Learn more about Safe Kids Georgia
Vision of Safe Kids Georgia: For Georgia’s children to have a safe place to grow and play, free from accidental injuries.
The Mission of Safe Kids Georgia:
Safe Kids Georgia is a 501(c) 3 non-profit organization dedicated to leading a statewide network in order to prevent unintentional injury, the #1 cause of death to children fourteen years and younger. We bring together private and public, state and local organizations, and individual volunteers to keep our kids safe in cars, on wheels, in water, and at home.
Our 6 Focus Areas:
- Child Passenger Safety
- Bike/Wheeled Sport Safety
- Pedestrian Safety
- Water Safety
- Fire and Burn Safety
- Home Safety
The History of Safe Kids Georgia:
The City of Atlanta was among the initial ten cities targeted by the National SAFE KIDS campaign to develop an injury prevention coalition. The original organizers felt the concept should be implemented statewide and not just in the city of Atlanta thus, SAFE KIDS of Georgia had its inaugural meeting in May of 1988.
The initial lead agencies were the Governor’s Commission on Children and Youth and the Council for Children. In 1990, SAFE KIDS of Georgia became incorporated and elected its first board of directors. In 1991, Egleston Children’s Hospital became the lead agency for SAFE KIDS of Georgia and Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta continues in that role today.
Safe Kids Worldwide launched new branding guidelines in 2005 which officially changed SAFE KIDS of Georgia to Safe Kids Georgia.
Safe Kids Georgia began with coalitions in DeKalb, Gwinnett, Dalton, Augusta, Savannah and Brunswick and has grown to 27 coalitions as of 2011. We have also been the recipient of numerous national and state awards for leadership within childhood accidental injury prevention.
Safe Kids Georgia continues working to strengthen the skills and abilities of local coalitions in part by providing training and guidance in the areas of leadership, injury prevention, strategic planning, finances and, evaluation.
Together, Safe Kids Georgia and local Coalitions have proven that a willing attitude and winning spirit will make a program grow strong enough to reach its goals; rates of injury and injury deaths have fallen 46% within the last 20 years.
Staff
Beverly Losman, Director of Safe Kids Georgia, has over 25 years of non profit management experience which she likes to say is pretty good for only being 29! Currently she is serving in the capacity of Director of Safe Kids Georgia and Manager of Child Health Promotion for Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta. Her position is to enhance the business acumen of 23 coalitions throughout Georgia who provide education and advocacy on injury prevention the number one killer of ages 14 and under.
Previously, she served at the Starlight Children’s Foundation as the Executive Director of the Atlanta chapter; the Director of the Marriott Foundation for People with Disabilities. Prior to that she was the Executive Director of the Cultural Affairs Department for the Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce for over seven years and developed the Metro Atlanta Arts Fund, a three million dollar grant organization that provided stabilization grants to arts organizations. Beverly is a uniquely qualified professional with extensive experience in fund-raising, public relations, marketing, strategic planning and community development.
Terri Miller is a former Coalition Coordinator/Health Educator for Safe Kids Douglas County and is now a Program Coordinator for Safe Kids Georgia. Her role is to assist the statewide coalitions with developing, implementing, and evaulating programs designed to address accidental injury in children 14 and younger. She also continues to give educational presentations and help with grant writing. Terri worked as a social worker before moving into injury prevention.
Terri earned her B.A. in Psychology, with a minor in Women Studies at the Ohio State University. She earned her MPH at Armstrong-Atlantic State University and is also a Certified Health Education Specialist and Certified Passenger Safety Technician Instructor.
Mary Record is the Administrative Assistant for Safe Kids Georgia. She is 22 years old and is the youngest of five children. She lives in Atlanta and is a recent graduate from The University of Georgia. Mary graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Health Promotion and Behavior, having been on the Dean’s List all four years of her college education. She is certified in Adult and Child CPR, AED and First Aid and plans to continue her certifications in CHES and Car Seat Safety. Mary is looking forward to putting to use the skills and knowledge she has learned at UGA in an effort to build upon our expanding nonprofit, Safe Kids Georgia. She plans to keep Safe Kids organized and efficient and is excited to work with everyone that contributes to Safe Kids Georgia.
Megan Popielarczyk is a Public Health Fellow with Safe Kids Georgia. Her role is to support and assist the state office as well as the statewide coalitions with developing, implementing, and evaluating programs. Additionally, Megan supports the state office through community educational programs, working collaboratively on projects, and representing safe kids in a number of statewide injury prevention coalitions and workgroups.
Megan received her nursing degree from the University of Kentucky, and worked as a nurse for Indian Health Service in Washington State. She earned her Masters in Public Health, at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill where she continued to work as a nurse. Megan enjoys having the opportunity to use her nursing background in combination with her public health skills to improve the health and safety of children in Georgia.
