SRP, Child Crisis Arizona, more partner on 4th Annual Pool Fence Safety Program

Child Crisis Arizona, Salt River Project, State Farm and the 493 Firefighter Foundation have partnered on the 4th Annual Pool Fence Safety Program, addressing the crisis of drownings in Maricopa County.

Through this initiative, now through April 4, Child Crisis Arizona welcomes parents or caregivers who are financially unable to afford pool barriers and have young children to apply for a free pool fence, a press release stated. 

Families living in Maricopa County can apply for a free pool fence if they meet certain eligibility criteria. With applications available in both English and Spanish, those interested can apply on the organization’s website, https://www.childcrisisaz.org/what-we-do/pool-fence-program. 

Eligibility requirements are:

• Must have a child age 6 or under living in the home
• Home must be owner-occupied; renters are not eligible
• Family must reside within Maricopa County
• Family must be income-qualified; participation in one of the following assistance programs will be used to verify income eligibility: food stamps, Medicaid, WIC, energy assistance or unemployment.
• If the family is not enrolled in one of the assistance programs, household income will be considered, and their 2024 tax return will be used to verify eligibility.

Caitlin Sageng, senior program director at Child Crisis Arizona, said in the release that drowning is the leasing cause of death for children ages 1 to 4 and remains among the top five causes of death for children ages 5 to 9.

“This Pool Fence Safety Program, which last year awarded 15 families a new pool fence, is focused on making an actionable difference in preventing child drownings in our community,” Sageng said. 

In addition to providing free pool fences, the Child Crisis Arizona Pool Fence Safety Program educates parents and caregivers on water safety through a Virtual Water Safety Workshop led by a Safe Kids Maricopa County coordinator, which is open throughout the year to all families, according to the release.

Rori Minor, SRP’s community engagement strategist, said in the release that water safety is a top priority for SRP, and they are committed to supporting the community as the need for water safety resources grows.

“Through our partnership with Child Crisis Arizona and other organizations, we provide pool fences and educational resources to families, helping to create a safer environment for children around water,” Minor said. 

The total sponsorship for the program is $45,000, with $25,000 funded by SRP and $10,000 by State Farm. The 493 Firefighter Foundation pledges to raise $10,000 to support the program, the release noted.