Ywca South Florida Inc

PROVIDE SERVICES AND PROGRAMS FOR WOMEN, TEENS, CHILDREN, AND FAMILIES OF MIAMI-DADE COUNTY.

EARLY CHILDHOOD - YWCA OPERATES AND MANAGES FOUR EARLY LEARNING CENTERS, IMPLEMENTING A WELL-STRUCTURED ANTI-BIASED DEVELOPMENTALLY APPROPRIATE CURRICULUM. EACH OF THESE CENTERS MEET STRICT NATIONALLY ESTABLISHED ACCREDITATION STANDARDS, SERVING APPROXIMATELY 312 CHILDREN FROM SIX WEEKS TO FIVE YEARS OF AGE. THE PROGRAM FURTHER INCORPORATES THE 342 PARENTS/GUARDIANS IN FAMILY PARTNERSHIP SELF-SUFFICIENCY DEVELOPMENT. FOR YEARS, YWCA HAS BEEN COMMITTED TO PROVIDING HIGH QUALITY EARLY CHILDHOOD SERVICES THAT BREAK THE POVERTY CYCLE AND PROVIDE SUPPORT SYSTEMS THAT GIVE CHILDREN (AND THEIR FAMILIES) THE OPPORTUNITY TO BECOME HAPPY, HEALTHY, AND PRODUCTIVE CITIZENS. WE ENSURE WE DO THIS WORK BY PARTNERING WITH OTHER AGENCIES IN THE COMMUNITY THAT SUPPORT US BY PROVIDING FUNDING, TRAINING AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO IMPLEMENT ALL COMPONENTS OF HIGH-QUALITY EARLY CHILDCARE. IN OUR PROGRAMS, CHILDREN AND FAMILIES HAVE ACCESS TO COMPREHENSIVE SERVICES WHICH INCLUDE HEALTH, NUTRITION, MENTAL HEALTH, DISABILITIES, FAMILY ENGAGEMENT AND EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION. DURING THE PANDEMIC THE CENTERS CONTINUED ON-LINE PROGRAMMING TO MAINTAIN EDUCATIONAL INTEGRITY FOR THE CHILDREN. YWCA ALSO SERVED OVER 117,611 MEALS AND CONNECTED FAMILIES WITH HUNDREDS OF HOURS OF COMMUNITY SERVICES.

YOUTH PROGRAMS - YWCA AFTER-SCHOOL PROGRAMS FOR ELEMENTARY STUDENTS OPERATES ON-SITE AT LOCAL PUBLIC SCHOOLS, AT AN APARTMENT COMPLEX AND YWCA CENTERS. ESTABLISHED IN 1976, THIS PROGRAM MEETS THE NEEDS OF WORKING FAMILIES BY PROVIDING ELEMENTARY SCHOOL CHILDREN WITH A SAFE AND SUPERVISED ENVIRONMENT THAT INCLUDES AGE APPROPRIATE ACADEMIC AND ENRICHMENT ACTIVITIES DURING OUT OF SCHOOL TIME. CURRENTLY OPERATING IN MIAMI-DADE COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND CENTERS FROM SOUTH MIAMI TO NORTH MIAMI-DADE, YWCA SERVED APPROXIMATELY 180 CHILDREN DAILY. DURING THE PANDEMIC, YOUTH PROGRAMS ADDED ONLINE COMPONENTS THAT PROVIDED WORKSHOPS, STORYTELLING, EDUCATIONAL VIDEOS AND CLUBS IN THE INCREASINGLY CRITICAL VIRTUAL PLATFORM. YWCA CONTINUED TO OFFER SUMMER PROGRAMMING TO 130 YOUTH TO DECREASE THE PANDEMIC LEARNING LOSS AMONG STUDENTS AND OFFERED CHILDCARE TO PARENTS THAT NEEDED THE OPPORTUNITY TO CONTINUE WORKING. A CORE PART OF OUR AFTER-SCHOOL PROGRAM IS GLOBAL EDUCATION. GLOBAL EDUCATION AIMS TO OPEN THE WORLD AND BUILD TOLERANCE AND ACCEPTANCE FOR OUR STUDENTS BEYOND THEIR ZIP CODE WITH OPPORTUNITIES FOR STUDENTS AGES 4-13 TO USE CURRENT EVENTS TO CONNECT THEM TO WHAT IS GOING ON AROUND THEIR NEIGHBORHOODS