KISHWAUKEE FAMILY YMCA

YOUTH DEVELOPMENT THE BEFORE AND AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAM. WHEN THE SCHOOL DAY IS OVER, WHERE AND HOW CHILDREN SPEND THEIR TIME IS VITAL TO THEIR GROWTH AND SUCCESS IN LIFE. AT THE Y, WE HELP KIDS REACH THEIR POTENTIAL AND THRIVE IN A SAFE, TRUSTWORTHY SETTING. THROUGH SUPPORT AND GUIDANCE, OUR AFTERSCHOOL PROGRAM PROVIDES ENRICHMENT ACTIVITIES IN THE ARTS, PHYSICAL EDUCATION, SPORTS AND NUTRITION. WE ENCOURAGE CHILDREN TO MAKE HEALTHY CHOICES, EXPLORE NEW THINGS AND EXERCISE THEIR CREATIVITY. KIDS CAN FOCUS ON THEIR HOMEWORK, MAKE NEW FRIENDS, BUILD SOCIAL SKILLS AND CREATE HAPPY MEMORIES THEY'LL ALWAYS REMEMBER. THE Y IS A PLACE WHERE CHILDREN FEEL COMFORTABLE AND SECURE. OUR PARTNERSHIP WITH THE NORTHERN ILLINOIS FOOD BANK ALLOWS US TO PROVIDE HEALTHY MEALS FOR EVERY CHILD IN OUR DISTRICT 428 AFTERSCHOOL PROGRAM. THE SUMMER DAY CAMP PROGRAM. WHEN THE SCHOOL DOORS CLOSE FOR SUMMER, MANY CHILDREN STRUGGLE TO ACCESS EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES, AS WELL AS BASIC NEEDS SUCH AS HEALTHY MEALS AND ADEQUATE ADULT SUPERVISION. OUR SUMMER CAMP OFFERS A MIX OF FUN AND EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITIES AIMED AT IMPROVING KIDS' WELL-BEING, SUCH AS STEM (SCIENCE TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING AND MATH) CATCH (COORDINATED APPROACH TO CHILD HEALTH), AND THE SUMMER CAMP READING PROGRAM, ALL IN A SAFE ENVIRONMENT WITH ADULT ROLE MODELS. TO ENSURE THAT EVERY CHILD IS READY TO LEARN, WE PROVIDE HEALTHY LUNCHES AND SNACKS TO ALL CHILDREN IN OUR SUMMER CAMP PROGRAM. HEALTHY LIVING THE PEDALING FOR PARKINSON'S PROGRAM. DEKALB COUNTY HAS TWICE THE NATIONAL AVERAGE OF RESIDENTS THAT HAVE PARKINSON'S DISEASE. THE YMCA STEPPED FORWARD TO HELP THESE FOLKS IN OUR COMMUNITY BY STARTING THE PEDALING FOR PARKINSON'S PROGRAM (PFP). USING INDOOR CYCLES IN A CLASS LED BY A TRAINED INSTRUCTOR, THE PARTICIPANTS COLLECTIVELY SAW A 17% REDUCTION IN THEIR PARKINSONS-RELATED SYMPTOMS. IN ADDITION TO THE PHYSICAL BENEFITS OF THE PROGRAM, PARTICIPANTS CAN SOCIALIZE WITH AND FORM FRIENDSHIPS WITH OTHERS WHO HAVE THIS DISEASE. THE PROGRAM IS OFFERED FREE TO EACH AND EVERY PARTICIPANT. THE LIVESTRONG AT THE YMCA PROGRAM. LIVESTRONG AT THE YMCA IS A TWELVE-WEEK, SMALL GROUP PROGRAM DESIGNED FOR ADULT CANCER SURVIVORS. THIS PROGRAM FULFILLS THE IMPORTANT NEED OF SUPPORTING THE INCREASING NUMBER OF CANCER SURVIVORS WHO FIND THEMSELVES IN THE TRANSITIONAL PERIOD BETWEEN COMPLETING THEIR CANCER TREATMENT AND THE SHIFT TO FEELING PHYSICALLY AND EMOTIONALLY STRONG ENOUGH TO ATTEMPT TO RETURN TO THEIR NORMAL LIFE OR THEIR "NEW NORMAL." OUR GOAL IS TO HELP PARTICIPANTS BUILD MUSCLE MASS AND MUSCLE STRENGTH, INCREASE FLEXIBILITY AND ENDURANCE AND IMPROVE FUNCTIONAL ABILITY. ADDITIONAL GOALS INCLUDE REDUCING THE SEVERITY OF THERAPY SIDE EFFECTS, PREVENTING UNWANTED WEIGHT CHANGES AND IMPROVING ENERGY LEVELS AND SELF-ESTEEM. IN ADDITION TO THE PHYSICAL BENEFITS, THE PROGRAM PROVIDES PARTICIPANTS A SUPPORTIVE ENVIRONMENT AND A FEELING OF COMMUNITY WITH THEIR FELLOW SURVIVORS, YMCA STAFF AND MEMBERS. ENHANCE FITNESS PROGRAM WE PROVIDE PROGRAMS THAT CHANGE THE OUTCOME FOR PEOPLE FACING SIGNIFICANT HEALTH CHALLENGES AND IMPROVE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR OUR WHOLE COMMUNITY. ENHANCE FITNESS IS A PROVEN, COMMUNITY BASED SENIOR FITNESS AND ARTHRITIS MANAGEMENT PROGRAM. ITS PURPOSE IS TO HELP OLDER ADULTS BECOME MORE ACTIVE, ENERGIZED, AND EMPOWERED FOR INDEPENDENT LIVING. ENHANCE FITNESS HAS BEEN NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED BY THE CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL AND PREVENTION, US DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, US ADMINISTRATION ON AGING AND THE NATIONAL COUNCIL ON AGING. ENHANCE FITNESS CONSISTS OF LOW IMPACT EXERCISE CLASSES THAT ARE SAFE AND CHALLENGING FOR OLDER ADULTS OF ALL FITNESS LEVELS. SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY THE CAMP POWER PROGRAM CAMP POWER WAS DEVELOPED IN 2014 IN RESPONSE TO THE PRESSING ISSUES FACING CHILDREN AND THEIR FAMILIES IN A NEIGHBORHOOD THAT WAS SIGNIFICANTLY IMPACTED BY POVERTY, THE LACK OF OPPORTUNITY, PUBLIC SAFETY CONCERNS, AND QUALITY OF LIFE ISSUES. CAMP POWER WAS DESIGNED AS A FREE, COLLABORATIVE SUMMER PROGRAM OFFERED ON-SITE TO CHILDREN AND THEIR FAMILIES LIVING IN THE UNIVERSITY VILLAGE HOUSING DEVELOPMENT. IN ITS INAUGURAL YEAR, THROUGH A JOINT EFFORT OF 25 DIFFERENT COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS AND NEARLY 500 VOLUNTEERS, THIS CULTURALLY RELEVANT, MULTIDIMENSIONAL WELLNESS PROGRAM OFFERED AN ACADEMIC COMPONENT, DAILY NUTRITIOUS LUNCH SERVICE, STRUCTURED PHYSICAL ACTIVITIES, NUTRITION EDUCATION, LAYERED MENTORING, LIFE SKILLS TRAINING, FAMILY ENGAGEMENT ACTIVITIES, PAID EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES TO PARENTS, EXPOSURE TO A RANGE OF COMMUNITY RESOURCES, AND DAILY, POSITIVE INTERACTION WITH OUR POLICE OFFICERS.