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Programs for Kids and Teens

As part of the Community Health Needs Assessment (CHNA), SGMC partners with local organizations to implement and address the needs of the community. 

Safe Sitter

Safe Sitter® prepares students in grades 6-8 to be safe when they’re home alone, watching younger siblings, or babysitting.

Students learn life-saving skills such as how to rescue someone who’s choking, and helpful information like what to do if there’s severe weather. The lessons are filled with fun activities and role-playing exercises. Students even get to use CPR manikins to practice CPR and choking rescue!

Safe Sitter® Course Content:

  • Safety Skills: Students learn how to prevent unsafe situations and what to do when faced with dangers such as power failures or weather emergencies.
  • Child Care Skills: Students learn tips to manage behavior that will help them stay in control of themselves and the children in their care. Students also learn the ages and stages of child development, as well as practice diapering.
  • First Aid & Rescue Skills: Learning skills such as choking rescue and CPR is often students’ favorite part of the class. Students also learn a system to help them assess and respond to injuries and illnesses.
  • Life & Business Skills: The ability to screen jobs, discuss fees, and greet employers will set students up for success now and in the future. Students practice these skills through various role plays.



Swim Smart

Free Swimming Lessons

For children ages 4-8
June 12-15, 2017
10:10am-10:40am
Space is limited, call 229-433-1073 to register.
Valdosta-Lowndes County Family YMCA
View Flyer

Registration required. Call 229.433.1074.

Connecting KIDS

Connecting Kids addresses children’s health and wellness issues on a variety of levels.

  • Distributing fruits, vegetables and other healthy snacks to YMCA’s “Food and Fun” program Boys and Girls Club’s “Triple Play” program
  • Annual Bike Rodeo to teach bike safety
  • Summer Safety Media Blitz including water, helmet, sun and Internet safety
  • Distribution of funds to local schools for physical education equipment

The Kohl’s/SGMC Foundation partnership is unique. With Kohl’s as SGMC’s biggest corporate community sponsor, we continue to make great strides in the area of children’s wellness and nutrition.

Safe Kids Lowndes County

Safe Kids Worldwide is a global nonprofit organization with a mission of preventing unintentional childhoodinjury, a leading cause of death and disability for children ages 1-14.

Unintentional injuries kill more than 830,000 children annually worldwide and permanently disable even more. To combat this problem, Safe Kids was founded in 1987 by Children’s National Medical Center with support from Johnson & Johnson. Through global education, media, community outreach and public policy efforts, we reach millions of children and their families with lifesaving interventions.

South Georgia Medical Center has partnered with other area organizations to form the Safe Kids Lowndes County coalition.  Find out more about our local coalition.

PowerUp for 30

As part of the Georgia SHAPE initiative, SGMC and DPH South Health District have partnered to present Power Up for 30 to local school systems. This program encourages school systems to implement a before, during, and/or after strategy to incorporate 30 minutes of physical activity into a school day for elementary students. The objective of this program is to develop a healthier you and a healthier future for Georgia, one child at a time, one step at a time and one healthy meal at a time. To learn more information about this national program visit georgiashape.org.

Fitness 4 Life

Fitness 4 Life is a personal fitness program for kids ages 7-14. This wellness focused program presented by SGMC Health and Valdosta-Lowndes County Family YMCA, focuses on fun, fitness, nutrition, and healthy living. This 12 week program provides program participants with the tools and education they need to help combat obesity. For more information about this program, call Valdosta-Lowndes County Family YMCA at 229-244-4646.

Kid’s Kitchen

SGMC Health and Valdosta-Lowndes County Parks and Recreation Authority (VLPRA) have partnered to present a weeklong specialty camp that walks kids through the farm-to-fork experience. The children participate in fun, classroom-type learning activities. The purpose of this program is to provide fun non-athletic recreational programs that combat obesity. Kid’s Kitchen is organized by VLPRA. For more information, visit vlpra.com.