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We have created this site because state health departments can play a leading role in child maltreatment prevention through programs and services that enhance family resiliency and foster positive child development. With public health infrastructure existing in every state and territory within the United States, the public health system is well-positioned to create a prevention system for children and families. We hope the information provided in this site is helpful in supporting your efforts to promote the health and well-being of children.
This work was supported by the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation.
In partnership with National Center for Injury Prevention and Control (NCIPC), Division of Violence Prevention at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the CDC Foundation
[Strategy 3.2: Aligning programs]
Within the Florida Department of Health (DOH), a number of unique collaborations have strengthened child abuse and neglect prevention efforts. One of these is a drowning prevention program. Health department staff recognized through data analysis that the majority of drowning deaths occurring to children under age four were happening when children were unsupervised. To address this, the Office of Injury Prevention (OIP) and the Division of Prevention and Intervention (DPI) collaborated to launch an annual drowning awareness campaign that focuses on early childhood drowning prevention. Since 2006, OIP has provided funds and other support to counties in Florida with the highest number of drowning deaths in the one to four year old age group. The theme for the 2006-2009 campaign was "Keep Your Eyes on the Kids", emphasizing that active adult supervision is the most effective drowning prevention strategy for the 1-4 year old age group. Support for the campaign is also provided by state Community Based Child Abuse Prevention (CBCAP) funds, administered through the Florida Department of Children and Families (DCF). This relationship strengthens the internal DOH collaboration and links the effort with the DOH’s sister agency, DCF. From 2007 to 2009, the number of drowning deaths among Florida’s children ages 1-4 decreased by 15 percent, which corresponds to 25 fewer deaths than expected had the fatality rate stayed the same.
For more information on the Keep Your Eyes on the Kids campaign, visit http://www.doh.state.fl.us/demo/InjuryPrevention/DrownPrevent.html
