Young Mens Christian Association Of Madison Nj

A CHARITABLE ORGANIZATION WITH PROGRAMS TO FOSTER YOUTH DEVELOPMENT, HEALTHY LIVING & SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY.

THE MADISON AREA YMCA IS COMMITTED TO NURTURING THE POTENTIAL OF EVERY CHILD AND TEEN THROUGH PROGRAMS AND SERVICES THAT TEACH CHARACTER VALUES AND SEEK TO MEET THEIR INDIVIDUAL NEEDS. DURING 2021, OUR Y MAINTAINED FULL-TIME CHILDCARE SERVICES FOR INFANTS, TODDLERS AND PRESCHOOLERS, MANAGING AROUND FREQUENT CLASSROOM CLOSURES AND QUARANTINES DRIVEN BY THE SECOND HARSH YEAR OF THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC. LABOR MARKET SHORTAGES MADE IT DIFFICULT TO MAINTAIN FULL STAFFING AT OUR F.M. KIRBY CHILDREN'S CENTER, AND MANY LONG-TIME, EXPERIENCED TEACHERS AND CAREGIVERS WORKED EXTRA LONG HOURS TO SUSTAIN OPERATIONS THROUGHOUT THE LABOR SHORTAGES. THE Y ALSO EXPANDED ITS STRUCTURED AFTER-SCHOOL PROGRAMS, SERVING CHILDREN OF WORKING PARENTS, AND MAINTAINING THEIR HEALTHY SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL DEVELOPMENT THROUGH THE LONG MONTHS OF RESTRICTIONS. IN THE FIRST HALF OF 2021, THE Y MAINTAINED VIRTUAL LEARNING PROGRAMS AT THE Y AFTER SCHOOL, SERVING CHILDREN IN KINDERGARTEN THROUGH SIXTH GRADE. STUDENTS AS YOUNG AS FIVE RELIED ON Y STAFF TO HELP THEM THROUGH THEIR SCHOOL ASSIGNMENTS AND LEARN HOW TO USE THEIR LAPTOP COMPUTERS. IN ALIGNMENT WITH REQUIRED HEALTH PROTECTIONS, ALL CHILDREN'S GROUPS WERE ORGANIZED INTO DEDICATED "PODS" WHERE CHILDREN WOULD NOT MIX ACROSS GROUPS. MASKS, DISTANCING, HANDWASHING AND OTHER SAFETY PROTOCOLS WERE MAINTAINED. SUMMER CAMP FOLLOWED THE SAME "POD" MODEL FOR EIGHT WEEKS DURING SUMMER, WITH MORE THAN 365 CAMPERS COMPLETING STRUCTURED GAMES AND RECREATION ACTIVITIES OUTDOORS IN THEIR DESIGNATED TENTS. IN THE FALL, OUR MARINERS SWIM TEAM, ROSETTES GYMNASTICS TEAM AND GATORS AND LADY GATORS YOUTH BASKETBALL AND SOCCER TEAMS RESUMED REGULAR ACTIVITIES WHILE RETAINING DISTANCING AND MASKING WHEREVER FEASIBLE, KEEPING PARTICIPANTS HEALTHY AND SOCIALLY ENGAGED. ALL THESE PROTECTIONS WERE STRENGTHENED AGAIN IN NOVEMBER AS A NEW WINTER SURGE IN COVID-19 CASES SWEPT THROUGH OUR COMMUNITY. THROUGHOUT THE SUSTAINED PERIOD OF RESTRICTION, Y PROGRAMS SERVED INFANTS, TODDLERS, PRESCHOOL CHILDREN, YOUNG ATHLETES AND OTHER TEENS, PROVIDING STRUCTURED ENVIRONMENTS THAT HELPED SUSTAIN THEIR EMOTIONAL WELLBEING, WHILE NURTURING VALUES, SKILLS AND RELATIONSHIPS THAT LEAD TO BETTER PHYSICAL AND MENTAL HEALTH AND EDUCATIONAL ACHIEVEMENT.

