Let’s Be Frank: St. Joseph ramps up safety awareness

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) -- The St. Joseph Safety Council is encouraging residents to take advantage of a wide range of local safety programs designed to promote well-being and reduce risk within the community.

Founded in 1935, the Council has a long-standing history of supporting public safety initiatives such as Safety Town, while also partnering with the court system to offer alcohol and traffic safety education classes.

“You had about 100,000 people in Saint Joseph at that time, versus roughly 76,000 now,” said Frank Till, executive director of the Safety Council. “The majority were compacted in the downtown area, and as a result, there were a lot of pedestrian fatalities. So the Safety Council began to help decrease those numbers, which is why traffic has always been a huge emphasis and of course, it’s grown into so much more now.”

With summer underway, officials are urging the public to prioritize safety education and explore the many resources the Council provides.

The organization offers a variety of programs, including youth safety education, driver’s education, occupational safety training for workers, and a substance awareness traffic program.

“We do so many child safety programs because we want our most vulnerable residents, our children, to be safe,” Till said. “We install car seats and give them away to low-income families when we have them. Anything we can do to keep costs down so more people can get involved is our goal.”

The Council’s programs have benefitted residents across the region, and officials emphasize that it’s never too early, or too late, to learn important safety skills.

“One family wrote us a letter about their son who was attacked by a dog. From being in Safety Town, he knew what to do in that situation,” Till said. “The child was still injured, but it was minimal. Our counselors and probation officers truly care about their clients and want to see them succeed. It’s more than just numbers for them.”

Community members can also show their support by wearing the Council’s new “Let’s Be Frank About Your Safety” T-shirts, designed for those passionate about protecting their neighborhoods.

More information about the St. Joseph Safety Council and its programs can be found at www.stjoesafetycouncil.org.