In 1991, members of the San Jose, California Police Department approached CALNENA’s Public Awareness Committee seeking help with the development of 9-1-1 educational materials for children. The committee initiated a national search to identify effective 9-1-1 educational materials targeting children ages 4 to 7 that would:

• deliver easy-to-remember messages about the proper use of 9-1-1;
  
  
• hold their interest and have universal appeal to all children;
  
  
• have guaranteed wide application;
  
  
• have a long shelf-life.

After several years of work and a growing collective interest by many companies, the California Department of Education, public safety agencies and the State of Texas 9-1-1 Commission heard about the project and wanted to become part of making it happen. Initial funding was provided by GTE/Verizon for the project. In the summer of 1994, work began on developing the 9-1-1 for Kids® curriculum and educational materials.

Emmy and Peabody Award-winning Tony Urbano Productions signed onto the project team to create a new 9-1-1 mascot that would captivate children and adults and deliver critical 9-1-1 information in a fun and memorable manner.

More than 2 million children have already participated in the 9-1-1 for KIDS® classroom program since 1995.