AND THE WORLD AROUND THEM. WE DEVELOPED A CURRICULUM BASED ON THE OXFAM CURRICULUM CREATED FOR SCHOOLS. THE PROGRAM PROVIDES ART, COMMUNITY SERVICE PROJECTS, FINANCIAL LITERACY, GLOBAL EDUCATION, HOMEWORK ASSISTANCE, LITERACY DEVELOPMENT, NUTRITION, SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL LEARNING, AND PHYSICAL FITNESS. THESE PROGRAMS ARE OFFERED ONLINE, YEAR-ROUND DURING THE SCHOOL YEAR, SPRING BREAK AND SUMMER CAMP. YWCA'S TEEN PROGRAM IS COMMITTED TO PROVIDING LIFE ENRICHING EXPERIENCES FOR URBAN YOUTH IN LOW RESOURCED NEIGHBORHOODS, WITH THE GOAL OF REDIRECTING THEM TOWARDS MORE POSITIVE PURSUITS INCLUDING TECHNOLOGY, PEER COUNSELING, TUTORING, COLLEGE TOURS, CULTURAL AND RECREATIONAL FIELD TRIPS. THESE PROGRAMS SERVE APPROXIMATELY 162 YOUTHS AND INCLUDE THE COMPUTER CLUBHOUSE, MENTORING, COLLEGE & CAREER EXPLORATION, ACADEMIC ENRICHMENT, ARTISTIC EXPRESSION, DROP-OUT PREVENTION, FINANCIAL LITERACY, TECHNICAL SKILLS, AUDIO ENGINEERING IN YWCA-OWNED TECH CENTERS AND MUSIC STUDIOS.

COMMUNITY PROSPERITY PROGRAM - THIS PROGRAM OFFERED SERVICES TO 6,290 WOMEN AND THEIR FAMILIES LAST YEAR. SERVICES INCLUDE 95 CLASSES/WORKSHOPS (50 YOUTH, 45 ADULT) TOTALING 226 HOURS. THESE FINANCIAL LITERACY CLASSES/WORKSHOPS OFFERED VIA ZOOM COVERED VARIOUS TOPICS THAT GROW FINANCIAL LITERACY AND WELLBEING. TOPICS COVERED AREAS LIKE CREDIT, ENTREPRENEURSHIP, TAX FILING AND HOME OWNERSHIP PROGRAMS. THE WE360 ENTREPRENEURSHIP CLASSES AND OUTREACH HAS SUPPORTED THE LAUNCH/GROWTH OF 285 WOMAN-OWNED BUSINESSES. OF THESE PARTICIPANTS, 5 WERE SELECTED TO PARTICIPATE IN THE YWCA NATIONAL PITCH COMPETITION WON A TOTAL OF $12,000.00 DOLLARS FOR THEIR BUSINESSES. YWCA SOUTH FLORIDA'S WOMEN IN TECH PROGRAM PROVIDES TECHNICAL EDUCATION AND CERTIFICATIONS TO HELP UP-SKILL 11 PARTICIPANTS ENABLING THEM TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF LIVING-WAGE JOBS IN THE SOUTH FLORIDA'S GROWING TECHNOLOGY INDUSTRY. TO HELP THIS COHORT ACHIEVE THEIR EDUCATIONAL AND CAREER GOALS, YWCA OFFERS WRAP-AROUND SERVICES AND LAUNCHED THE WOMEN'S SUCCESS FUND THAT PROVIDES FOR THE REMOVAL OF BARRIERS TO ENCOURAGE THE COMPLETION OF YWCA CLIENTS' UPSKILLING EFFORTS. OTHER PROGRAMS INCLUDE THE MATCHED SAVINGS THAT INCENTIVIZES THE HABIT OF REGULAR SAVING THUS ALLOWING PARTICIPANTS TO CREATE A SAFETY NET FOR THEIR FINANCIAL STABILITY WHEN EMERGENCIES ARISE. THE PROGRAM MATCHED NEARLY $10,000 IN SAVINGS FOR PARTICIPANTS IN ADDITION TO INCREASING THEIR FINANCIAL CAPABILITIES. THESE PROGRAMS EDUCATE LOW- AND MIDDLE-INCOME WOMEN, CHILDREN, AND THEIR FAMILIES IN ALL ASPECTS OF FINANCIAL MATTERS, ASSISTING THEM IN DEVELOPING SOLID FINANCIAL PRACTICES THAT HELP THEM GROW AND THRIVE.