THROUGHOUT 2021, THE Y'S FAMILY CENTER WORKED TO RESUME NORMAL OPERATIONS EVEN WHILE PANDEMIC RESTRICTIONS REQUIRED CONTINUED MASKING AND DISTANCING, AND AS NEW VACCINES WERE INTRODUCED THROUGHOUT THE POPULATION. SAFETY MEASURES INCLUDING DAILY TEMPERATURE CHECKS AND HEALTH SCREENING INTERVIEWS FOR ALL STAFF, CHILDREN AND ADULT MEMBERS AND VISITORS WERE MAINTAINED UNTIL THE FINAL QUARTER OF THE YEAR WHEN STATE AND LOCAL PUBLIC HEALTH STANDARDS WERE EASED. A SUCCESSFUL VACCINATION CAMPAIGN DURING THE YEAR RESULTED IN 98% OF STAFF BEING FULLY VACCINATED, AND ESTABLISHMENT OF NEW, MORE FREQUENT TESTING FOR THOSE STAFF MEMBERS WHO COULD NOT BE VACCINATED. PARTICIPATION IN Y WELLNESS AND FITNESS PROGRAMS DECREASED DRAMATICALLY WHEN THE PANDEMIC HIT, BUT VACCINATIONS INTRODUCED IN 2021 ALLOWED MORE Y MEMBERS AND PARTICIPANTS TO RETURN. AT THE SAME TIME, OUR ONLINE FITNESS PROGRAMS WERE MAINTAINED FOR ADULTS WISHING TO REMAIN REMOTE FROM GATHERING IN PERSON. WHENEVER POSSIBLE, CLASSES WERE OFFERED OUTDOORS, AND INDOOR DISTANCING WAS STRICTLY MAINTAINED THROUGHOUT THE BUILDING. THE Y ALSO MAINTAINED ITS MENTAL HEALTH COUNSELING PROGRAM PROJECT COMMUNITY PRIDE AT FULL CAPACITY, MAINTAINING ALL SESSIONS ONLINE AND PROVIDING AN ESSENTIAL SERVICE TO CHILDREN AND TEENS WHO WERE FACING THE DISRUPTIVE CHALLENGES OF SOCIAL ISOLATION AND SEPARATION.

THE Y STRIVES TO SERVE OUR COMMUNITY AND SUPPORT OUR NEIGHBORS, ESPECIALLY THOSE WITH LIMITED INCOMES AND THOSE FACING PERSONAL CRISES, INCLUDING OUR OWN STAFF MEMBERS. IN 2021, THE Y MAINTAINED ONGOING FOOD DISTRIBUTIONS, BLOOD DRIVES AND SUPPLY DRIVES TO BENEFIT THE HOMELESS. OUR PHILANTHROPY AND FUNDRAISING EFFORTS ALLOWED FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO BE EXTENDED TO 191 CHILDREN, TEENS AND ADULTS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. DESPITE THE OPERATING RESTRICTIONS, BUDGET CHALLENGES, QUARANTINES AND STAFFING CHALLENGES OF 2021, WE MANAGED TO PROVIDE A COMBINED TOTAL OF $1.3M IN COMMUNITY BENEFIT SERVICES TO OUR COMMUNITY. DURING THE YEAR, AS VACCINATIONS WERE MORE WIDELY DISTRIBUTED, THE Y RE-OPENED ITS FAMILY CENTER BUILDING TO USE BY SELECTED OUTSIDE GROUPS, UPON CONDITION OF MAINTAINING STANDING HEALTH RESTRICTIONS. BECAUSE OF THE NEED TO KEEP VULNERABLE POPULATIONS SAFE AT HOME, ALL OF OUR Y'S ONSITE NO-FEE WELLNESS, HEALTH MAINTENANCE AND DISEASE MANAGEMENT PROGRAMS (DIABETES PREVENTION, DELAY THE DISEASE, LIVESTRONG FOR CANCER SURVIVORS, ONE STEP AND ENHANCE FITNESS) CONTINUED ON TEMPORARY SUSPENSION IN 2021. HOWEVER, THE Y KEPT IN CONTACT WITH OUR MOST VULNERABLE MEMBERS THROUGH PERIODIC TELEPHONE CALLS AND SUPPORT. OUR MENTAL HEALTH COUNSELING PROGRAM MAINTAINED ITS 100% VIRTUAL MODEL, CONTINUING TO PROVIDE EMOTIONAL SUPPORT TO CHILDREN, TEENS, AND THEIR FAMILIES. THE Y ALSO CONTINUED TO SERVE AS THE FISCAL AGENT AND ADMINISTRATOR OF THE MADISON CHATHAM COALITION, A FEDERALLY FUNDED INITIATIVE TO PREVENT SUBSTANCE USE AMONG CHILDREN AND TEENS. FOR Y STAFF, OUR HUMAN RESOURCES DEPARTMENT REMAINED PREPARED TO OFFER SHORT-TERM FINANCIAL SUPPORT TO STAFF MEMBERS WHO WERE FACING FOOD INSECURITY, MEDICAL BILLS, OR HOUSING EXPENSES THAT THEY COULD NOT MEET.