As a mom living in South Florida, I have always been concerned about my child’s ability to swim but also to save himself when in trouble in the water. Even though there are some amazing swim programs in Palm Beach County, I thought you needed to know about what Palm Beach County offers children with special needs.

I just learned that the Drowning Prevention Coalition of Palm Beach County is offering free Water Safety Swim Programs for special needs children ages 3 – 12. The program is intended for non-swimmers only. To find out if your child qualifies, take their online swim survey at www.pbcgov.org/dpc. If your child is eligible, you will need to fill out the application form found on the website and fax it to their office.

The Drowning Prevention Coalition of Palm Beach County is a community-based program whose mission is to have ZERO drownings in Palm Beach County as well as to serve as the primary resource for PBC residents’ water safety needs. The Coalition’s programs promote, develop, and support training and community education efforts that prevent drowning, near drowning, and other water related incidents.

The free water safety program is also available to children ages 3 – 12 who receive Medicaid, FL Kid Care, Healthy Kids, or the parent/guardian receives food stamps or section 8 housing.