Offering 25 classes a year, Rutland Regional Medical Center in Rutland, VT, has been teaching Safe Sitter® for 11 years.  “Our hospital is committed to prevention and wellness and Safe Sitter® promotes this in particular to the young people in our community,” said Deb Houghton, one of the original Instructors.  Deb credits their Site Coordinator, Susan Lebel, with the program’s success.  “Susan has nurtured Safe Sitter® in such a way that it is viewed as a highly coveted, worthwhile, and enjoyable experience.  She has utilized marketing strategies that are effective, secured funds for additional items for the students, and supports the Safe Sitter® Instructors in every way.”
     Susan Lebel, Community Health Educator, feels the success of the pro-gram is because of the support of the hospital leadership, the Instructors, and the community.  “The hospital leadership values Safe Sitter®,” says Susan.  “We teach classes off-site at schools, the recreation department, and community center.  “Programs are tailored for the specific needs of a group.”
     Susan says Safe Sitter® is a very popular program in Rutland.  “Parents in our community look forward to having their children take it, even if they never babysit.  Safe Sitter® helps them gain a level of independence as they begin to spend time alone at home.  Parents of young children often insist potential babysitters take Safe Sitter®.”
     One of their graduates, Kari Hampton, is now a Safe Sitter® Instructor for the hospital.  A college student, Kari says, “I took Safe Sitter® when I was 13.  I love working with the kids and Safe Sitter® reassures me that I want to be a teacher when I graduate.  It’s taught me a lot about children and keeps me up to date with the rescue skills.  I am proud to be a Safe Sitter® graduate and Instructor and that I help our youth become better and safer care givers.”

    When asked why they teach Safe Sitter®, different aspects of the program strike a chord with different Instructors.  For Diane Wallingford, Instructor at Frisbie Memorial Hospital in Rochester, NH, it was Safe Sitter’s motto of Better sitters today…better parents tomorrow.  “Many of us learned through trial and error when we were raising our children,” said Diane.  “We spend years learning and studying information to develop our careers, but very little time is invested in learning to be good parents.  I personally could have benefited from the magic tricks and tips in behavior management.”
     Diane, a nurse educator in the hospital, has been teaching Safe Sitter® for six of the 16 years the hospital has been a teaching site.  Teaching 4 – 5 classes a year, Diane assists Jo Ann Vatcher, Site Coordinator, with coordinating the program.  As Director of Education at the hospital, Jo Ann feels the prevention aspect has made an impact on her life.  “The First Aid Chart has great info that I draw upon when I’m presenting programs for young parents or parents of special needs children.  Personally, I’ve used the information that I’ve learned from teaching Safe Sitter® when I’m caring for younger children!”
     Jo Ann feels Safe Sitter® is a good fit with their organization’s goals for community service.  “Parents see our hospital as a resource for a quality program for their kids,” said Jo Ann.   “It’s a quality program that is easy to teach and doesn’t take a lot of prep-time.  We are also fortunate to have a wonderful facility and that makes a difference!”

     When Nita Brady’s daughter took Safe Sitter®, Nita was so impressed with what she learned that she decided to become an Instructor – and became the Site Coordinator too!  Fifteen years later, Nita has been teaching about five classes a year – by herself!  “My daughter is now a mother of three little ones and still thankful she took Safe Sitter®!”
     Nita’s enthusiasm is infectious when she talks about teaching Safe Sitter®!  She feels Safe Sitter® is not only a good fit for her, but also the hospital and community.  “Memorial Hospital Association in Modesto, CA, is very community-minded,” said Nita.  “Not only have I taught many employees’ children, but I get calls all year long and always have a waiting list.  I even have students from outside our community.  All I know is parents love it!”  Nita said one unexpected benefit of teaching Safe Sitter® is that the hospital has gained many former graduates as employees.  “They come up to me, introduce themselves, and remind me that I taught them Safe Sitter® years earlier.  It’s always such a surprise to see how they’ve grown!”
     Knowing the success of any program is two-fold – quality and connected-ness – Nita truly cares about her students and what they are learning.  Whether it’s giving each of them a part in the Ceremony, praising a hero in the community (See March 2002 FAX Monthly story where one of Nita’s students saved her cousin’s life who was choking on a chip.), or taking extra steps to help students with special needs, Nita knows she is making a difference – in her students’ lives and in her community.  “I love their eager-ness to learn.  I love the fact that I am not only teaching them skills for baby-sitting, but skills for a lifetime – whether for future jobs or as future parents.”

