Mainline Health Selected as 2026-2027 Buckle Up for Life Gift of Safety Partner
August 5th, 2026 by Submitted
Mainline Health Systems, Inc. is proud to announce its selection as a 2026-2027 Buckle Up for Life Gift of Safety Partner, joining a national effort to improve child passenger safety and help families travel safely througheducation, resources, and access to life-saving car seats.
Buckle Up for Life is a national child passenger safety education program created by Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center and Toyota. The program works with community organizations across the country to reduce child passenger injuries by
providing education and access to proper car seat equipment for families in need.
This year’s application process was highly competitive, with only a 36% acceptance rate for Gift of Safety partners. MHSI was selected as one of the organizations best positioned to successfully implement the program and make a meaningful impact within its service area.
The grant period runs from August 1, 2026, through July 31, 2027. During that time, Mainline will receive 50 free car seats to distribute to eligible patients and families. In addition, the organization has committed to providing child passenger safety education to at least 110 individuals throughout the communities it serves.
Mainline’s Community Health Workers are certified to provide car seat education and installation training, ensuring families receive both the equipment and knowledge needed to keep children safe while traveling. The initiative will be led by Heath Reep and his team, who will coordinate educational efforts and car seat distribution throughout the grant year.
“We are honored to be selected as a Buckle Up for Life Gift of Safety Partner,” said Heath Reep, Director of Care Management for Mainline Health. “This opportunity allows us to strengthen our commitment to injury prevention and family wellness by ensuring more children have access to properly installed car seats and that caregivers have the education they need to protect their children on the road.”
“We are thankful to Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, Toyota, and Buckle Up for Life for investing in child passenger safety and partnering with organizations like Mainline to reduce injuries and promote safer travel for families everywhere,” Reep added. “We are also grateful for the support from Ryburn Automotive in Monticello, whose encouragement helped get the ball rolling on this opportunity. We look forward to partnering with them to promote car seat safety throughout our community.”
“We believe keeping families safe extends beyond the vehicles we sell and service,” said Halley Ryburn-Powell, of Ryburn Automotive. “We’re proud to support Mainline and the Buckle Up for Life program as they bring critical child passenger safety education and resources to our community. When we work together to provide families with the right tools and information, we help create a safer future for children across southeast Arkansas.”
Through this partnership, Mainline will continue its mission of improving community health outcomes while helping ensure that every child has the opportunity to travel as safely as possible.
About Mainline Health
Since 1978, Mainline Health Systems has served the residents of Southeast Arkansas with
a compassionate approach and a commitment to the highest standard of medical, dental,
and behavioral health care. From its first office in Portland all those years ago, Mainline
Health Systems has expanded across Ashley, Bradley, Chicot, Cleveland, Columbia, Drew,
Grant, and Lincoln counties. To learn more about Mainline Health Systems Inc., visit
https://www.mainlinehealth.net/
