Northwestern Connecticut Young Mens Christian Association Inc

OUR CAUSE - THE Y IS A POWERFUL ASSOCIATION OF MEN, WOMEN AND CHILDREN JOINED TOGETHER BY A SHARED COMMITMENT TO NURTURE THE POTENTIAL OF KIDS, PROMOTE HEALTHY LIVING AND FOSTER A SENSE OF SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY.

HEALTH AND WELLNESS FOR ALLTHE Y VIEWS HEALTH HOLISTICALLY: A HEALTHY PERSON HAS UNITY OF BODY, MIND AND SPIRIT. THE Y HAS IDENTIFIED THE GROWING YOUTH AND ADULT OBESITY RATES AND YOUTH ANXIETY AS CRITICAL SOCIAL ISSUES THAT MUST BE ADDRESSED. OUR HEALTH AND WELL BEING PROGRAMS ARE DESIGNED TO HELP PEOPLE DEVELOP NEW SKILLS AND GROW IN SPIRIT, MIND AND BODY BY SETTING REALISTIC GOALS FOR SELF-IMPROVEMENT AND EMPHASIZE DISEASE PREVENTION THROUGH REGULAR EXERCISE, PROPER NUTRITION, STRESS MANAGEMENT, AND HEALTH EDUCATION. THE NORTHWESTERN CONNECTICUT YMCA DOES NOT DISCRIMINATE AGAINST ANY PERSON OR GROUP OF PERSONS ON THE GROUNDS OF RACE, COLOR, RELIGIOUS CREED, AGE, MARITAL STATUS. FAMILIAL STATUS, NATIONAL ORIGIN, ANCESTRY, SEX, GENDER IDENTITY OF EXPRESSIONS, SEXUAL ORIENTATION, INTELLECTUAL DISABILITY, MENTAL DISABILITY, LEARNING DISABILITY, LAWFUL SOURCE OF INCOME, PHYSICAL DISABILITY, BLINDNESS OR DEAFNESS AND WE PROVIDE FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO THOSE WHO NEED IT.IN 2021, 6,928 PEOPLE WERE NORTHWESTERN CONNECTICUT Y MEMBERS OR PARTICIPATED IN PROGRAMS, INCLUDING 2,438 YOUTH, 3,235 ADULTS AND 1,255 SENIORS. IN ADDITION, PEOPLE FROM THE GENERAL PUBLIC, WHO WERE NOT Y MEMBERS, RECEIVED THE BENEFITS OF Y PROGRAMS AND SERVICES THROUGH OUR WINCHESTER & TORRINGTON YOUTH SERVICE BUREAUS, HOUSING AND SHELTER PROGRAMS, OUR GRAND PRIX RACE SERIES AND BIRTHDAY PARTIES.IT IS THE Y'S FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE POLICY THAT NO ONE IS TURNED AWAY FROM Y PROGRAMS BASED SOLELY UPON THE INDIVIDUAL'S ABILITY TO PAY. FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE IS AVAILABLE FOR THOSE WHO QUALIFY. IN 2021, THE Y AWARDED FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FOR Y MEMBERSHIPS, PROGRAMS, AND SERVICES AT A COST OF $97,057. ADDITIONALLY, YOUTH EMPLOYMENT PROGRAMS, YOUTH PSYCHO-EDUCATIONAL AND PRO-SOCIAL SUPPORT GROUPS HOSTED BY THE YOUTH SERVICE BUREAU STAFF WERE OFFERED TO PARTICIPANTS AT NO COST.

HOUSING PROGRAMSTHE Y IS A SAFE HAVEN FOR UP TO 74 INDIVIDUALS AT ONE TIME WHO REST THEIR HEADS EACH NIGHT AND CALL THE Y HOME. WE OFFER A 17 BED HOMELESS SHELTER FOR FAMILIES AND SINGLE ADULTS IN WINSTED, 15 SINGLE ROOMS IN WINSTED AND 42 SROS IN TORRINGTON. Y SUPPORTIVE HOUSING IS LONG-TERM HOUSING WITH SOCIAL SERVICES FOR THE FORMERLY HOMELESS, PEOPLE WITH MEDICAL DISABILITIES, AND INDIVIDUALS WITH LOW INCOME. SUPPORTIVE HOUSING IS A PROVEN, EFFECTIVE MEANS OF REINTEGRATING INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES INTO THE COMMUNITY BY ADDRESSING THEIR BASIC NEEDS FOR HOUSING AND ON-GOING SUPPORT. IT COMBINES AFFORDABLE ACCOMMODATIONS WITH SERVICES LIKE COUNSELING, EDUCATION AND COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES. IN EFFECT, OUR HOUSING IS A BRIDGE TO THE COMMUNITY AND THE FUTURE AND MANY OF OUR RESIDENTS GO ON TOPURSUE BETTER JOBS, ADDITIONAL PERMANENT HOUSING AND HIGHER EDUCATION. WINCHESTER EMERGENCY SHELTER PROVIDES A MINIMUM OF 30 DAYS OF SAFE HOUSING FOR THOSE WHO FIND THEMSELVES HOMELESS. GUESTS ARE PLACED THROUGH OUR REGION'S COORDINATED ACCESS NETWORK (CAN), AND CAN BE SINGLE ADULT MALES, FEMALES OR FAMILIES WITH CHILDREN. SINGLE ADULT SHELTER GUESTS WHO QUALIFY WILL MOVE TO PERMANENT SECTION 8 SUBSIDIZED HOUSING.

CHILDCAREOUR Y PROVIDES HIGH QUALITY CHILD CARE BY PROVIDING COMPREHENSIVE ACTIVITIES FOR INFANT/TODDLER, PRESCHOOL AND SCHOOL AGE CHILDREN DRAWING ON DIVERSE MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY. WOVEN INTO THE FABRIC OF THE Y MISSION IS A COMMITMENT TO STRENGTHENING FAMILIES. Y CHILDCARE PROGRAMS RELIEVE THE BURDEN OF BALANCING WORK AND FAMILY AND MAKE IT POSSIBLE FOR PARENTS OF CHILDREN IN OUR CARE TO REMAIN EMPLOYED, KNOWING THAT THEIR CHILDREN ARE THRIVING IN A SAFE, DEVELOPMENTALLY SOUND ENVIRONMENT.WE PROVIDE AID TO FAMILIES WHO NEED HELP DUE TO FAMILY VIOLENCE, SUBSTANCE ABUSE, ETC. BY COLLABORATING WITH OTHER SOCIAL SERVICE AGENCIES. WE ALSO PROVIDE A VARIETY OF ACTIVITIES THAT EMPHASIZE PARENT EDUCATION AND HELP PARENTS LEARN MORE ABOUT HOW TO RAISE HEALTHY, HAPPY CHILDREN WITH A HIGH SELF-ESTEEM AND MORAL AND ETHICAL VALUES.