 

     It's been over 17 years since Lynne Braxton first started teaching Safe Sitter® at Pitt County Memorial Hospital in Greenville, NC, and she’s as dedicated to the program today as she was then!  “I believe in the merit of teaching life skills to young people as they are beginning their steps towards independence,” said Lynne.  “There’s such a personal reward in seeing young folks take pride in their new knowledge and skill.  Plus, I really do believe that one person can make a difference!”
     Lynne, the mother of four daughters, is a pediatric nurse specialist at the hospital.  All four of her daughters have taken Safe Sitter® and one serves on the Student Advisory Committee.  Up until this fall, Lynne had taught one to four classes a year – by herself.  Now she has six new Instructors to help!  “Safe Sitter® is good public relations for the hospital.  Because we have been teaching for so long, Safe Sitter® is well-known in the community.  Many of the parents do not let their children babysit until they have taken the program.  The hospital and the parents also believe in its merits and effectiveness too!”

 

     Durham Regional Hospital in Durham, NC, has been teaching Safe Sitter® for 18 years and Myrtle Mayfield and Donna Rogers have been teaching together most of those years.  “We are used to Safe Sitter® and we are used to teaching together,” says Myrtle.  “It makes it easy and it makes  it fun!”
     Myrtle feels Safe Sitter® is a good marketing tool for the hospital.  “It has increased our exposure in the community, especially for newcomers.  We’ve had a lot of downsizing and changes through the years but everyone in administration and marketing has always been very supportive of Safe Sitter®.  Everyone feels it is a very worthwhile program for the hospital as well as the community.”
     The hospital teaches two classes a year and has taught more than 450 students.  “We have more qualified babysitters in the community and we have better parents since some of our graduates are now parents,” says Myrtle.  “Employees want their children to become Safe Sitters and then their friends and neighbors hear about the course.  We advertise through our hospital newsletter, local newspaper, church bulletins, and post signs in the hospital.  One of our Safe Sitter® graduates is now one of our nursing students.  She helped out at a class last summer and is interested in becoming an Instructor!”

 

     Glenda Amen, Site Coordinator at Sterling Regional MedCenter, in Sterling, CO, says she continues to offer Safe Sitter® to the community because the mission of Safe Sitter® fits with the mission of the Wellness Services Department of the hospital which she manages.  “Safe Sitter® is a wonderful public relations opportunity,” said Glenda.  “We look for things we can do to give back to the rural region of Colorado where we are located.”
     Teaching four classes each year, Glenda likes giving the students life skills, especially the safety information.  “Safe Sitter® is an excellent program!  I know the information is current and reliable.”
     Since the hospital has been teaching Safe Sitter® for 12 years, the program is well-known.  “I use our email system and employee newsletter to recruit Instructors.  Several Instructors decided to teach because they understand the reality of how hard it is to find a good babysitter,” said Glenda.  “Good organizational skills, visibility within the hospital and the community, and Instructors who vary in both age and professional backgrounds have allowed us to remain successful.”

 

     Teaching Safe Sitter® as an outreach to the community is clearly a passion for Lillian Anderson, Site Coordinator at St. Joseph’s Regional Medical Center in Paterson, NJ.  The St. Joseph site reaches over 300 youth a year through monthly classes at the hospital as well as classes in local schools, churches, the YMCA, the Boys and Girls Club, and libraries.  “Paterson is one of the largest cities in New Jersey, and has a relatively high population of low income working families,” says Lillian.  “Many children are responsible for taking care of their siblings or relatives after school.”
     Lillian believes that Safe Sitter® prepares its graduates well for the responsibilities of child care and loves to promote Safe Sitter®.  “It’s a program in which everyone benefits.”  Like a good parent, Lillian is protective of the program and personally screens potential Instructors looking for people who enjoy working with youth.  “Our Instructors come from a variety of backgrounds, but we share a common belief in the importance of families.” 
     You can hear the passion in Lillian’s voice as she says, “I love teaching Safe Sitter® because it gives me the opportunity to interact with young adolescents and I truly enjoy young people.  I cannot find the words to describe the pleasure I feel when I see the smiles on our graduates’ faces proclaiming their sense of accomplishment to their relatives attending the Ceremony!”  Lillian has had the opportunity to see lots of smiling faces – she’s been teaching Safe Sitter® for 10 years!

