Young Mens Christian Association Of Greater Louisville

Programs: Healthy living---improving the greater louisville community's health and well-being means building a healthy spirit mind and body for all. The ymca is a leading voice on health and well-being. We bring families closer together, encourage good health, and foster connections through fitness, sports, character development and shared interests. Ymca health enhancement programs are medically based and stress the value of prevention through balanced efforts of good exercise habits, and overall health including proper nutrition, stress management and health education. This is particularly important as our nation struggles with an obesity crisis, families struggle with work/life balance and individuals search for personal fulfillment. Our programs are family oriented and offered at affordable fees, with financial assistance for those that are unable to pay the full fees. The ymca provides a variety of programs that assist our community with attaining healthier habits and includes adventure guides, family camps, fitness classes, cpr and first aid, lifeguard training, diabetes prevention, starter fitness programs, aquatic exercise, sports and swim lessons for adults, indoor cycling and senior social groups. The nature of these programs is to promote one's own self worth by emphasizing skill acquisition & development, safety, cooperation and self confidence, leadership & teamwork.

youth development ---or nurturing the development of every child and teen means we believe that all children deserve the opportunity to discover who they are and to foster growth and development of not only the child but also the family. That's why we help young people cultivate the skills, values and relationships that lead to positive behaviors, better health and educational achievement. Our ymca programs such as before/after school child care, child watch, preschool child development centers, youth & black achievers, youth sports & swim lessons, day & resident camps, youth & government and model un and international programs offer a range of experiences that enrich cognitive, social, physical and emotional growth. Parents play an important role in the policy and program decisions of programs such as child care. As such, social events are scheduled at appropriate times to include interaction with and between the children and their parents. Outcome based results indicate: * 100% of black achiever seniors received a college scholarship and 100% enrolled in post secondary education, * 2300 summer camp participants completed the library summer reading program, and * 65% of the summer learning loss prevention participants showed gains in their reading percentile ranking; 78% showed gains in math proficiency; 85% of parents reported their child improved reading skills, 91% reported their child reads at home more often

social responsibility-- the ymca has been listening and responding to the louisville community most critical social needs for 165 years. Ymca provides support to our community through programs such as housing for runaway and homeless youth at our ymca safe place branch, transitional housing for men trying to break out of the cycle of homelessness at our chestnut street ymca branch and international relationships and exchanges for teens or the engagement of community leaders in policy making roles or as program volunteers and mentors are examples of how we deliver training, resources and support that empower our neighbors to produce change, bridge gaps and overcome obstacles. The outreach shelter and counseling services offered at ymca safe place services enable troubled teens that may come from abusive homes or struggle with chemical dependency a "safe place" to land. Here, youth are provided emergency shelter, individual and family counseling, opportunities for spiritual activities, and life skills learning sessions that aim at healing and re-uniting families. Street outreach and programs directed toward children of incarcerated parents -ynow (ymca's new outlook within) provide mentors and peer education groups that stress problem prevention and personal fitness to families in crisis. Ymca safe place does not charge a fee for any of the services that are provided to youth from the greater louisville area, or from across the state or nation as kids may run across state borders. Expenses of $2. 1 million annually are offered as a form of financial assistance to assist these troubled youth since ymca safe place is the only 24 hour free, non system crisis shelter for teens and the only free care-based intensive case management and family mediation program for teen and their parents in this community. Results are noteworthy as 91% of youth who stay at safe place shelter report learning at least one life skill to help them be successful in family reunification (428 youth surveyed) while 90% of youth who stay at shelter house report they are better equipped to take control of their safety and security and improve their home situation. The ymca is a worldwide movement. International involvement of teens help promote cross cultural understanding through educational development, overseas opportunities and leadership training with cooperation with ymca's in a potential of over 130 countries. Louisville youth have encountered specific experiences in germany and india. Participating youth raise some of their financial support through various projects and the ymca provides scholarships and adult supervision to make up the difference for the overseas experience. In 2017 we engaged over 203,000 ymca members, participants, volunteers and donors in activities that strengthen our community and pave the way for future generations to thrive (y-usa annual constituency report).