Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia’s (CHOP) Healthier Together, Fab Youth Philly (FYP), Philadelphia Parks & Recreation, the West Philadelphia YMCA and other local organizations joined forces to support a paid learn-to-swim and paid lifeguard skill-building and lifeguard certificate programs for local youth. The Learn 2 Swim program is the first step in FYP’s lifeguard training and certification program, and the multi-organizational collaboration addresses Philadelphia’s youth lifeguard shortage, while providing fun, safe, and health-focused programming for young people in West and Southwest Philadelphia.
Youth, aged 15-17, who live in West or Southwest Philadelphia were invited to join the learn-to-swim program. Successful participants were offered the opportunity to pursue lifeguard trainings and certifications. Knowing how to swim is a crucial life skill with benefits ranging from enhanced safety to improved physical and mental well-being. It's essential for preventing drowning, a leading cause of accidental death, and allows for confident participation in water activities.
“Learn to Swim is more than swim lessons – it’s a chance for children to learn water safety, build confidence and stay active,” said Vanesa Karamanian, MD, MPH, director of Healthier Together at CHOP. “The program also supports youth leadership and opens the door to become certified as lifeguards through Fab Youth Philly’s training program. By supporting this partnership, Healthier Together is advancing its mission to empower young people with life-saving skills and career opportunities, while helping make their communities safer and healthier.”
The program began in 2023, with Philadelphia Parks & Recreation offering water safety instructors to conduct lifeguard certificate training, Drexel Athletics Department providing pool time, while the Drexel Health Hub provided physical exams and the West Philadelphia Promise Neighborhood supported youth salaries and supplies; Fab Youth Philly conducted the youth outreach and engagement and facilitated up to 10 hours of workforce development programming such as how to read a first pay check, how to create a budget and how to write or update a resume. This year CHOP, Connelly Foundation, Temple University Athletics, Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency (PCCD) VIP grant and West Philadelphia YMCA joined to provide funding and support to enhance the program.
Experts from CHOP’s Sports Medicine and Performance Center, Fab Youth Philly, Philadelphia Parks and Recreation, Drexel University, American Red Cross, PA Commission on Crime and Delinquency and West Philadelphia YMCA joined forces to help to make the summer ideal for both the youth and their communities.
“This program addresses an ongoing nationwide lifeguard shortage that puts summer pool access at risk. Philadelphia Parks & Recreation works with partners to ensure every neighborhood has access to safe, open pools and that youth have equitable opportunities to learn, earn, and grow by gaining critical skills, income, and a foundation for future success, “ said AnneMarie Dunne, Deputy Commissioner of Programs, Philadelphia Parks and Recreation
“Our goals are specifically designed to support teenagers' key developmental needs by helping them gain financial independence, explore their interests and passions, and build meaningful relationships with both peers and adults. FYP is a youth development organization providing award-winning programs for young people. They specialize in creating workforce opportunities for teens ages 15-19 through summer and afterschool jobs,” said Rebecca Fabiano, MSEd, FabYouth Philly.
The learn-to-swim program was funded by Healthier Together at CHOP and Pennsylvania’s Commission on Crime & Delinquency awarded funds in April 2024 to include a ‘paid skill-building’ component to help teens be more test-ready for the lifeguard certificate course.
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Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia’s (CHOP) Healthier Together, Fab Youth Philly (FYP), Philadelphia Parks & Recreation, the West Philadelphia YMCA and other local organizations joined forces to support a paid learn-to-swim and paid lifeguard skill-building and lifeguard certificate programs for local youth. The Learn 2 Swim program is the first step in FYP’s lifeguard training and certification program, and the multi-organizational collaboration addresses Philadelphia’s youth lifeguard shortage, while providing fun, safe, and health-focused programming for young people in West and Southwest Philadelphia.
Youth, aged 15-17, who live in West or Southwest Philadelphia were invited to join the learn-to-swim program. Successful participants were offered the opportunity to pursue lifeguard trainings and certifications. Knowing how to swim is a crucial life skill with benefits ranging from enhanced safety to improved physical and mental well-being. It's essential for preventing drowning, a leading cause of accidental death, and allows for confident participation in water activities.
“Learn to Swim is more than swim lessons – it’s a chance for children to learn water safety, build confidence and stay active,” said Vanesa Karamanian, MD, MPH, director of Healthier Together at CHOP. “The program also supports youth leadership and opens the door to become certified as lifeguards through Fab Youth Philly’s training program. By supporting this partnership, Healthier Together is advancing its mission to empower young people with life-saving skills and career opportunities, while helping make their communities safer and healthier.”
The program began in 2023, with Philadelphia Parks & Recreation offering water safety instructors to conduct lifeguard certificate training, Drexel Athletics Department providing pool time, while the Drexel Health Hub provided physical exams and the West Philadelphia Promise Neighborhood supported youth salaries and supplies; Fab Youth Philly conducted the youth outreach and engagement and facilitated up to 10 hours of workforce development programming such as how to read a first pay check, how to create a budget and how to write or update a resume. This year CHOP, Connelly Foundation, Temple University Athletics, Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency (PCCD) VIP grant and West Philadelphia YMCA joined to provide funding and support to enhance the program.
Experts from CHOP’s Sports Medicine and Performance Center, Fab Youth Philly, Philadelphia Parks and Recreation, Drexel University, American Red Cross, PA Commission on Crime and Delinquency and West Philadelphia YMCA joined forces to help to make the summer ideal for both the youth and their communities.
“This program addresses an ongoing nationwide lifeguard shortage that puts summer pool access at risk. Philadelphia Parks & Recreation works with partners to ensure every neighborhood has access to safe, open pools and that youth have equitable opportunities to learn, earn, and grow by gaining critical skills, income, and a foundation for future success, “ said AnneMarie Dunne, Deputy Commissioner of Programs, Philadelphia Parks and Recreation
“Our goals are specifically designed to support teenagers' key developmental needs by helping them gain financial independence, explore their interests and passions, and build meaningful relationships with both peers and adults. FYP is a youth development organization providing award-winning programs for young people. They specialize in creating workforce opportunities for teens ages 15-19 through summer and afterschool jobs,” said Rebecca Fabiano, MSEd, FabYouth Philly.
The learn-to-swim program was funded by Healthier Together at CHOP and Pennsylvania’s Commission on Crime & Delinquency awarded funds in April 2024 to include a ‘paid skill-building’ component to help teens be more test-ready for the lifeguard certificate course.
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