YOUNG MENS CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATION INC

FAMILY SERVICES AND CHILD CARE: THE YMCA IS THE LARGEST CHILDCARE PROVIDER IN FREDERICK COUNTY, AND AS SUCH HAS A STRONG WORKING RELATIONSHIP WITH FCPS, FREDERICK COUNTY GOVERNMENT, AND THE FREDERICK COUNTY HOUSING AUTHORITY. THROUGH A PARTNERSHIP APPROACH, WE PROVIDE SERVICE TO NEARLY 3,000 UNIQUE CHILDREN. OVER THE LAST YEAR, THE YMCA HAS SUCCESSFULLY PROVIDED QUALITY CHILDCARE SERVICES AT MULTIPLE LOCATIONS FOR A VARIETY OF AGES, SERVING A DIVERSE POPULATION YEAR-ROUND. THE PROGRAMS, AS MENTIONED ABOVE, INCLUDE: LICENSED CHILD CARE DEVELOPMENT CENTERS, BEFORE- AND AFTER-SCHOOL ACTIVITIES HOSTED IN TWENTY-FOUR (24) LOCATIONS, AND SUMMER DAY CAMP AT SEVEN (7) OFF-SITE LOCATIONS. THE YMCA IS COMMITTED TO PROVIDING A MULTITUDE OF EXPERIENCES AND ACTIVITIES, INCLUDING ENRICHMENT-BASED OFFERINGS SUCH AS DANCE, YOUTH SPORTS, ARTS & CRAFTS, GYMNASTICS, SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY, HOMEWORK/TUTORING, COMPREHENSIVE STATE-APPROVED PRESCHOOL CURRICULUM, SPECIALTY FIELD TRIPS, AND GUEST SPEAKERS.

HEAD START & EARLY HEAD START PROGRAM:THE YMCA OF FREDERICK COUNTY CONTINUES TO ADMINISTER THE FEDERALLY FUNDED HEAD START AND EARLY HEAD START PROGRAMS, SERVING 144 FUNDED ENROLLMENT SLOTS ACROSS MULTIPLE LOCATIONS THROUGHOUT FREDERICK COUNTY, INCLUDING 120 HEAD START (AGES 3-5) AND 24 EARLY HEAD START (6 WEEKS TO AGE 3). WHILE THE YMCA HAS MANAGED THE FEDERAL GRANT SINCE 2011, THESE PROGRAMS HAVE SERVED THE FREDERICK COUNTY COMMUNITY FOR MORE THAN 50 YEARS.HEAD START AND EARLY HEAD START PROMOTE SCHOOL READINESS FOR CHILDREN FROM LOW-INCOME FAMILIES BY SUPPORTING COGNITIVE, SOCIAL, EMOTIONAL, AND PHYSICAL DEVELOPMENT. THE PROGRAMS PROVIDE COMPREHENSIVE SERVICES TO ENROLLED CHILDREN AND THEIR FAMILIES, INCLUDING EARLY LEARNING, HEALTH, NUTRITION, MENTAL HEALTH, AND FAMILY SUPPORT SERVICES, ALL INFORMED BY INDIVIDUALIZED FAMILY NEEDS ASSESSMENTS.SERVICES ARE DESIGNED TO BE RESPONSIVE TO EACH CHILD AND FAMILY'S ETHNIC, CULTURAL, AND LINGUISTIC BACKGROUND. BOTH PROGRAMS EMPHASIZE THE CRITICAL ROLE OF PARENTS AS THEIR CHILD'S FIRST AND MOST IMPORTANT TEACHER, FOSTERING STRONG FAMILY ENGAGEMENT TO SUPPORT LONG-TERM SUCCESS.TO IMPLEMENT THIS COMPREHENSIVE MODEL, THE YMCA PARTNERS WITH COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS TO SECURE PROGRAM LOCATIONS AND ENHANCE SERVICE DELIVERY. FUNDING FOR HEAD START AND EARLY HEAD START IS PROVIDED THROUGH A FEDERAL GRANT THAT COVERS APPROXIMATELY 80% OF PROGRAM COSTS, WITH A REQUIRED 20% NON-FEDERAL MATCH FUNDED THROUGH A COMBINATION OF CASH AND IN-KIND CONTRIBUTIONS, INCLUDING DONATED SPACE AND SERVICES.