Young Mens Christian Association Of Delaware

SEE SCHEDULE O.OUR ORGANIZATION EXISTS TO CREATE HEALTHY, INCLUSIVE COMMUNITY WHERE ALL PEOPLE REACH THEIR FULL POTENTIAL. AT THE HEART OF ALL YMCA PROGRAMS AND SERVICES IS THE DEDICATION TO THE MISSION OF THE YMCA, WHICH IS DETERMINED BY OUR VOLUNTEER LEADERSHIP IN RESPONSE TO THE CONTEMPORARY NEEDS OF THE COMMUNITY. THE PRIORITIES ARE YOUTH DEVELOPMENT, HEALTHY LIVING, AND SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY.

YOUTH DEVELOPMENT:THE YMCA OF DELAWARE IS COMMITTED TO NURTURING THE POTENTIAL OF EVERY CHILD AND TEEN BY HELPING YOUNG PEOPLE CULTIVATE THE VALUES, SKILLS AND RELATIONSHIPS, THAT LEAD TO POSITIVE BEHAVIORS, BETTER HEALTH AND EDUCATIONAL ACHIEVEMENT. YMCA PROGRAMS, SUCH AS CHILD CARE, PRESCHOOL, BEFORE AND AFTERSCHOOL ENRICHMENT, SUMMER DAY AND OVERNIGHT CAMP AND TEEN LEADERSHIP PROGRAMS OFFER A RANGE OF EXPERIENCES THAT PROMOTE COGNITIVE, SOCIAL, PHYSICAL AND EMOTIONAL DEVELOPMENT. THE YMCA OF DELAWARE IS INTENTIONALLY FOCUSED ON SCHOOL SUCCESS THROUGH OUR EFFORTS TO REDUCE SUMMER LEARNING LOSS AND NARROW THE ACHIEVEMENT GAP. THE YMCA OF DELAWARE SUPPORTS DELAWARE'S YOUTH AND TEENS WITH PROGRAMS THAT HELP THEM FIND INSPIRATION AND MEANING, DO BETTER IN SCHOOL, LEARN LIFE SKILLS, AND MAKE NEW FRIENDS, CONNECT TO CARING ADULTS AND GAIN CONFIDENCE. THESE PROGRAMS INCLUDE CHILD CARE (BEFORE AND AFTERSCHOOL, KID'S CLUB, FULL-DAY CHILD CARE), EDUCATION AND LEADERSHIP (AFTERSCHOOL ENRICHMENT, EARLY LEARNING, PRESCHOOL, LEADERS CLUB, BLACK ACHIEVERS, YOUTH IN GOVERNMENT, MODEL UN), COMPETITIVE AND COMMUNITY SPORTS PROGRAMS, SWIMMING LESSONS, AND DAY CAMPS AND YMCA CAMP TOCKWOGH.WHEN THE PANDEMIC CLOSED OUR FACILITIES, OUR SERVICES TO YOUNG PEOPLE CONTINUED UNDER THE MOST DIFFICULT CIRCUMSTANCES. EMERGENCY CHILDCARE FOR ESSENTIAL WORKERS WAS OFFERED ACROSS THE STATE WITHOUT INTERRUPTION, IMPLEMENTING THE NEW COVID PROTOCOLS FOR SAFETY. SCHOOLS DID NOT REOPEN IN PERSON BUT THE YMCA LAUNCHED 9 VIRTUAL LEARNING CENTERS RESPONDING TO THE NEEDS OF WORKING FAMILIES.SUMMER CAMP OPENED AND CHILDREN WERE ABLE TO SAFELY ENJOY THE FIRST OUTDOOR EXPERIENCE WITH OTHERS IN MANY MONTHS.ALTHOUGH OUR SLEEPAWAY CAMP IN MARYLAND WAS NOT PERMITTED TO OPEN THE Y SERVED ON A STATE TASK FORCE TO DEVELOP THE SAFETY PROTOCOLS FOR 2021 AND CONTINUED TO ENGAGE WITH THE FAMILIES THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.AS RESTRICTIONS LOOSENED, WE QUICKLY DEPLOYED RESOURCES TO REOPEN TEEN PROGRAMS. INNOVATION AND VIRTUAL SESSIONS FEATURED HEAVILY IN OUR SERVICE SOLUTIONS INCLUDING VIRTUAL CONFERENCES AND MEETINGS WITH YOUNG PEOPLE, AND A TEEN VOICES VIDEO PROJECT WHICH CAPTURED THE EXPERIENCES OF OUR TEENS DURING THE PANDEMIC AND THIS PERIOD OF RACIAL AND SOCIAL UNREST.