FAMILY WELLNESS SERVICES - HAVING ACTIVELY JOINED IN THE FIGHT AGAINST BREAST AND CERVICAL CANCER SINCE 1994, THE FAMILY WELLNESS PROGRAM PROVIDES MUCH NEEDED HEALTH SERVICES FOR FREE OR AT A MINIMAL CHARGE TO UNINSURED MINORITY INDIVIDUALS LIVING IN MIAMI-DADE, BROWARD, AND MONROE COUNTIES. THROUGH PARTNERSHIPS WITH HEALTH PROVIDERS, THE PROGRAM PROVIDES CLINICAL BREAST EXAMS, ANNUAL SCREENING MAMMOGRAMS, CERVICAL SCREENING, FOLLOW-UP APPOINTMENTS, DIAGNOSTIC EXAMS, EDUCATION, CASE MANAGEMENT, AND SUPPORT SERVICES SERVING AN ESTIMATED 1,066 INDIVIDUALS THROUGH DIRECT SERVICES AND ONLINE WORKSHOPS, COMMUNITY EDUCATIONAL EVENTS AND REFERRING AN ADDITIONAL 4,000 INDIVIDUALS LAST YEAR. DURING THE PANDEMIC, WITH THE INCREASE IN SOCIAL DISTANCING AND DECREASE IN UTILIZING PREVENTIVE HEALTH CARE, WE REINFORCED AWARENESS EFFORTS BY TEACHING PEOPLE THE CRITICAL IMPORTANCE OF SCREENING FOR BREAST/CERVICAL CANCER. YWCA HAS CONTINUED TO IMPLEMENT A CULTURALLY RELEVANT APPROACH TO ENSURE THE WOMEN OF SOUTH FLORIDA CONTINUE TO RECEIVE LIFE-SAVING CARE.ADDITIONALLY, DURING THE PANDEMIC, YWCA SOUTH FLORIDA ENTERED INTO A PARTNERSHIP WITH BAPTIST HEALTH TO FOSTER VACCINE EQUITY IN VULNERABLE SOUTH FLORIDA COMMUNITIES WORKING WITH 11 NONPROFIT PARTNERS, ENGAGING OVER 50,000 INDIVIDUALS ACROSS VARIOUS PLATFORMS, INTERESTS, BACKGROUNDS, AND LANGUAGES. COURT CARE/KIDSPACE - YWCA COURT CARE/KIDSPACE IS A HUMAN RIGHTS RESPONSE PROGRAM LOCATED IN MIAMI-DADE AND BROWARD COURT HOUSES. YWCA PROVIDES SERVICE COORDINATION AND FREE, TEMPORARY CHILDCARE FOR AGES 6 MONTHS - 13 YEARS TO ENSURE PARENTS, MAINLY WOMEN, CAN FULLY PARTICIPATE IN RELATED COURT PROCEEDINGS OR FILINGS. MAINTAINING SIX CENTERS IN TOTAL; FIVE OF THE CENTERS ARE LOCATED IN MIAMI-DADE AND ONE IN BROWARD. OUR TRAINED, QUALIFIED YWCA STAFF SUPERVISE CHILDREN THANKS TO A PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN YWCA SOUTH FLORIDA, INC. AND THE ELEVENTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT OF FLORIDA AND BROWARD COUNTY. OUR COURT CARE/KIDSPACE CENTERS PROVIDE CHILDREN WITH A POSITIVE AND NURTURING ENVIRONMENT AND FAMILIES WITH SUPPORT SERVICES; AND BOTH WITH AN APPROPRIATE AND RESPONSIVE REFERRAL SYSTEM SHOULD FAMILIES HAVE ADDITIONAL NEEDS. AS A RESPONSE TO DURING THE PANDEMIC, WE CONTINUED TO PROVIDE OUTREACH SERVICES TO MEET THE INDIVIDUAL NEEDS OF THE 2,595 FAMILIES TRADITIONALLY SERVED IN THE COURT CARE/KIDSPACE PROGRAMS BY CONDUCTING WELLNESS CHECKS, OFFERING REFERRALS AND INFORMATION ABOUT COMMUNITY SERVICES. CHILD CARE PROGRAMS PIVOTED TO VIRTUAL DURING FAMILY COURT TIMES TO ENSURE KIDS IN THE HOME REMAINED SAFE AND WERE NOT RETRAUMATIZED WHILE PARENTS PARTICIPATED IN VIRTUAL COURT CASES. RACIAL & SOCIAL JUSTICE - OUR OFFICE OF RACIAL AND GENDER EQUITY ADVANCEMENT CONTINUES TO LEAD SOCIAL JUSTICE INITIATIVES AND PROGRAMS THROUGHOUT MIAMI-DADE AND BROWARD COUNTIES. OUR LARGEST INITIATIVE, THE STAND AGAINST RACISM RACIAL EQUITY AND SOCIAL JUSTICE CHALLENGE, WAS HELD APRIL FOR THE THIRD YEAR IN A ROW. THE 