Miami County Ymca

Programs: Healthy living: the miami county ymca offers many programs that help members of our community live healthier lives. The miami county ymca swim lesson academy, which enrolled 874 kids in 2017, is a progression of swimming lessons for children ages 6 months through 13 years of age. In addition to developing specific swimming skills and good water safety habits, the program promotes good health through regular lifetime exercise activities. In 2017, 477 individuals also learned how to live healthier lives by participating in the various aquatics exercise programs that are designed to increase muscular strength and endurance, enhance cardiovascular endurance, improve flexibility, and help less and/or relieve chronic pain. The ymca also provides facilities for individuals and families who swim for recreation. Encouraging healthy living is at the root of all miami county ymca health enhancement programs. Ymca health enhancement programs stress the value of prevention through appropriate exercise and lifestyle habits. Opportunities at the ymca include group exercise classes, personal training programs, as well as facilities that offer exercise equipment in a safe non-threatening atmosphere. In 2017, 1350 individuals participate in health enhancement programming at the miami county ymca. Another 115 individuals participated in special wellness events such as winter meltdown challenges, healthy walking challenges, and 5k running club. The miami county ymca diabetes education program is an 8 week educational program to help individuals with diabetes to better manage their disease. The program focuses on the benefits of healthy lifestyle choices in the areas of nutrition and exercise. Included in the program is a free six month membership to the miami county ymca so individuals exercise program to improve their health. In addition, individuals enrolled in the program also receive free weekly personal training from a certified personal trainer. The program is conducted with the assistance of the local hospital, the local health department, and two volunteer nurses. In 2017, 115 individuals were referred to the diabetes education program by their physicians.

social responsibility: the focus of the miami county ymca childcare program is to foster appropriate growth and development, not only in the children we serve, but also in their parents and families. The program is designed to be educational and help children develop moral behavior, ethical behavior, self-esteem, and healthy lifestyles. The miami county ymca childcare program allows parents of the children in the program to remain gainfully employed, knowing that their children are thriving in a safe and supportive environment. In 2017, a total of 175 youth were enrolled in the childcare program ranging in age from 6 weeks to the 6th grade. With the assistance of the united way and the local nursing homes, the miami county ymca senior center is in its 7th year of existence. The seniors in the program enjoy access to recreational activities including; cards, billiards, bingo days, trips, exercise programs, healthy lifestyle seminars, carry-in lunches, etc. The center has been successful largely because of local volunteers who work at the center. In keeping with its policy of including everyone regardless of ability to pay, the ymca provides financial assistance to those unable to afford a membership. In 2017, 285 seniors were served at the ymca senior center.

youth development: the ymca also promotes youth development through its competitive swim team program. The program utilizes ymca swimming pool facilities 5 days per week. It's the intent of the program for every youth swimmer to participate and have fun. At the same time, the young team members are learning lifelong skills of how to be a part of a team. In 2017, 111 youth participated in the miami county swim team. In addition to its own team, the miami county ymca hosted 145 youth swimmers from 6 different area high schools in 2017. The ymca summer day camp program is designed to give youth in miami county an opportunity to develop and grow in an outdoor camp atmosphere. By using outdoor sites and providing challenging activities in both small and large group settings, youth participants grow physically, mentally, and spiritually. In addition, youth in the program develop self-confidence, friendship skills, teamwork skills, independence, and how to be better family members. The camp takes place during summer months when school in on break. In the summer of 2017, an average of 65 children participated in the program each week. It's the intent of the ymca youth center after-school program to provide age-appropriate activities to at-risk youth in grades 7th through 12th after school and on the weekends. Youth who attend the youth center program experience a positive environment where they feel safe and welcomed. Youth in the program participate in both structured and no-structured activities that help them raise their self-efficacy and their outlook of self while interacting with positive adult role models. In 2017, an average of 26 youth participated in the youth center program each day. The youth center is open 358 days out of the year.