On Monday, Senate and House Republicans introduced bills proposing the establishment of a voucher program aimed at providing swimming lessons for young children.
These bills outline the directive for the Florida Department of Health to create a program collaborating with vendors to offer swimming lessons to children aged 4 or younger.
Christina Theiss, a seasoned swimming instructor and owner of ‘Swim with Gills,’ emphasized the importance of early swim education, stating, “It’s never too early to learn how to swim, and it’s never too late to learn to swim.”
Christina Theiss, who has been instructing swimming since the age of 16, highlighted her company’s mission of changing and saving lives by teaching children of all abilities and skill levels.
Florida currently ranks 3rd in the U.S. for unintentional drowning deaths, according to Florida Health.
Theiss emphasized that learning to swim can commence as early as 6 months old, allowing for the gradual development of skills and water confidence.
Despite the availability of local vouchers to reduce lesson costs, Theiss acknowledged that some parents still struggle with out-of-pocket expenses, emphasizing the commitment to not turning anyone away.
The proposed state-backed voucher program aims to be accessible to families with incomes up to $60,000 for a family of four, potentially alleviating financial barriers to water safety education.
Theiss believes that this initiative could genuinely save lives by emphasizing that water safety begins with educating both children and parents.
While the bills do not provide a cost estimate, they suggest that the Department of Health may explore grants or seek other public or private funding to support the program.
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