Morgan works with a young swimmer on her strokes.
In an exciting development for families across Florida, Governor DeSantis recently signed SB 544, a bill to subsidize swim lessons through a new voucher program. The bill will be effective on Monday, July 1st, and the program will qualify families with incomes up to 200 percent of the federal poverty line who have children under the age of four.
Tampa YMCA will be one of the non-profit organizations accepting vouchers from SB 544.
The YMCA is known as “America’s Swim Instructor” and the most accessible community resource for preventing drowning and encouraging a lifelong enjoyment of swimming. In 1909, the YMCA introduced the country to group swim lessons.
Last year, the Tampa YMCA and its 14 locations helped 13,108 children learn to swim and be safe in and around the water, which is critical considering that more children under the age of four drown in Florida than anywhere else in the nation.
The Tampa YMCA offers a variety of group and private lessons for infants and toddlers, preschoolers, school-age children and teens and adults! Our certified swim instructors work with individuals to build confidence in the water, develop self-rescue skills and hone swimming techniques. We maintain a safe and secure environment during all lessons, with lifeguards on duty and a strict adherence to safety protocols.
Families who qualify for the voucher program will be able to register their children for the infant and toddler program along with the preschool-age program. We want to ensure that every family, regardless of their financial situation, can access these life-saving lessons.
"At its core, our program is about more than just swim lessons. It's a commitment to enhancing water safety and swimming proficiency among children throughout Tampa Bay, a goal we're all working towards," shares Lacey Boldman, Director of Drowning Prevention at the Tampa YMCA.
She adds, "A partnership between the state and local non-profits represents a significant investment in our community's safety and well-being. By making swim lessons more accessible, the voucher program, in tandem with our traditional swim lessons, will cultivate a generation of Floridians who are not only confident in the water but also aware of the importance of water safety."
Families interested in applying for the voucher program can find more information at Water Smart Florida.
With summer right around the corner, it's time to take advantage of this offer and ensure a safer, more enjoyable, aquatic experience for all!
Published Tuesday, May 14, 2024.