A “champion” is commonly defined as the victor of a competition or challenge. A less common usage of the word “champion,” one that has particular resonance for us at NIOSH, is the meaning that denotes an early advocate for an innovative cause or idea.
Miami-Dade County Public Schools (M-DCPS), the nation’s fourth largest school system, under the leadership of Superintendent Alberto Carvalho, prides itself on being this second type of champion. Being a champion of new and innovative ideas has made M-DCPS the first school system in the nation to recognize that work readiness skills—such as problem solving, collaboration, and information technology literacy—must also include competencies that equip young people to stay safe and healthy on the job and to contribute to safe, healthy, and productive workplaces. These competencies are critical given that more than 80% of teens will work at some time while in high school and most are unprepared for the hazards they face on the job. In fact, young people under age 25 are twice as likely as adults to get hurt at work.