32-DAY EXPERIENCE IS DESIGNED TO CREATE DEDICATED TIME AND SPACE TO LEARN ABOUT AND BUILD MORE EFFECTIVE SOCIAL JUSTICE HABITS. OVER 1,483 INDIVIDUALS PARTICIPATED THIS YEAR, IN ADDITION TO THOSE ENGAGED IN OUR SOCIAL MEDIA CONTENT AND THROUGH OP-EDS IN THE MIAMI HERALD AND LOCAL TELEVISION AND RADIO SEGMENTS. THE CHALLENGE RECEIVED PARTICIPATION FROM MORE THAN 200 COMPANIES AND ORGANIZATIONS ACROSS SOUTH FLORIDA. IN ADDITION TO STAND AGAINST RACISM, WE ENGAGED HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE THROUGH OUR VIRTUAL BEYOND 21 EVENTS, INCLUDING WEEKLY INSTAGRAM LIVE BROADCASTS, #TAKEACTIONTUESDAY, AND MONTHLY ALL THE R.A.G.E. BOOK CLUB EVENTS. THE BEYOND 21 PROGRAM BUILDS ON THE SUCCESS OF THE STAND AGAINST RACISM CHALLENGE AND MAKES SUBJECT MATTER EXPERTS AVAILABLE TO OUR COMMUNITY TO FURTHER THE CONVERSATION AROUND SYSTEMIC RACISM IN OUR COUNTRY. THE YWCA #TAKEACTIONTUESDAY BROADCASTS ALSO PROVIDED AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THE COMMUNITY TO ENGAGE WITH SUBJECT MATTER EXPERTS AS WELL AS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR INDIVIDUALS TO SHARE THEIR UNIQUE EXPERIENCES AND PERSPECTIVES WITH A WIDER AUDIENCE THROUGH A RACIAL AND GENDER EQUITY LENS. IN 2021, WE LAUNCHED THE ECONOMIC JUSTICE COUNCIL, AN INITIATIVE TO CREATE MORE INCLUSIVE INDUSTRIES, CORPORATIONS AND WORKPLACES AND TO UPSKILL AND TRAIN UNDER-REPRESENTED, UNDER- AND UNEMPLOYED PEOPLE. THE COUNCIL ENGAGED A COHORT OF HIGH-LEVEL CORPORATE EXECUTIVES WHO COMMITTED TO HOLDING THEMSELVES ACCOUNTABLE TO RETHINKING THEIR ROLES AND INFORMING SOLUTIONS TO CREATE TRUE WORKPLACE BELONGING AND PATHWAYS TO AN INCLUSIVE WORKPLACE AND ECONOMY. THE GOAL OF THE ECONOMIC JUSTICE COUNCIL IS TO SUCCESSFULLY TRANSITION WOMEN OF COLOR AND UNDERREPRESENTED GROUPS INTO HIGH-WAGE, HIGH-GROWTH JOBS. YWCA SOUTH FLORIDA IS PROUD TO HAVE GRADUATED 10 BUSINESS LEADERS FROM VARIOUS INDUSTRIES DURING THE FIRST COHORT, INCLUDING ONE OF THE LARGEST EMPLOYERS IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA. SOCIAL JUSTICE IN ACTION PROGRAMS - FROM EVENTS TO COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENTS, YWCA'S APPROXIMATELY 140 VOLUNTEERS WERE COMMITTED TO SERVING AND SUPPORTING SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EQUITY. VOLUNTEERS ASSISTED WITH PACKING HYGIENE KITS, AND DONATING AND DISTRIBUTING TOYS DURING THE HOLIDAYS. FIRST BUT NOT THE LAST WOMEN LEADERS OF SOUTH FLORIDA - WE SELECTED SIX HONOREES FOR OUR SECOND ANNUAL FIRST BUT NOT THE LAST WOMEN LEADERS OF SOUTH FLORIDA EVENT, PLANNED FOR JUNE 3, 2022, INCLUDING THE RECIPIENT OF THE INAUGURAL FIRST BUT NOT THE LAST MAN-KIND AWARD. YWCA'S FIRST BUT NOT THE LAST EVENT CELEBRATES THE ACHIEVEMENTS OF DYNAMIC LEADERS IN SOUTH FLORIDA WHO HAVE BROKEN BARRIERS IN THEIR RESPECTIVE INDUSTRIES. RECIPIENTS HAVE BEEN SELECTED BECAUSE OF THEIR ACCOMPLISHMENT OF BEING FIRST IN THEIR FIELD. MORE THAN 300 GUESTS WERE EXPECTED. UNFORTUNATELY, DUE TO INCLEMENT WEATHER, THE EVENT WAS POSTPONED UNTIL SEPTEMBER 2022.