     Peninsula Regional Medical Center in Salisbury, MD, is a unique site in many ways.  All eight of their Instructors have been teaching Safe Sitter® since their first class 12 years ago!  “We’ve taught over a thousand students,” said Carol Moore, Site Coordinator.  “All of our Instructors have had their own children participate in the class – as toddler guests or students.  That says a lot about the quality of the program and their support of it!”
     Although the hospital teaches Safe Sitter® as part of their mission to promote positive health activities, it’s clearly a labor of love for the Instructors!  “Working with the young people is a nice change for many of our Instructors, who most often work with adults,” says Carol Moore.   “This age group really keeps you on your toes and challenges you to provide rationale for information given.  They are eager to learn and fun to work with!  We enjoy seeing them interact with each other.”
     Carol strongly feels their program works due to their dedicated Instructors.  “They are funny, enthusiastic, dynamic women and mothers who, in addition to the classes already scheduled, are always willing to teach when a community class is requested, staff a booth at a health fair, etc.  Flexibility and willingness to work together is critical to the success of our site!”  Carol says, in addition to excellent Instructors, their program is successful due to a wonderful support staff that handles everything from class registration to assembling the promotional materials.
     As a reflection of how well-received Safe Sitter® is in their community, the Instructors were pictured on the front cover of Advance for Nurses magazine, which featured an article about their program.

 

  You might expect a site with 21 years experience teaching Safe Sitter® to be a well-oiled machine.  One of our first teaching sites, Mercy Iowa City in Iowa City, IA, is that and more!  Site Coordinator Carol Ebinger said, “We have everything pretty much down to a science.  I think we’re successful because we attract great Instructors who are loyal and committed to the program.”
     Because Mercy only offers classes during the summer, many of the Instructors are teachers.  “Our Instructors enjoy the opportunity to work with energetic and enthusiastic young people.” states Carol.  “Most of the Instructors are parents and Safe Sitter® gives them a chance to teach what is near and dear to their hearts.  They feel very good they are helping to make our community a better place.”
     “We live in an educated community and parents are very knowledgeable and appreciative of the fact that Mercy takes the lead and offers this opportunity for their children,” said Carol.  “Parents frequently won’t let their children babysit until they complete Safe Sitter® and there are an equal number of parents who only hire Safe Sitter® graduates.  Other programs have been offered throughout the years but none have outlasted Safe Sitter®!”  

 

     In this season of giving, Sherry Mercer, Site Coordinator at Sheridan County YMCA in Sheridan, WY, is truly a role model.  Teaching nine classes a year, usually by herself, Sherry feels Safe Sitter® is a perfect fit with the mission of the Y.  “It builds relationships and strengthens our community by bringing children and parents together in such a positive educational approach.”
     The Y has been a Safe Sitter® teaching site for nine years.  “Safe Sitter® has become a ‘rite of passage’ for the youth in Sheridan, is a cornerstone in our Y’s youth programs, and has become a personal cause for me,” says Sherry.  “We have a long history of success because of the support of our executive director, conscientious parents desiring the best for their children, and caring and kind Instructors willing to donate their time.  And, most importantly of course, are the respectful and responsible youth in our community who are willing to serve as safe and nurturing babysitters.”
     Living in a small community, Sherry usually sees the graduates again – either at the Y or out in the community.  “They tell me their babysitting stories.  It is especially gratifying to hear how they’ve used their Safe Sitter® skills in real situations.”

 

     Camaraderie and team commitment of the Instructors is the key to success says Karen Schneeberger, Site Coordinator at Florida Hospital Medical System, in Orlando, FL.  “We have great, dedicated, fun Instructors!  They not only enjoy working with the students but with each other.  They feel comfortable helping each other out whenever they see the need!”
     Team commitment is crucial when teaching 12 classes a year with 24 students in each class and in six different hospitals!  “We’ve been teaching Safe Sitter® for over 13 years and six of our original Instructors are still teaching,” exclaims Karen.  “Our Instructor pool meets annually for lunch.  We gather input from the previous year, make suggestions for the next year, and schedule class dates.”
     Working in the Parent Education department of the Women’s Center, Karen feels Safe Sitter® fits right in with their mission.  “It lifts up our community from various standpoints – equipping our children with babysitting skills, safety information, and parenting skills.  It is evidence of the commitment of Florida Hospital to the young people in our community!”

