City of LC initiates Safe Kids Coalition

Staff Reports

The Contraband

A new coalition is now working in the community to help students, families and caregivers prevent childhood injuries. The City of Lake Charles Community Development and Services Department in collaboration with Safe Kids Worldwide would like to introduce Safe Kids Lake Charles. Safe Kids Worldwide is a global organization dedicated to protecting kids from unintentional injuries, which are the leading cause of death to children in the United States. Safe Kids Lake Charles was established in late January and is currently the only in-state coalition in Louisiana. The state’s lead agency for Safe Kids Louisiana is Tulane University Hospital.

Safe Kids Lake Charles is a partnership of several local agencies which are combining resources to provide quality health and safety education to children and families in the region. Members of Safe Kids Lake Charles reported over 1,400 individuals educated in January alone in subject areas such as fall prevention, safe sleep, child passenger safety and nurturing parenting.

“All kids should have the opportunity to grow up healthy and safe. We know that education and safer environments can make a difference and that by working together, we can significantly reduce the number of accidents among children in Southwest Louisiana,” said Lake Charles Mayor Randy Roach.

Safe Kids Lake Charles Coalition members are Impact Lake Charles AmeriCorps, Lake Charles Fire Department, Prevent Child Abuse Louisiana, Community Chest, SWLA Safe Sleep Task Force, Calcasieu Parish Forensic Center and Coroner’s Office, Calcasieu Parish Sheriff’s Office (Youth & Dare Division), SWLA Economic Development Alliance, SWLA Regional Safety Coalition, United Way of SWLA, Calcasieu Parish School Early Childhood, American Red Cross of SWLA, Bureau of Family Health, Calcasieu Medical Reserve Corps, Louisiana State Police, Education and Treatment Center, Southern and LSU Agricultural Centers and Amerigroup.

“I am really excited that we were able to establish Safe Kids Lake Charles. Louisiana ranks third in the nation in unintentional injury deaths, and those are only the tip of the iceberg. There are many more injuries than deaths. I am encouraged when I think about the positive impact that all of the organizations will be able to make by joining resources,” says Alisa Stevens, Safe Kids Coordinator and Impact Lake Charles Executive Director.

Safe Kids Lake Charles is open for membership to any organization, whether located within the city limits of Lake Charles or not, that is interested in working together to reduce the number of unintentional injuries in Southwest Louisiana.

For more information on Safe Kids Lake Charles, please call 491-8735.