Submitted

Safe Kids Kansas presented its Annual Awards on Dec. 9. The awards recognized outstanding contributions by individuals, coalitions, organizations and businesses toward reducing unintentional injury to Kansas children. The awards were presented virtually via Zoom.

Awards included the prestigious Dr. Dennis Cooley Award of Excellence, named in honor of Topeka pediatrician Dr. Dennis Cooley. This year’s Cooley Award was presented to Captain Candice Breshears with the Kansas Highway Patrol.

Dr. Dennis Cooley Award of Excellence

Breshears has been an active partner in promoting safety since joining the Kansas Highway Patrol (KHP) in 2006. Breshears has spent her career enforcing safety laws, educating families and caregivers about safety, including the importance of car seats and seat belts, and providing information and advocacy for laws that impact the safety of Kansans on our roads. She has also provided leadership and mentorship for cadets attending the Cadet Law Enforcement Academy, a partnership with the American Legion and KHP. Breshears is an advocate for women in law enforcement professions and a member of the Women’s Public Safety Network, actively attending the National Association of Women Law Enforcement Executives conferences. Breshears has previously served on the Board of Directors for Safe Kids Kansas and Operation Lifesaver.

In her current role with KHP, Breshears oversees the Recruiting and Community Engagement Unit, which includes recruiting personnel to KHP and the safety education, prevention and community engagement efforts conducted by KHP throughout the state.

“Captain Breshears has demonstrated leadership in both the law enforcement and injury prevention fields for nearly two decades. In every facet of her career with KHP, she has found ways to prioritize safety education for Kansans, build partnerships, and provide encouragement and mentorship to her colleagues,” Cherie Sage, State Coordinator for Safe Kids Kansas, said. “We are honored to work with Captain Candice Breshears and to bestow her with our highest honor.”

Safe Kids Kansas also presented awards for the Dr. Jeffrey Colvin Award for Outstanding Innovation in Child Safety, Outstanding Partnership for Child Safety, Outstanding Coalition Organization, Local Coalition of the Year and Service Recognition.

Dr. Jeffrey Colvin Award for Outstanding Innovation in Child Safety

The Dr. Jeffrey Colvin Award for Outstanding Innovation in Child Safety was presented to the Kansas State Child Death Review Board.

The Kansas State Child Death Review Board (KSCDRB) publishes an annual data report examining trends and risk factors associated with the death of children from birth to age 17 in Kansas. The work of the KSCDRB helps to increase awareness of the burden of child deaths, provide a roadmap to prevention efforts and provide professional training and advocacy for better laws and regulations to increase child safety. The KCDRB has recently expanded its focus on pedestrian safety, vehicular front-overs and agriculture-related deaths. Their research is a trusted and valuable resource for childhood injury prevention professionals across Kansas.

Outstanding Partnership for Child Safety

The Outstanding Partnership for Child Safety award was presented to Kansas Child Care Training Opportunities (KCCTO).

KCCTO has been a long-time partner in providing injury prevention education to childcare providers. Trainings offered have included safe sleep, child passenger safety and poison prevention. Over the past year, KCCTO collaborated with Safe Kids Kansas to develop a curriculum on playground safety and water safety, with future subjects under discussion. Educating childcare providers on injury risks and prevention tips not only helps to make children safer in the childcare environment but also creates an opportunity for providers to share safety information and resources with the families they serve.

Outstanding Coalition Organization

The Outstanding Coalition Organization award was presented to the Kansas Department for Children and Families (DCF).

The Kansas Department for Children and Families (DCF) has been a long-time partner of Safe Kids Kansas, serving as a connector to Head Start home visitation programs and training DCF staff as Safe Sleep Instructors. Through this partnership, Safe Kids Kansas provided safety-themed books and home safety devices, such as baby gates and cabinet locks, to home visitors, supporting the families they serve and helping to keep children safe at home. Safe Kids Kansas was also invited to provide a variety of safety training sessions to home visitors, helping them identify risks in the home and discuss prevention strategies with the families they visit. Safe Sleep Instructors educate parents and caregivers on safe sleep practices and train others to provide education to families. They also host community baby shower events and crib clinics to share information and connect families to community resources.

Local Coalition of the Year Award

The Local Coalition of the Year award was presented to Safe Kids Finney County.

Safe Kids Finney County exemplifies the spirit of community collaboration, dedication, and innovation in preventing childhood injuries. Through its strong partnerships, creative programming, and unwavering commitment to safety education, the coalition continues to make a measurable difference for children and families across southwest Kansas. Over the past year, Safe Kids Finney County has demonstrated leadership in childhood safety, hosting numerous car seat and bike safety events, and providing safe sleep education and resources to families. Safe Kids Finney County’s ability to successfully coordinate diverse partners around a shared goal to keep children safe from preventable injuries sets it apart as a model for injury prevention. Donna Gerstner serves as the coalition coordinator, and the coalition’s lead agency is LiveWell Finney County.

Service Recognition Award

A Service Recognition Award was presented to Technical Trooper Tiffany Baylark with the Kansas Highway Patrol.

Technical Trooper Tiffany Baylark has worked for KHP since 2007. She has served as a recruiter and Public Resource Officer since 2015. Baylark is viewed as a leader and a forward thinker among her colleagues. She is a leading force in the child passenger safety world, not only training new car seat technicians but also directly assisting families at Troop A. She spearheaded a Child Passenger Safety Instructor Certification hub in the Kansas City Metropolitan Area and regularly serves as lead instructor for certification courses. She can often be found at community events and schools with the seatbelt convincer to educate the public on the importance of wearing seatbelts in vehicles. Her interactions throughout her 18 years of service as a State Trooper have undoubtedly saved many lives across the State of Kansas. Her outreach leads to favorable impressions of law enforcement and safety professionals, building a culture of support in the community

Congratulations to all our 2025 honorees. We are grateful for their service to Kansas kids and families.