or suggestions.

A PDF version of the Policies and Procedures Manual is now available online. This version of the manual includes the same policies and procedures found on the SAFE KIDS Web site. The appendices include a multitude of forms and other program-related documents.

While we will make every effort to keep the PDF version of both the manual and appendices current, the most up-to-date policies and forms can always be found online. Be sure you are referencing the most current manual available.

SAFE KIDS recognizes the value of an ongoing partnership with the states, and, working with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, formed a State CPS Task Force consisting of at least one State CPS Coordinator from each NHTSA region and representatives from the Governor's Highway Safety Association, NHTSA, the National CPS Board and SAFE KIDS.

This group will define the roles, responsibilities and relationships of the State CPS Coordinators in their work with the nationwide certification program. The anticipated end result of the task force is a nationwide certification program with state-designated CPS representatives who can tailor the program to their states.

The task force continues to move ahead and looks forward to a continued strong state presence supporting the nationwide certification program.

SAFE KIDS has formed an operational group comprised of end-users of the certification system. The group starts meeting this month to advise on making the system more user-friendly and improving day-to-day use of the program. As we make improvements, this group will help us with implementation, so the system works well for instructors and technicians.

Interested? E-mail Kerry Chausmer at mailto:kchausmer@safekids.org to express your interest, providing a BRIEF statement about your history with CPS certification programs and why you would like to be involved with this group. Please limit your e-mail to three paragraphs.

To register a course, the lead instructor must be certified at the time of the course. For example, if I want to teach a course starting on August 1and my certification expires on July 1, I will not be able to register the course until I re-certify. 

You won’t get a new expiration date until your re-certification test is scored and entered, which may take up to 20 business days after test completion. This must be done by the time the course begins.

We know this is not ideal for scheduling, but we have to be sure all instructors are certified at the time the course is being offered. Imagine what would happen if the re-certification didn’t take place!

There are several options to register a course outside of your current certification period:

1. Go ahead and re-certify early. You may re-certify up to four months before your current expiration date. Plan ahead - it takes up to 20 business days for your test to be scored.
2. Work with a fellow instructor who can be signed up as the lead instructor until your re-certification is processed. You can contact customer service and swap places when you are done.
3. Do you have other ideas? Please share them with us!

We are starting a new section of this newsletter highlighting trivia and facts about child passenger safety. Please submit your ideas to Kerry Chausmer. Be sure to include how you would like your name to appear. 

There were no submissions for this edition.

The Automotive Safety Program at Riley Hospital (http://www.preventinjury.org/) provides the latest information on transporting children with special health care needs.

In addition to the "Safe Travel for All Children: Transporting Children with Special Health Care Needs" training, the Automotive Safety Program provides information on medical conditions and restraints for children with special needs, and maintains a database of technicians who have attended the training.

Have you participated in a really good class? Do you have a unique idea to keep folks involved?

Help your fellow technicians and instructors by sharing your CPS tips and programs! Submit your ideas to kchausmer@safekids.org. Be sure to include how you would like your name and agency (if applicable) to appear, and keep it to 200 words or less.

More CPS Resources are available on the SAFE KIDS Web site.

In order to maintain exam security, TesTrac disables the print and copy functions on your Web browser tool bar during online exam administration. The Mac’s configuration will not permit TesTrac to disable these functions. It is for that exam security reason that TesTrac exams cannot be administered using Macs; it has nothing to do with the integrity or quality of the fine Mac product.

We have been working to make online test administration for SAFE KIDS more user friendly. Most recently, we have extended the period during which a person can work on a test from 10 days to the full 30-day eligibility period. Test-takers can pause the test at any point and come back at another time.

We very much appreciate the work you and other CPS technicians and instructors do to ensure child passenger safety. We hope that you will be able to find a computer from which you can take the certification exam.

SAFE KIDS
CPS Certification
1301 Pennsylvania Ave., NW
Suite 1000
Washington, DC 20004

Phone: 877-366-8154 (toll free)
Fax: 202-393-2072
cps.certification@safekids.org