The YMCA of Greater San Antonio considers it our responsibility to prevent drowning and teach everyone how to be safe around water. We can make a difference and reduce the risk of drowning in our community, stopping the generational mindset in some communities that it is acceptable for children and families not to know how to swim. It is crucial for the YMCA to provide scholarships for SAW swim lessons in under-resourced San Antonio communities.

Our YMCA took the pledge to prevent drowning through the Safety Around Water Program. YMCA of Greater San Antonio swim instructors have been implementing SAW since 2017, and all instructors are champions of the SAW curriculum in every swim lesson. Before introducing SAW, our swim program (which was established in 2007) followed a water safety curriculum designed by our executive aquatics staff.

The Y determined the need in response to research showing the high number of children that do not know how to swim and the high number of fatal drownings in Texas.

According to the USA Swimming Foundation website:

• African American children ages 5-19 are nearly six times more likely to drown in a swimming pool than their Caucasian peers.
• 45% of Hispanic/Latino children and 64% of African American children have little to no swimming ability.
• If a parent does not know how to swim, there is only a 19% chance that a child in their household will learn to swim.

Furthermore, according to the Texas Department of Family & Protective Services, there were at least 80 fatal child drownings in 2020 in Texas. According to 2019 Census data, most of San Antonio’s population is Hispanic (65%). Also, over 90% of families served by inner-city YMCA facilities and swim program sites identify as Hispanic.

The YMCA of Greater San Antonio considers it our responsibility to prevent drowning and teach everyone how to be safe around water. With IPSSA's support, we can make a difference and reduce the risk of drowning in our community, stopping the generational mindset in some communities that it is acceptable for children and families not to know how to swim. It is crucial for the Davis-Scott Family YMCA to provide scholarships for SAW swim lessons in what is an under-resourced San Antonio community. Our YMCA took the pledge to prevent drowning through the Safety Around Water Program. YMCA of Greater San Antonio swim instructors have been implementing SAW since 2017, and all instructors are champions of the program.

With the Y Open Door Scholarship program, no one is turned away due to the inability to pay for the Y swim programs. All our community members who are impacted are considered low- to moderate-income. Their median income falls below 80% of Bexar County's median household income. The Y requires documentation of low-to-moderate income status to qualify for our Open Doors Scholarship Program to reduce program fees below the already subsidized rates.