The coalition, Safe Kids Mid-Texas, has been working for almost a year to form its leadership and bylaws and is now providing services in Central Texas.
“What we are doing in our coalition is looking at injury trends and trying to develop resources to help parents keep their children safe,” said Susan Burchfield, the trauma injury prevention and outreach coordinator for Scott & White.
Burchfield said the coalition, which was granted to Scott & White in November 2008, is working with many other groups and agencies to promote safety for children.
“We’ve talked to the chief of police in Temple about a gun safety program,” said Bob Arris, president of the coalition and local realtor with Joan Mikeska Realty.
Burchfield said other upcoming events are a water safety program with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, a toy safety program during the Christmas season and a “Walk This Way” program sponsored by FedEx.
“We have been granted a $500 grant from FedEx and we are the only ones from the Texas coalition granted this money,” Arris said.
Arris said it is a great honor that FedEx granted Safe Kids Mid-Texas the funds because it is such a young program.
It is the newest of 600 coalitions in the United States, Burchfield said.
In the “Walk This Way” program, Safe Kids Mid-Texas will educate kids from 35 area schools about the right way to walk around school areas, Arris said.
“We also want to encourage parents to be more cautious when they are in a school zone,” he said.
Burchfield said Scott & White officials jumped at the opportunity to get involved in the program when they realized Safe Kids USA would allow them to have a coalition.
Burchfield said Safe Kids mid-Texas is primarily working in the Temple-Belton-Killeen area, but officials hope to branch out to include Waco. She said each community has its own problems with injuries, and the coalition will provide personalized research and information to each community.
“We want to be the safety experts in this area,” she said.
The coalition recently elected its board of directors, which consists of Thomas Pechal of Temple Fire and Rescue; Murray McCarley of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers; Michelle Murray of Children’s Advocacy Center of Central Texas; Carolyn Insall of Central Texas Poison Center at Scott & White; Cindy Bridges of 9-1-1 Public Education at Central Texas Council of Government; Eula Jett of Enviro Clean Products; Tracy Booth of UMHB College of Nursing and Waynette Kenyon of the Scott & White Sleep Institute.
Arris and Burchfield also are on the board of directors.
Membership to Safe Kids Mid-Texas is open to anyone and does not require a fee. Those interested in more information can call 254-724-1431.
