The Health First Center offers a wide variety of health and safety educational programs for children in pre-school through young adult.  Following you will find a list of the programs offered for children and teens.

 Hand Washing Podcast
 Child Carseat Installation Podcast

For Infants & Toddlers
Parents can schedule appointments to get child passenger safety seats checked at the Health First Center or attend various car seat inspection clinics held across the county.

Any parent or caregiver on Medicaid can receive a child passenger safety seat for the $15 co-payment.  Available through the Health First Center, the Conover Fire Department or the Catawba County Health Department.

Car seat training courses are offered to certify new technicians in the area.

For Pre-School/Kindergarten through 6th Grade
Riskwatch, an injury prevention curriculum, is offered to provide information and presentations to schools, daycare facilities and churches upon request.

School age Children & Teachers
All schools and daycare facilities in Catawba County are supplied with Riskwatch manuals and training as needed.

Kids 12 years & Under
In partnership with Valley Hills Mall, Kids Club is offered every other month to provide health and safety information.

Kids Corner Field Trips
Elementary classes are welcome to schedule a field trip to the HFC for an interactive educational program.
Kids Corner Summer Camp
Held each Tuesday and Thursday in July and August, the Kids Corner Summer Camp is held in the Health First Center and offers health and safety topics.

Pre-Teen/Early Teen/Age 12 & Up
Babysitting Classes review the basic safety information for new babysitters including stranger danger, fire & cooking, poisons, first aid, CPR and baby care.

Pre-Teen/Teen
Programs are offered for badge certification in topics like cooking, safety and babysitting for area Girl Scout troops.

Teens/9th through 12th Grades
The Medical Explorer Program /“Teen Talk” is held monthly to teens interested in healthcare careers.  An interactive and lecture series, the programs offer professionals discussing teen-interest topics and how they relate to healthcare (depression, tattoos & piercing, drugs & alcohol, college preparation, tobacco use, drinking & driving and safe prom among others).

Teen Scene Night
Usually held in conjunction with tax-free weekend in early fall, this event includes door prizes, music and displays.

Teens/Adults
Public CPR and first aid classes are available for certification.

Parent & Teen
“Mom & Me” Teen Talk covers coming-of-age topics for teens and their parents.  Topics include orthodontics, dermatology, depression, hormones, body changes, first female physical exam, sports physicals, fitness and preventing sports injuries among others.

For All Ages
The Health First Center always has materials and displays in the front lobby to provide information on health/wellness and safety.  In addition to information on site, the Health First Center participates in health fairs throughout the community all year long.Safe Kids - Catawba County
The Safe Kids Catawba County Coalition is a part of Safe Kids International, the first and only national organization dedicated solely to the prevention of accidental childhood injury-the number one killer of children ages 14 and under. Catawba Valley Medical Center is the lead agency for SafeKidsCatawbaCounty Coalition and employs Debbie Leger-Scott as the coalition's coordinator.

The coalition has representatives from county and community agencies including but not limited to public health, fire, police and emergency medical. Educating children, parents and caregivers about safety for children is accomplished through Safe Kids' sponsorship and participation in free community events.

• Safety workshops for children and parents (school groups welcome)
• Child passenger safety seat classes
• Child passenger safety seat inspections by appointment
• Summer Kids Corner presentations
• N.C. Safe Kids "Buckle Up" Distribution Program
• Medical Explorer Scouting classes and events
• Bike rodeos
• Health fairs
• Safe Kids Fair hosted annually

Safe Kids Worldwide is global network of organizations whose mission is to prevent accidental childhood injury, a leading killer of children 14 and under.

More than 450 coalitions in 15 countries bring together health and safety experts, educators, corporations, foundations, governments and volunteers to educate and protect families. The organization was founded in 1987 by Children's National Medical Center with support from Johnson & Johnson. Safe Kids Wordwide is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization located in Washington, D.C.

To learn more about any kind of programming for children or teens or to learn more about Safe Kids Catawba County, please contact Ms. Leger-Scott at 828-485-2300, ext. 225 or by e mail at: [email protected].