The Swim Lesson Voucher Program (Senate Bill 544) was signed by Governor DeSantis on April 14, 2024, with an effective date of July 1, 2024. The voucher program will be managed by the state’s Department of Health. The agency will be responsible for establishing a network of swimming lesson providers in every county.
According to SB 544: “The department shall do all of the following to implement the program: “Contract with and establish a network of swimming lesson vendors that will accept the vouchers offered by the program in exchange for providing swimming lessons. To ensure that the swimming lessons are available throughout this state, the department must attempt to secure at least one such vendor in each county. Any swimming lesson vendor that offers swimming lessons at a public pool that is owned or maintained by a county or municipality must, if requested by the department, participate in the program.”
In an effort to increase water safety in children, the program will offer vouchers to families with incomes up to 200 percent of the federal poverty level with children ages four or under. Families at or below 200% of the poverty level are eligible for vouchers for children four and under. According to Federal guidelines, the federal poverty level is $40,880 for a family of two, $51,650 for three and $62,400 for four. Swimming lessons are expensive, and some locations are charging up to $60 an hour, a fee that is beyond most working families.
According to data shared by Florida Lt. Governor Jeanette Nuñez in a press conference on Wednesday, June 5th, “so far in 2024 about 46 children in Florida have died due to drowning and it is the No. 1 cause of unintentional deaths among children ages one to four.”
In Collier County, according to the Florida Department of Health, drowning is the leading cause of death for children ages one to four. Also, according to CDC, there was a 28% increase in drowning deaths reported in this age group in 2022.
Drowning is preventable and according to statistics, toddlers aged between one and four years are most at risk because they are mobile and curious, but don’t understand the danger of water. By enrolling them in swimming and water safety lessons, you can reduce the risk of water-related fatalities.
The Florida Department of Health will operate the program. More information about it can be found at watersmartfl.com.
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