Provided by the Broward Municipal Services District

The Broward Municipal Services District (BMSD) Walking School Bus Program is a collaboration between the BMSD and Healthy Community Zone partners, community members, parents, elementary schools and students. The program is designed to transform walking to school into a network of support around elementary school students and is modeled after the University of Miami’s WalkSafe program which is a pediatric injury prevention program designed to work directly with public schools to teach pedestrian safety skills to children from kindergarten through 5th grade. As we move towards the goal of safer, healthier and more vibrant communities, the BMSD Walking School Bus Program can be a mechanism to propose safer routes for students and a coordinated system of registered volunteers to help reduce the level of fear and anxiety associated with walking alone. Volunteers may register through the BMSD Neighborhood Parks and view the program Fact Sheet online at Broward.org/Parks under Volunteer Projects. For more information about the BMSD Walking School Bus Program, email AskBMSD@broward.org.

The BMSD Teen Community Emergency Response Team (C.E.R.T.) is in response to the need to equip teens/young adults with the tools to help themselves, family, friends and community recover after an emergency situation. Emergencies are unpredictable and the best response is to be aware and prepared. Working closely with Broward County Emergency Management Division and Broward Sheriff’s Office Fire Rescue, teens will gain skills including but not limited to situational awareness, basic CPR and First Aid, light search and rescue and fire suppression. Participants engage directly with emergency management and first response professionals to learn how to help minimize loss and maximize safety. C.E.R.T. programs operate under the governance of the Federal Emergency Management Agency and provide year-round training and skills development to help increase a community’s capacity to have trained neighbors helping neighbors survive and recover. By increasing the number of trained individuals who understand how to work closely with professional responders, we enhance the strength of our community. The BMSD is actively recruiting for Adult and Teen C.E.R.T. volunteers. Teens are currently meeting on the 4th Wednesdays, 6-8PM at BMSD neighborhood parks. BMSD CERT volunteer applications are available at www.broward.org/Emergency/Documents/BMSD- CERT-Volunteer-Application.pdf. . More information about Florida CERT Association is available at www. acertassociation.org/what-is-cert. For more information about BMSD Teen CERT Program, email AskBMSD@broward.org