MIAMI, FL, May 19, 2025— In observance of National Water Safety Month, the Zero Drownings Miami-Dade initiative, almost one year after its groundbreaking launch, shared the progress made and introduced new partners at a news conference on Monday, May 19, at Marva Y. Bannerman Park Pool. The collaborative effort, uniting Miami-Dade County’s leading public and private organizations, has taken significant strides toward reducing child drownings, the leading cause of accidental death for children between the ages of one and 14 in Miami-Dade County.

The Zero Drownings Miami-Dade initiative delivers life-saving swim lessons through an innovative school-integrated model. Pre-selected 4 and 5-year-olds from Head Start programs, The Children’s Trust Thrive by 5 child care centers, and public school kindergartens participate in the two-week program as a daily school field trip, with transportation provided to nearby swim facilities.

Since its inception in April 2024, the program has provided water safety and swim lessons to over 2,500 children across Miami-Dade County from 66 elementary schools and preschool centers. The program intends to scale to 10,000 participants in 2025-2026 before reaching the goal of 20,000 children annually in 2026-2027.

Key developmental highlights include executing multiple agreements to fund, share data and operate the initiative. The establishment of the Office of Drowning Prevention in the Miami-Dade County Parks to manage logistics and facilitate the program . The implementation of a new Management Information System for on-line registration, data sharing, analytical and class scheduling. Collaborating with the American Red Cross to develop the first ever parents/caregivers on-line water safety course in Haitian Creole. This course is being utilized throughout the United States.

“Our investment ensures children facing the greatest barriers of learning to swim, gain access to this critical protection," said James R. Haj, President & CEO of The Children's Trust. "By bringing life-saving swim lessons directly to children who need them most, during their school day, at no cost to families, we're not just teaching skills, we're fundamentally changing outcomes for our community."

“Every child deserves the chance to grow up safe, healthy and protected from preventable dangers,” said Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava. “Drowning prevention starts with awareness, education, and access to lifesaving swim skills. The Zero Drownings initiative is a powerful example of our community coming together to protect our youngest residents. As we enter the second year of this critically important program, we’re building a safer Miami-Dade—one where all families can enjoy our beautiful waters with confidence, peace of mind, and without fear.”

“We’re involved in this program because it saves lives. It’s important that as a school district we not only provide instruction in reading, math and science but that we also support children in learning to swim,” said M-DCPS Superintendent Dr. Jose L. Dotres. “We live in a beautiful community filled with pools and lakes, surrounded by the ocean and so it’s crucial for children to be comfortable and competent in the water and educate their parents about water safety so they can support their child’s swimming development.”

Also, in its first year, 3,100 parents and children received drowning prevention resources and participated in community outreach programs. Empowering parents and caregivers to “#JoinTheZeroChallenge” is essential to the mission of the initiative, ensuring community-wide knowledge and skills to reduce drowning incidents in Miami.

“Personally, my little sister almost drowned when she was little. And then my grandmother's brother passed away because he drove into the pool and broke his neck”, said Sarah Hopkins, a parent who has enrolled her child Mateo in Zero Drowning. “I just wanted to make sure that my children learn the rights and the wrongs when it comes to pool safety.”

Deborah Koch, Executive Director of the American Red Cross Greater Miami & The Keys, said, "The American Red Cross is thrilled to partner with Zero Drownings Miami-Dade, leading the way in swim safety education and certifications for students, families, and educators. As a program funder, we are dedicated to helping local families enjoy the water without fear.

For over a century, the Red Cross has set the gold standard in aquatics training, helping millions learn to swim, become lifeguards, and train as swim instructors. Together, with this collaborative and groundbreaking program in Miami-Dade we are making the water safer for everyone," she concluded.

The initiative also welcomed two new municipal partners so far- the City of Miami and City of Miami Springs, who provided swim lessons during the 24-25 school year.

Building a safer future for our children is a top priority and we are proud to turn our words into action by becoming a swim partner in the Zero Drownings Miami-Dade initiative. With 12 public pools in Miami’s parks system, many of which are in District Five, we are uniquely positioned to bring this life-saving program closer to the families who need it most. It is about equity, access, and a shared responsibility to make sure every child in Miami can navigate water safely,” said City of Miami Chairwoman and District 5 Commissioner Christine King.

And Ocaquatics Swim School, the largest private provider of swim lessons in Miami-Dade County, has also joined the Zero Challenge.

“After 31 years of serving this community, we’re proud to be the first private partner of Zero Drownings Miami-Dade. This is more than swim lessons—it’s a powerful step toward a safer future for every child in Miami Dade County,” said owner Miren Oca. “We highly encourage other private swim providers to join these efforts.”

“The Parks Foundation is proud to support the Zero Drownings initiative in partnership with Miami-Dade County Parks and fellow collaborators who share its lifesaving mission,” said Caroline O’Connor, President of the Parks Foundation of Miami-Dade. “By teaching children essential swimming skills, we’re giving them the foundation for a lifetime of safety and confidence around water.”

New funders have also joined the Zero Drownings Miami-Dade Collaborative, adding to the generous funding support provided by The Children’s Trust, United Way Miami, Edu Foundation and Templeton Family Foundation. Florida Blue Foundation and the Peacock Foundation have both committed to supporting this effort financially.

“It’s incredible what we can achieve when we come together with a shared purpose. Zero Drownings Miami-Dade reflects the very heart of our mission: uniting people and resources to improve lives and strengthen our community,” said Symeria T. Hudson, President and CEO of United Way Miami. “It’s inspiring to witness so many partners moving in unison to create meaningful change, save lives, and help build a stronger, more resilient Miami.”

“By providing year-round water safety and swim lessons to those who need it most, we can create a safer community for all,” said Susan Towler, executive director of the Florida Blue Foundation. "Every child deserves the opportunity to learn how to swim. Through this important collaboration and other water safety programs we support, our goal is to empower future generations with the skills and confidence they need to be safe in and around water.”

The initiative’s results in its first year demonstrate measurable progress toward its ultimate goal of providing 20,000 children with swim lessons annually. For more information, please visit www.zerodrowningsmiamidade.org.

For photos and B-roll of the event, click here.

Partners: The Children’s Trust, Miami-Dade County, Miami-Dade County Public Schools (MDCPS), American Red Cross, City of Miami, City of Miami Springs, United Way Miami, Ocaquatics Swim School, The Miami Foundation, Edu Foundation, Parks Foundation of Miami-Dade, Florida Blue Foundation, Peacock Foundation, and Templeton Family Foundation.

Media Contacts:

The Children’s Trust

Natalia Zea, Chief Public Policy & Engagement Officer
Phone: (786) 598-2208
Email: natalia@thechildrenstrust.org

Miami-Dade County

Stephany Heilbron Monsalve

Cell: 305-310-8349

Email: Stephany.HeilbronMonsalve@miamidade.gov

Miami-Dade County Public Schools

Elmo R. Lugo

Cell: 786-697-8659

Email: erlugo@dadeschools.net