Child Crisis Arizona installed 18 free pool fences for Valley families in 2026, aiming to prevent childhood drownings across the Phoenix metro area.

The nonprofit said funding from Salt River Project (SRP) and State Farm paid for spring installations and opened an additional round in fall 2026, according to a sponsored announcement in the Paradise Valley Independent.

The program serves income-qualified families with children six years old or younger who own homes in the Phoenix metro area.

"Preventing childhood injuries and deaths starts with giving families the tools and resources they need to keep their children safe," said Caitlin Sageng, vice president of program operations at Child Crisis Arizona. "Pool fences provide an important layer of protection."

How the program works

Families must meet household income limits to qualify. For a family of four, the cap is $106,560 in annual income, according to the organization's program page.

A household of two can earn up to $85,250, while a household of eight tops out at $140,700.

Applicants must own their home and have at least one child six or younger living there.

They must provide documentation of participation in an assistance program such as food stamps, Medicaid, WIC, energy assistance or unemployment.

Families not enrolled in one of those programs can use a 2025 tax return to verify income eligibility.

Each application must include at least one bid from a licensed and bonded pool fence contractor. Fences are awarded based on available budget.

Year-round risk

The danger does not end in summer.

Beyond fences, Child Crisis Arizona provides water safety education year-round through a virtual workshop led by a Safe Kids Maricopa County coordinator.

The program stresses multiple layers of protection: barriers, active supervision and water safety skills.

Rori Minor, SRP community engagement strategist, said pools pose a threat in every season. "At SRP, we understand that drownings aren't limited to the summer months. Pools can be dangerous all year long," Minor said.

Drowning data underscores that point. In 2024, Maricopa and Pinal counties recorded 75 drowning deaths, including 18 children under age 5, according to Children's Safety Zone data reported by 12News.

In 2025, total drownings in those counties dropped to 52, with eight fatalities involving children under 5.

Jay Arthur, retired firefighter and president of the Drowning Prevention Coalition of Arizona, told 12News that many 2024 child drownings occurred during "non-scheduled swimming times."

Children "made access to the backyard pool, typically through a regular door," Arthur said.

Families interested in the Pool Fence Safety Program can apply at childcrisisaz.org/what-we-do/pool-fence-program.