ORLANDO, Fla. – Applications are now open for people who want to get a voucher for free swimming lessons for their young children in Florida.
The state’s Water Smart FL website now shows that people can apply for the vouchers. Lt. Gov. Jeanette Nuñez launched the new program Monday in Ocala.
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To apply, you need to have proof of a family income that is no more than 200% of federal poverty guidelines, proof of Florida residency, and the date of birth of the child.
Right now, the program is only open to children ages four and younger.
Go to WaterSmartFL.com to apply.
The program is part of a new Florida law that went into effect in July to set up the voucher program so more children could learn to swim, in a state with one of the highest rates of child drowning deaths in the country.
According to the Florida Department of Health, Florida ranked number 1 in the country for unintentional drowning deaths for children between the ages of one and four, from 2019 to 2021.
The state also says that annually, there are enough children under five who drown to fill three or four preschool classrooms.
Despite the law going into effect in July, there was no option to apply until recently. The Florida Department of Health did not explain the delay.
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