MADERA, Calif. – Safe Kids Central California has recognized Carlist Harbin, a unit aide at Valley Children’s, with the 2025 Friend of Safe Kids Award for his ongoing work to support child passenger safety in Fresno and Madera counties.
The award is given each year to an individual who goes beyond their normal job duties to advance injury prevention efforts. Harbin does exactly that, serving as a child passenger safety technician in addition to his full-time role at the hospital.
Although injury prevention is not part of his job description, Harbin has become one of Valley Children’s most active car seat technicians. He has assisted with dozens of car seat appointments in recent years, helping families understand how to properly install and use their car seats.
“To be able to help people in those moments, it’s a little thing for me, but it’s a big thing for them,” Harbin said. “My motivation is just doing what I would want someone to do for me. I want to put the energy out into the world that I want to receive.”
Harbin has worked at Valley Children’s for 19 years and became a certified car seat technician in October 2022.
“I just have a desire to help in general,” Harbin said.
During car seat checkups, Harbin uses his own experiences to connect with parents who may feel uncertain or overwhelmed.
“It’s been very satisfying. I’ve had a father come up to me and say he doesn’t know what to do, and he feels down on himself,” Harbin said. “So being able to be vulnerable with them and let them know that they aren’t the only ones, and to see the satisfaction on their face when they pull off, that’s enough for me.”
Kristina Pasma, injury prevention coordinator at Valley Children’s, said Harbin’s impact is widely felt by families and staff.
“Carlist is Valley Children’s hidden gem,” Pasma said. “We talk about always serving our kids and having a servant’s heart, and Carlist absolutely has a servant’s heart.”
Valley Children’s has served as the lead agency for Safe Kids Central California since 2009, supporting the coalition’s pediatric injury prevention work through education, outreach and community partnerships. Efforts include safety events and distributing items such as car seats, bike helmets, gun locks and sleep sacks.
Approximately 40 agencies across Fresno and Madera counties partner with Valley Children’s in this work.
