SOUTHINGTON-CHESHIRE COMMUNITY YMCA

YOUTH DEVELOPMENT - CHILD CARE AND YOUTH PROGRAMS - OUR YMCA IS THE LARGEST PROVIDER OF CHILD CARE IN BOTH SOUTHINGTON AND CHESHIRE. THE Y OFFERS HIGH QUALITY CHILD CARE ACTIVITIES FOR PRESCHOOL AND SCHOOL AGE CHILDREN FROM ALL ASPECTS OF THE COMMUNITY. IN ADDITION, WE PROVIDE PROGRAMS FOR AT RISK TEENS DESIGNED TO PROVIDE INDIVIDUAL GROWTH AND TEAM BUILDING SKILLS THROUGH EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES. WE OFFER A VARIETY OF STATE LICENSED CHILDCARE PROGRAMS FOR CHILDREN AGES 3 TO 12 YEARS OLD. THIS INCLUDED 964 CHILDREN ENROLLED IN FULL DAY/PART-TIME PRE-SCHOOL CHILD CARE, NURSERY SCHOOL AND BEFORE AND AFTER SCHOOL CARE FOR SCHOOL AGED CHILDREN OF WORKING PARENTS. WE ALSO OFFER A JUMPSTART PROGRAM FOR CHILDREN WHO ARE ELIGIBLE, BUT NOT QUITE READY FOR KINDERGARTEN. WE HAVE BEEN A COMMUNITY LEADER IN CHILD CARE FOR MORE THAN 50 YEARS AND CONTINUE TO PROVIDE QUALITY PROGRAMS DESIGNED TO MEET THE INDIVIDUAL NEEDS OF THE CHILD AND FAMILY AS A WHOLE. OUR RELENTLESS MISSION IS TO HELP MAINTAIN STRONG FAMILIES THROUGH QUALITY CHILD CARE THAT HELPS CHILDREN DEVELOP POSITIVE BEHAVIOR, SELF-ESTEEM AND LEADERSHIP QUALITIES.WITH SUPPORT FROM COMMUNITY FOUNDATIONS, LOCAL BUSINESSES AND INDIVIDUAL DONORS, WE MAINTAIN A CHILDCARE ASSISTANCE PROGRAM TO HELP SINGLE PARENT AND LOW INCOME FAMILIES REMAIN ACTIVELY EMPLOYED IN OUR COMMUNITY. IN 2024, THE YMCA PROVIDED OVER $271,424 OF ASSISTANCE FOR 135 CHILDREN.THE YMCA YOUTH OUTREACH PROGRAM IS A "Y ON WHEELS" PROGRAM FUNDED BY THE UNITED WAY OF SOUTHINGTON PROVIDED TO CHILDREN IN OUR LOW INCOME AND "AT RISK" NEIGHBORHOODS. ON A REGULAR BASIS, Y STAFF MEMBERS PACK THEIR CARS WITH SNACKS, CRAFTS, GAMES AND SPORTS EQUIPMENT. THEY MEET THESE CHILDREN ON THEIR "OWN TURF" PROVIDING ACTIVITIES DURING THE "AT RISK" AFTERNOON HOURS WHEN SCHOOL IS OVER BUT PARENTS HAVE NOT ARRIVED HOME FROM WORK. THE OUTREACH PROGRAM TEAMS OUR YOUTH WITH YOUNG ADULT ROLE MODELS AND PROVIDES PROGRAMMING THAT PROMOTES CHARACTER BUILDING TRAITS --- CARING, HONESTY, RESPECT, AND RESPONSIBILITY. THIS PROGRAM IS OFFERED ABSOLUTELY FREE OF CHARGE AND SERVES APPROXIMATELY 50 CHILDREN WEEKLY. THE PROGRAM'S SUBSIDIZED COST IS APPROXIMATELY $40,000 ANNUALLY.KEEPING TEENS INVOLVED IS A SPECIAL PART OF OUR YMCA. EVERY FRIDAY NIGHT DURING THE SESSION, THE YMCA OFFERS THE "TW-Y-LIGHT" PROGRAM ATTRACTING 200-250 TEENS. TEENS CAN SWIM, PLAY BASKETBALL AND PARTICIPATE IN SPECIAL EVENTS SUCH AS PAINT NIGHT, ZUMBA & YOGA CLASSES, DANCE PARTIES AND MORE, IN A SUPERVISED ENVIRONMENT. OVER 50 TEENS PARTICIPATED IN TEEN LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS INCLUDING THE YMCA LEADERS CLUB AND TEEN VOLUNTEER CLUB. COMMUNITY SERVICE PROJECTS ARE SCHEDULED ON A MONTHLY BASIS TO REINFORCE THE IMPORTANCE OF "GIVING BACK TO THE COMMUNITY". TEEN PROGRAMS SUBSIDIZED COST IS APPROXIMATELY $40,000 ANNUALLY.

