About Us
Safe Kids Grand Forks is a region-wide coalition whose mission is to prevent unintentional injuries and death to children and youth 19 years of age and younger. Safe Kids has built a vast coalition of health care providers, government and community agencies, schools, churches, businesses and individuals that work together in a collaborative nature to keep the children of our region safe from their number one cause of death — unintentional injury. Our efforts are multi-faceted and comprehensive in order to maximize the number of children and families we reach with our injury prevention message and to assure that they are effective. We base the development and implementation of programs on the five E's of injury prevention — education, encouragement, engineering, enforcement, and evaluation.
30th Anniversary Celebration
On January 29, 1992, then United Hospital signed the contract with Safe Kids Worldwide to launch Safe Kids Grand Forks. Throughout 2022, we will celebrate the work of the coalition over the past 30 years as they work to keep kids safe at home, at school, at play and on the way. We are proud of our partners, volunteers, supporters and coalition members who help us in our efforts to keep kids safe. We encourage you to join us on this journey as we celebrate this milestone anniversary:
Become a Member or Volunteer
Safe Kids Grand Forks is always eager to accept new members in our Coalition. If an individual, business, agency or service group has an interest in injury prevention and childhood safety, Safe Kids would love to have you as a Coalition member. There is no fee to join the Coalition and yet there are benefits you will receive by being a member. Any help or expertise you can share is greatly appreciated.
Safe Kids Grand Forks meets as a full Coalition once a month for most months during the year. Meetings are held routinely at Altru Clinic in East Grand Forks (607 DeMers Ave) on the second Thursday of each month, from 12:00 – 1:00 p.m. Lunch is served so an RSVP is appreciated (safekids@altru.org). Meeting notices and agendas are sent out in advance and members are also kept updated with meeting minutes, newsletters and emails. Anyone with agenda item requests should submit them to the Coordinator 2 weeks in advance.
Safe Kids Grand Forks also has subcommittees that meet as needed to conduct business. These include:
- Child Passenger Safety
- Pedestrian and Wheeled Sports Safety
- Water and Outdoor Recreation Safety
- Home Safety
- Sports Safety
These subcommittees are also open to new members. For more information, contact the Safe Kids Grand Forks Coordinator.
If you or your organization/business is interested in serving as a volunteer at any of our coalition events, please contact the Coalition Coordinator for more details on how your help can be used. We are always in need of eager volunteers.
Donate to Our Program
Safe Kids Grand Forks operates almost entirely from grant funding and donations from individuals.
Please help us keep kids safe — even a small donation will make a difference in our injury prevention efforts.
Make a donation online
Choose an amount or give any amount through our secure form.
You can also contact the Coalition Coordinator at701-780-1489orsafekids@altru.org.
We are set up as a 501(c)3 corporation so your contributions are considered a charitable donation. If you are interested in providing a donation of products (i.e. car seats, bike helmets, smoke alarms, etc.), please contact Carma Hanson, Coalition Coordinator, to make arrangements. Donations such as these are always welcome.
If you are interested in donating your time to Safe Kids Grand Forks, please contact the Coordinator and your talents will be matched with the Coalition's many volunteer needs. We always have needs to fill for teens through adult aged helpers. Some activities include interactions at events, while others include "behind the scenes" prep work. We will match your skills to a volunteer project!
Thank you in advance for any help you can offer toward the goal of preventing childhood injuries. For more information on being an event or program sponsor, contact the Coalition with your request.
Coalition Achievements & Recognition
2019 Outstanding Lead Agency Award
In July 2019, Altru Health System was co-presented with the Outstanding Lead Agency Award by Safe Kids Worldwide at their bi-annual conference and Awards Luncheon in Washington DC. Altru Health System has served as the lead agency for Safe Kids Grand Forks since it was founded in 1992. Along with the lead agency for Safe Kids Fargo-Moorhead, Altru was given this award for their outstanding support of Safe Kids Grand Forks and their work to establish two new coalitions in the western part of North Dakota.
2013 Outstanding Coalition of the Year
In June 2013, Safe Kids Grand Forks was awarded the highest distinction given out by Safe Kids Worldwide when they were named the outstanding coalition of the year. We are grateful to our coalition partners and members for helping us to achieve this recognition.
National G.M. Buckle-Up Awards
Safe Kids Grand Forks is pleased to boast four National G.M. Buckle-Up Awards bestowed on our Coalition, our local Buckle-Up program partner and two faithful volunteers.