COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – The USA Swimming Foundation today announced the renewal of its Affiliate Partnership with Starfish Aquatics Institute. As part of the partnership, a new continuing educational certification course “Children with Challenges” for swim instructors and coaches has been developed jointly by the USA Swimming Foundation, USA Swimming, Starfish Aquatics Institute and the Aquatic Therapy Rehab Institute.
”Children with Challenges” is a continuing education and certification course specifically developed for swim lesson instructors and swim coaches. It provides the knowledge and tools necessary for aquatic professionals to work with children who endure attention, behavioral, cognitive or physical challenges. For the 2015-2016 partnership year, Starfish Aquatics Institute will work closely with the USA Swimming Foundation and USA Swimming on the release of the “Children with Challenges” certification course, providing workshops across the country to aid in the certification of instructors and swim coaches nationwide.
“Learning to swim is a critical life-saving skill and also the base for anyone to enjoy any aquatic sport for life,” said USA Swimming Foundation Executive Director Debbie Hesse. “Starfish Aquatics Institute is a tremendous partner, and to announce this new certification course to swim lesson instructors and swim coaches is a strong effort to expand aquatic opportunities to all children. This course is an important step towards eliminating barriers to entry within the sport of swimming and the USA Swimming Foundation’s mission of teaching every child to swim.”
The USA Swimming Foundation’s Affiliate Coalition is a strategic network comprised of national community-based organizations and non-profits who share the common goal of promoting the importance of learning to swim and water safety. As an Affiliate partner, Starfish Aquatics Institute will continue to promote the USA Swimming Foundation’s Make a Splash best practices to its Trainers and Training Sites, and provide education scholarship and community water safety education opportunities within their programs.
“We believe our partnership with the USA Swimming Foundation expands the reach of each organization to impact lives of people of any age or ability,” said Jill White, SAI Founder. “By providing resources and a shared message, we can reduce drowning and provide amazing opportunities and training for those who work with children in an aquatic setting.
For more information about the USA Swimming Foundation, visit: www.usaswimmingfoundation.org.
Sobering Drowning Statistics
- Approximately 10 people drown every day in the U.S., according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), with nearly 25 percent children younger than 14
- 70 percent of African-American and 60 percent of Hispanic/Latino children cannot swim, according to a national research study by the USA Swimming Foundation and the University of Memphis
- Only 13 percent of kids who come from a non-swimming household will ever learn to swim, the USA Swimming Foundation found
- African-American children drown at a rate nearly three times higher than their Caucasian peers, the CDC reports
- Drowning is a silent killer—most young children who drowned in pools were last seen in the home, had been out of sight less than five minutes, and were in the care of one or both parents at the time, according to the Present P. Child Drowning study
About the USA Swimming Foundation
The USA Swimming Foundation serves as the philanthropic arm of USA Swimming. Established in 2004, the Foundation works to strengthen the sport by saving lives and building champions— in the pool and in life. Whether we’re equipping our children with the life-saving skill of learn-to-swim through our Make a Splash initiative, or providing financial support to our heroes on the U.S. National Team, the USA Swimming Foundation aims to provide the wonderful experience of swimming to kids at all levels across the country. To learn more, visit www.usaswimmingfoundation.org.
About Make a Splash
The USA Swimming Foundation’s Make a Splash initiative is a national child-focused water safety campaign, which aims to provide the opportunity for every child in America to learn to swim. Through Make a Splash, the USA Swimming Foundation partners with learn-to-swim providers and water safety advocates across the country to provide swimming lessons and educate children and their families on the importance of learning how to swim. The USA Swimming Foundation has invested millions of dollars to provide grants to qualified Local Partner learn-to-swim programs, to spread national awareness, and to bring together strategic partners to end drowning. To date, more than 3.7 million children have received the lifesaving gift of swim lessons through the USA Swimming Foundation Make a Splash Local Partner network, comprised of more than 725 qualified lesson providers across the nation. To learn more, visit www.makeasplash.org.
About Starfish Aquatics Institute
Starfish Aquatic Institute’s mission is to reduce drowning and save lives by providing reputable and responsive aquatic safety training programs and services delivered to the public through an international network of friendly, knowledgeable aquatic professionals who serve as independent training providers. SAI is the only “one-source” training option with comprehensive aquatic risk management best practices specific to pools, waterparks and the waterfront environment. To learn more, visit www.starfishaquatics.org.
Swimming news courtesy of USA Swimming.
