Drowning is the leading cause of unintentional death in Florida for children 4 and younger.
In an effort to fight this, the Florida Department of Health launched Broward County’s new Swim Voucher Program in March, creating a meaningful new path for families to access life-saving swim instruction across multiple facilities, including Caporella Aquatic Center. Supporters say the change will help children retain skills and give more families access to life-saving lessons.
The program provides a $200 voucher that can be used for up to eight swim lesson sessions for children ages 0–17, helping remove cost barriers while advancing a larger goal: improving water safety and preventing drownings throughout Broward County.
Caporella Aquatic Center is already seeing the impact firsthand. This spring, the facility has registered 60 children for the voucher program, connecting more local families with structured lessons and critical water-safety skills.
“For so many families, this program opens the door to something that can truly change a child’s life,” said Desiree Shirley, General Manager of Caporella Aquatic Center. “Every lesson, every time they’re in the water, is a chance to build confidence, teach essential safety skills, and help prevent tragedy in our community. We’re proud to be part of an initiative that makes swim instruction more accessible for Broward County families.”
By expanding access to free lessons at participating locations, Broward County’s Swim Voucher Program is helping create safer swimmers, more confident parents, and stronger communities around the water.
