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In the past year, more than 600 children are traveling safer in Amarillo thanks to a unique program operated by Amarillo Public Health (APH).
The Safe Kids/Healthy Amarillo Women program, part of APH, distributed 615 car seats (free of charge) from September 1, 2025, to August 31. The car seats benefit needy families and help parents protect children while traveling.
“It is a great honor knowing that we are helping parents and families keep their children safe,” said APH Program Manager Cindi Wynia, who has been in her current position for four years and with the City of Amarillo for more than 20 years.
“This program is a special way to provide a vital resource that helps keep our children safe and secure,” said APH Health Educator Planner Barbara Solano-Haile, who is approaching her fourth year in her current position.
The duo of Wynia and Solano-Haile run the Safe Kids/Healthy Amarillo Program, which is funded by grants from the Texas Department of State Health Services and provides an array of services/resources benefiting children.
Since 2022, the program has distributed 2,001 car seats. But that is just part of it.
The program also provides education to parents on how to install and maintain the car seats.
“People say car seats are rocket science, and I learned that they actually are,” Wynia said with a laugh.
Wynia and Solano-Haile have received national certification (Child Passenger Safety Technician). The process includes a four-day certification course (which includes timed installation of car seats). In March 2025, the pair were selected as 2025 National Child Passenger Safety Team of the Year, earning a trip to Long Beach, Calif.
“Every car seat is different, and we provide education that help parents with the installation,” said Solano-Haile.
“We watch the parents do the installation, and if they do something wrong, we correct it right there,” said Wynia.
In the past year, the program has grown (from 392 car seats distributed in 2022-2023 to the current number of 615) thanks to 33 outreach events in Potter and Randall counties.
“We have seen the progression of the program,” Wynia said. “Grandma tells her daughter and her neighbor, and they become our trusted messengers.”
Here is how the program works: There are no specific eligibility requirements. Car seats are provided for newborns and older. Appointments are preferred and can take 30-45 minutes for installation and maintenance education. For more information call APH at (806) 378-6360.
APH has four different kinds of car seats, categorized by a child’s age, height and weight.
The child does not have to be present at the appointment. Thanks to a grant from Atmos Energy in 2023, APH has eight life-size dolls that can be used during the appointment.
“We use these dolls all the time, and we would not have them without the generosity of Atmos Energy,” Wynia said.
APH can schedule home visits and can also inspect car seats for those who already have them.
Car seat availability at APH depends on supply and demand. (There are more than 50 similar programs across the state of Texas). Due to the need to provide as many car seats to as many people as possible, availability is one car seat per child.
“Most people understand that we need to have one car seat per child to be able to serve as many people and children as possible,” Solano-Haile said.
For more information, contact City of Amarillo Media Relations Manager Dave Henry at (806) 378-5219 or by email at David.Henry@amarillo.gov.