HEALTHY LIVING:THE YMCA IMPROVES DELAWARE'S HEALTH AND WELL-BEING THROUGH PROGRAMS AND SERVICES THAT ENCOURAGE HEALTHY LIVING, BRING FAMILIES CLOSER TOGETHER, AND PROVIDE SUPPORT AND GUIDANCE TO PEOPLE TO ACHIEVE BETTER HEALTH. YMCA PROGRAMS ADDRESS URGENT PUBLIC HEALTH ISSUES IN DELAWARE, SUCH AS TYPE 2 DIABETES, CHILDHOOD OBESITY AND HEALTHY BEHAVIOR CHANGES. THE YMCA OF DELAWARE STRIVES TO BE INCLUSIVE TO ALL AND HAS LAUNCHED AN ADAPTIVE FITNESS INITIATIVE. THE YMCA OF DELAWARE IS A LEADING PROVIDER OF PREVENTATIVE HEALTH, WELLNESS AND EXERCISE SERVICES THAT PREVENT DISEASE, IMPROVE QUALITY OF LIFE, PROMOTE HEALTHY AGING AND PROVIDE OPPORTUNITIES FOR ADULTS TO BUILD CONFIDENCE AND FAMILIES TO CONNECT WITH EACH OTHER. THE YMCA OF DELAWARE HELPS ELIMINATE HEALTH DISPARITIES ACROSS SOCIOECONOMIC BARRIERS IN DELAWARE THROUGH PROVIDING AFFORDABLE ACCESS TO OUR SERVICES AND PROGRAMS THROUGH FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE. IN ADDITION, THE YMCA OF DELAWARE IS A NATIONAL LEADER IN YMCA'S DIABETES PREVENTION PROGRAM, AN EVIDENCE-BASED PROGRAM THAT HELPS INDIVIDUALS LOWER THEIR RISK OF DEVELOPING TYPE 2 DIABETES. ADDITIONAL HEALTHY LIVING PROGRAMS AND SERVICES OFFERED BY THE YMCA OF DELAWARE INCLUDE FAMILY TIME (ADVENTURE GUIDES, FAMILY FITNESS, FAMILY NIGHTS), GROUP EXERCISE AND PERSONAL TRAINING PROGRAMS, CLASSES FOR ACTIVE OLDER ADULTS, HEALTHY LIFESTYLES PROGRAMS (CPR/FIRST AID, DIABETES PREVENTION, HEALTHY LIFESTYLES BEHAVIOR CHANGE PROGRAM, LIFEGUARD TRAINING, CHILDHOOD OBESITY PROGRAM, PRE/POST-NATAL CLASSES, STRESS MANAGEMENT) AND WATER EXERCISE (ADULT SWIM LESSONS, ADAPTED PROGRAMS FOR ADULTS WITH DISABILITIES). THE YMCA OF DELAWARE OFFERS ADULT TEAM SPORTS AND RUNNING CLUBS, AS WELL AS LIFE-LONG LEARNING AND EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR ADULTS.WHEN THE WORLD CLOSED, THE Y DEVELOPED A VIRTUAL PORTAL FOR MEMBERS AND COMMUNITY TO STAY HEALTHY AND ENGAGED. THIS INCLUDED LIVE CLASSES, A FULL MENU OF HEALTHY VIRTUAL OPTIONS WHICH HELPED TO REDUCE THE PHYSICAL, MENTA, AND EMOTIONAL IMPACTS OF THE PANDEMIC FOR THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE.DIABETES PREVENTION AND THE LIVESTRONG PROGRAM FOR CANCER SURVIVORS WERE OFFERED REMOTELY AS WELL AS PROGRAMS FOR SENIORS AND CHILDREN WHO WERE HOUSEBOUND FOR MONTHS. AS RESTRICTIONS HAVE RELAXED, WE HAVE WORKED TO RESTART OUR ADAPTIVE PROGRAMS FOR THOSE WITH AUTISM, PHYSICAL AND COGNITIVE DISABILITIES, MANY OF WHOM HAD FEW OR NO OPTIONS DURING THIS COV-I9 PERIOD.

SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY:OUR YMCA BELIEVES IN GIVING BACK AND SUPPORTING OUR NEIGHBORS TO ADDRESS CRITICAL SOCIAL NEEDS. WE DELIVER TRAINING, RESOURCES AND SUPPORT THAT EMPOWER INDIVIDUALS THROUGH SOCIAL SERVICES, VOLUNTEERISM, GIVING AND ADVOCACY. THE YMCA OF DELAWARE PROVIDES SOCIAL SERVICES PROGRAMS, INCLUDING BACK ON TRACK (A YOUTH PROGRAM THAT FOCUSES ON REDUCTION OF RECIDIVISM), LOW-INCOME HOUSING, GED, WATER WISE (PROVIDES BASIC WATER SAFETY SKILLS TO LOW INCOME CHILDREN IN THE 3RD GRADE), STEWARDS OF CHILDREN (TRAINED OVER 15,000 CITIZENS OF DELAWARE ON CHILD ABUSE PREVENTION) AND SUBSTANCE ABUSE PREVENTION PROGRAMS. IN 2020, THE YMCA OF DELAWARE ENGAGED 394 VOLUNTEERS IN PROGRAM, MANAGERIAL AND POLICY-MAKING CAPACITIES WHO MADE LASTING IMPACTS ON THEIR COMMUNITIES. AT THE YMCA OF DELAWARE, WE STRIVE TO NOT TURN ANYONE AWAY DUE TO AN INABILITY TO PAY, AND IN ORDER TO PROVIDE THE FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE NECESSARY TO SUPPORT INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES IN NEED, WE ENGAGED IN FUNDRAISING THROUGH THE ANNUAL COMMUNITY SUPPORT CAMPAIGN.DURING THE PANDEMIC, THE YMCA DISTRIBUTED OVER 280,000 MEALS TO INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES IN NEED AND INITIATED EMERGENCY SERVICES ACROSS THE ENTIRE STATE. DESPITE THE PRESSURES OF THE GLOBAL HEALTH CRISIS, THE Y COMMITTED TO A DEEPENING OF OUR EFFORTS AROUND SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EQUITY, DEVELOPING A MULTI- YEAR PLAN. THIS PLAN INCLUDES EDUCATION IN UNLEARNING SYSTEMIC RACISM, SUPPORTING OUR BLACK AND BROWN COMMUNITIES DURING THIS PERIOD OF UNREST, AND A MULTI-FACETED TRAINING PROGRAM FOR OUR TEAM MEMBERS AND OUR COMMUNITY. THE Y HOSTED SMALL AND LARGE GROUP CONVERSATIONS ABOUT RACE BOTH IN-PERSON WHEN POSSIBLE AND VIRTUALLY.THE Y CONTINUED TO OFFER MOST OF OUR SOCIAL SERVICE PROGRAMS DURING THIS CHALLENGING YEAR. WE HOUSED, FED, AND ENSURED THE HEALTH OF OVER 100 MEN IN THE RESIDENCE WHEN THE CITY WAS CLOSED. OUR TEEN RECIDIVISM PROGRAM FOR ADJUDICATED YOUTH, BACK ON TRACK, BLACK ACHIEVERS AND YOUTH IN GOVERNMENT ALL CONTINUED ON VIRTUAL PLATFORMS.IN AN EFFORT TO SUPPORT THE COMMUNITY AT LARGE, THE Y DEVELOPED A FULL COMPLEMENT OF VIRTUAL PROGRAMMING THAT WAS MADE AVAILABLE TO THE WHOLE STATE OF DELAWARE FOR FREE.