HEALTHY LIVING - OUR ASSOCIATION VIEWS HEALTH HOLISTICALLY, AS IN: A HEALTHY PERSON HAS UNITY OF SPIRIT, MIND AND BODY. OUR PROGRAMS INCLUDE HEALTH AND WELLNESS, YOGA, TAI CHI, AQUATICS, GYMNASTICS AND RECREATIONAL AND TEAM SPORTS. THEY ARE DESIGNED TO HELP PEOPLE DEVELOP NEW SKILLS AND SET REALISTIC GOALS FOR SELF-IMPROVEMENT AND DISEASE PREVENTION THROUGH AN ACTIVE LIFESTYLE, PROPER NUTRITION, STRESS MANAGEMENT AND HEALTH EDUCATION. A VARIETY OF CARDIOVASCULAR, STRENGTH TRAINING AND NUTRITION PROGRAMS ARE DESIGNED FOR MEMBERS FROM AGE 7 TO SENIORS. WE PARTICIPATE IN THE SILVER SNEAKERS AND RENEW ACTIVE PROGRAMS, WHICH ALLOW HUNDREDS OF SENIORS TO UTILIZE OUR FACILITIES THROUGH THEIR MEDICAL INSURANCE. THE Y OFFERS REHABILITATIVE SERVICES FOR ARTHRITIC AND HEART REHAB PATIENTS AS WELL AS BLOOD PRESSURE AND CHOLESTEROL SCREENINGS. WE PROVIDE SUPERVISED EXERCISE PROGRAMS FOR PEOPLE SUFFERING FROM OSTEOPOROSIS. IN ADDITION, THERE IS DEDICATED PROGRAMMING FOR YET TO BE FIT WOMEN AND ADOLESCENT GIRLS TO HELP IMPROVE SELF-IMAGE AND SELF-CONFIDENCE.OUR YMCA AND LIVESTRONG JOIN TOGETHER TO CREATE A PHYSICAL ACTIVITY AND WELLBEING PROGRAM CALLED LIVESTRONG AT THE Y DESIGNED TO HELP ADULT CANCER SURVIVORS ACHIEVE THEIR HOLISTIC HEALTH GOALS. THIS FREE 12 WEEK PROGRAM IS DESIGNED TO HELP THOSE AFFECTED BY CANCER REGAIN STRENGTH, ENDURANCE AND FUNCTION THAT ARE LOST THROUGH TREATMENT AND RECEIVE EMOTIONAL SUPPORT TO BUILD SELF-ESTEEM. IN 2024, WE RAN MULTIPLE SESSIONS CONTINUOUSLY THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.WE ALSO RECEIVED A GRANT IN FROM A LOCAL FOUNDATION TO RUN DIABETES PREVENTION 12 WEEK SESSIONS. THIS PROGRAM IS OFFERED AT NO COST TO THE MEMBER AND TEACHES THEM ABOUT HEALTHY HABITS AND DIABETES PREVENTION. YMCA AQUATICS AND SPORTS PROGRAMS PROMOTE EXERCISE, TEAMWORK, LEADERSHIP, SOCIAL SKILLS AND SELF-ESTEEM. IN SOUTHINGTON, OUR FACILITY MAINTAINS THE ONLY POOL OPEN YEAR ROUND TO ADDRESS THE NEEDS OF THE COMMUNITY. THIS INCLUDES SWIMMING AND WATER SAFETY SKILLS FOR CHILDREN AND ADULTS, LIFE GUARD CERTIFICATION AND YOUTH SWIM TEAMS.YMCA PROGRAMS ARE DESIGNED TO ATTRACT PEOPLE OF ALL AGES, ABILITIES AND INCOMES. IN 2024, OVER $78,744 IN FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE WAS PROVIDED TO OVER 200 FAMILIES FOR MEMBERSHIPS TO THE YMCA AND PARTICIPATION IN AQUATICS AND SPORTS PROGRAMS.