Safe Kids Kansas Presents 2009 Awards
Safe Kids Kansas presented their annual awards in a ceremony Tuesday at the Kansas National Education Association in Topeka. The prestigious Dr. Dennis Cooley Award of Excellence, named in honor of pediatrician Dr. Dennis Cooley of Topeka, was presented to Jan Stegelman of Topeka.
Stegelman served as the State Coordinator of Safe Children Kansas from the program’s inception in 1991 until her retirement in June 2009. In 1991, Stegelman, then a new employee with the Kansas Department of Well being and Environment, was charged with creating a state injury prevention program. Later that year, an agreement was signed with the National Safe Kids Campaign and a steering committee was formed in Kansas to form a Secure Children Coalition. Under her leadership, Safe Youngsters Kansas expanded to contain extra member organizations and neighborhood coalitions. Safe Kids Kansas also became a 501c(3) in 2003.
“We take this opportunity to recognize Jan Stegelman for her outstanding leadership in child safety and for her exceptional contributions in the field of childhood injury prevention in Kansas,” stated Cherie Sage, State Director for Secure Youngsters Kansas.