 

    "Twelve years after her hospital became a site you can still hear the enthusiasm in Cyndee's  voice when she talks about Safe Sitter!  As Site Coordinator at Reston Hospital Center in Reston, VA, Cyndee remembers her first impression.  “I saw what Safe Sitter offered and knew there would be no other choice!  As a nurse and new mom, I was most impressed with the attention to prevention and medical accuracy.”
     Cyndee feels the key to their success is the attitude of their Instructors.  “I have found there are some people who are born to teach and these are the ones I look for!”  Two Instructors, Dana and Ann , have been teaching since the hospital became a site.  “They remain enthusiastic and feel rewarded by the positive feedback they receive from the students,” said Cyndee.  “One of our newer Instructors, Sue, heard about Safe Sitter from Dana and Ann.  She immediately enrolled her daughter, asked to watch a class, and then called to attend the next Instructor Workshop!”
     The Instructors even spread their enthusiasm into the community by working with Loudoun County Fire Rescue to offer classes at community centers and schools.  “It’s a great partnership,” said Cyndee.  “We share expenses and Instructors and both advertise the classes.”
     Enthusiastically, Cyndee says,   “Safe Sitter is so much fun to teach!”

Teamwork is the key for 10 years of success in teaching Safe Sitter® at Cleveland Regional Medical Center in Shelby, NC.   

     “We meet annually to make plans for our classes which focus on ongoing program improvement,” explains Judy Hawkins, Site Coordinator.  Judy credits this annual meeting with building “team spirit” and fostering a “team approach” by the Instructors.
     The group commitment to making the student class “the best ever” motivates the individual Instructors to improve their own teaching methods.  “We’re not afraid to try the new approaches and techniques suggested by Safe Sitter®,” reports Judy.
     Judy says all the Instructors truly enjoy interacting with the students.  The annual group meeting provides a good opportunity to share anecdotes. 
     “Being from a small community, we take pleasure teaching children that we have watched grow up!  We also get to hear from former students who are using what they learned in Safe Sitter® to care for their own children.”      

  “We truly work at engaging the students,” said Ellen Kisling, Site Coordinator at Liberty Hospital in Liberty, MO, when asked what makes her teaching site successful.  She should know – they’ve been teaching 150 – 200 students a year for the past 14 years!
     “We call all of them by name and work to establish a relationship with them.  We find out what motivated them to take the class and really try to get to know them,” said Ellen.  “Our Instructors debrief after each day of class to see what we can strengthen or if we need to pay special attention to a student who may not be getting the concepts.  We really try hard to fit the pieces together so it makes logical sense to the kids.” 
     Instructors rotate teaching the modules so they are familiar with all content and can review or reinforce concepts as needed.  Ellen says, “I believe that all our Instructors truly love kids and want to give them every opportunity to excel and be successful.  The atmosphere is professional, yet supportive, compassionate, and fun!  What more could you ask for than to have a positive influence on our children!”    

Almost 2000 kids in New Orleans have received parenting education!  Teaching at least six Safe Sitter classes a year – each with 24 students – The Parenting Center at Children’s Hospital in New Orleans , LA , has been teaching Safe Sitter for 13 years!
     The Parenting Center , a multifaceted community resource that provides support and education to parents, was founded as a joint project of the Children’s Hospital and Junior League.  “Safe Sitter fits our mission – giving good developmental and safety information that will serve potential parents,” says Donna , Site Coordinator.
     Parent educators teach at the hospital while Junior League volunteers teach at their headquarters.  “The volunteers are not only willing to be trained, but take the responsibility very seriously,” said Donna.  Safe Sitter is also taught off-site at Camp Med , a week-long camp designed for adolescents interested in future medical professions.
     “Teaching Safe Sitter helps us reach so many people,” said Donna.  “It has such an impact on them that our graduates even stop us in the grocery or mall to tell their babysitting success stories!”
 

 

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This page was last updated 02/18/08