After more than 30 years of commitment to bettering children’s health, safety, and wellbeing in partnership with Safe Kids York County, WellSpan extends its support as the organization expands to now officially serve Adams, Franklin, and York counties with its new name: Safe Kids South Central Pennsylvania. WellSpan’s continued support is directly fueled by the Spotlight on Children’s Health initiative, a program that aims to champion the physical, emotional, intellectual, and developmental needs of children from birth to 6 years old.

“Every child is full of promise and potential, which is why we're dedicated to promoting the wellbeing and safety of our youngest community members,” said Ann Kunkel, vice president of community health and engagement at WellSpan. “Preventable injuries are the leading cause of death among children in the United States. Our work in providing education and resources to our community helps prevent a family’s life from being altered by a potential tragedy.”

Safe Kids South Central Pennsylvania is part of Safe Kids Worldwide’s global network, which is dedicated to preventing childhood injuries. This multi-county coalition now implements evidence-based programs, such as car-seat checkups, safety workshops, and sports clinics, based on community needs.

Through leading this expanded coalition, WellSpan will continue to offer advanced community support. This includes providing dedicated staff, operational support, grant opportunities, and other resources to help achieve a shared goal: Keeping children safe.

“By focusing on our youngest community members and their caregivers through this support, we can help break the cycle of disadvantage through safe, stable, and nurturing environments and relationships that allow our community to thrive for generations to come,” said Dr. Christopher Russo, the medical director for pediatrics at WellSpan and co-chair of the coalition’s steering committee. “Our efforts to promote and inform safe practices echo our commitment to prioritizing and taking action for children’s health.”

For more information on WellSpan’s action to improve healthy communities, visit WellSpan.org.

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