Family Y Young Mens Christian Assoc-Ywca Of The Csra Inc

THE FAMILY Y STRENGTHENS THE FOUNDATIONS OF OUR COMMUNITY THROUGH PROGRAMS THAT PROMOTE YOUTH DEVELOPMENT, HEALTH LIVING AND SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY.

EARLY CARE, AFTERSCHOOL & DAY CAMP: YOUTH DEVELOPMENT ENCOMPASSES ALL YOUTH, INCLUDING BABIES, ADOLESCENTS, AND TEENAGERS. OUR EARLY CARE AND LEARNING CENTER, THE CHILD DEVELOPMENT ACADEMY (CDA), IS A 3 OF 3-STAR QUALITY RATED LICENSED PROGRAM THAT ACCEPTS BABIES AS YOUNG AS 2-WEEKS OLD THROUGH THE AGE OF 5 YEARS OLD. OUR PHILOSOPHY FOR THE CDA IS TO ENSURE CHILDREN ARE REGULARLY MEETING THEIR MILESTONES AND ARE PREPARED FOR KINDERGARTEN UPON GRADUATION FROM OUR PROGRAM. WE USE AN EVIDENCED BASED CURRICULUM THAT SUPPORTS LEARNING, GROWTH, AND DEVELOPMENT. THE CDA IS ALSO ONE OF VERY FEW EARLY CARE AND LEARNING FACILITIES IN THE CSRA THAT PROVIDES A SLIDING SCALE TUITION TO ENSURE AFFORDABILITY FOR ALL FAMILIES. TYPICALLY, ONCE FAMILIES TRANSITION TO ELEMENTARY SCHOOL THEY SEEK OUR PRIMETIME BEFORE AND AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAM FOR THE NEXT LEVEL OF CARE. THE Y HAS PROVIDED HIGH-QUALITY BEFORE AND AFTER-SCHOOL PROGRAMS SINCE THE LATE 1980S. THESE PROGRAMS BEGAN AS A SAFE PLACE FOR CHILDREN TO GO DURING THE CRITICAL HOURS BETWEEN WHEN THE SCHOOL DAY ENDS AND WHEN THE TYPICAL WORKDAY ENDS. WE ARE CURRENTLY SERVING MORE THAN 30 ELEMENTARY AND MIDDLE SCHOOLS ACROSS 7 SCHOOL SYSTEMS. THE YMCA OF GREATER AUGUSTA WORKS CLOSELY WITH SCHOOL PERSONNEL AND SCHOOL DISTRICT LEADERSHIP TO ENSURE OUR BEFORE- AFTER-SCHOOL PROGRAMS MEET THE UNIQUE NEEDS OF OUR STUDENTS. THIS INCLUDES PROVIDING PROGRAMMING THAT IS ADDITIVE, NOT DUPLICATIVE, WITH THE SCHOOL DAY CURRICULUM. ALL OUR OUT-OF-SCHOOL-TIME ACTIVITIES HAVE AN INTENTIONAL FOCUS OF FOSTERING SOCIAL EMOTIONAL DEVELOPMENT, IMPACTING LEARNING ACCELERATION, PHYSICAL ACTIVITY, AND PROJECT-BASED LEARNING WITH S.T.E.A.M (SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING, ART, AND MATH). OUR AFTER SCHOOL AND DAY CAMP CURRICULUM IS ALIGNED WITH THE GEORGIA STANDARDS OF EXCELLENCE FOR GEORGIA LOCATIONS AND THE SOUTH CAROLINA COLLEGE AND CAREER STANDARDS FOR THE SOUTH CAROLINA LOCATIONS. FOR EXAMPLE, S.T.E.A.M PROJECTS SUPPORT STUDENT LEARNING BY OFFERING CAREER EXPLORATION AND PRACTICING CONCEPTS OF ELA AND MATH. THROUGH SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITIES, OUR YOUTH BUILD SELF-AWARENESS, IMPROVE COMMUNICATION SKILLS, AND LEARN CRITICAL RELATIONSHIP SKILLS AS WELL AS BEHAVIOR MANAGEMENT. OUR YOUTH ALSO HAVE ACCESS TO ENRICHING OPPORTUNITIES (DANCE, ART, DRAMA, FINANCIAL LITERACY, ETC.) TO FIND THEIR PASSION AND INTEREST, EXPERIENCE NEW ACTIVITIES AND EXPLORE IDEAS IN A SAFE ENVIRONMENT. OUR PROGRAMS ENCOURAGE YOUTH TO SET AND MANAGE GOALS AND BUILD UPON THEIR DEVELOPING PASSIONS. OUR YOUTH ALSO RECEIVE SAFETY AROUND WATER INSTRUCTION, DUE TO Y'S BELIEF THAT LEARNING TO BE SAFE IN ANY BODY OF WATER IS A LIFE NECESSITY, ESPECIALLY GIVEN OUR REGION FILLED WITH LAKES, RIVERS, AND POOLS. AS A RESULT, CHILDREN, AND TEENS IN Y OUT-OF-SCHOOL TIME PROGRAMS GAIN THE KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS TO DEVELOP HEALTHY IDENTITIES, MANAGE EMOTIONS, SHOW EMPATHY FOR OTHERS, ESTABLISH, AND MAINTAIN SUPPORTIVE RELATIONSHIPS, AND MAKE RESPONSIBLE AND CARING DECISIONS. IN 2023 THE FAMILY Y OF GREATER AUGUSTA SERVED NEARLY 2,000 CHILDREN AND TEENS DURING BEFORE AND AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAMS. IN THAT SAME YEAR THE Y HAD ABOUT 20 SUMMER DAY CAMP SITES AND ONE RESIDENT CAMP THAT REACHED NEARLY 8,000 YOUTH. DURING DAY CAMPS OUR CAMP COUNSELORS ARE ENGAGING YOUTH IN FUN ACTIVITIES THAT REFLECT THE Y CORE VALUES, LEADERSHIP SKILLS, LIFE SKILLS, ALL WHILE CREATING LASTING FRIENDSHIPS AND MEMORIES. AS WE FOCUS ON SOCIAL EMOTIONAL DEVELOPMENT, YMCA OF GREATER AUGUSTA DAY CAMP ALSO PROVIDES AN EXCITING, SAFE COMMUNITY FOR YOUNG PEOPLE TO EXPLORE THE OUTDOORS AND BUILD CONFIDENCE AND SELF-ESTEEM WHILE GIVING WORKING PARENTS AN EASE OF MIND THAT THEIR CHILDREN ARE IN A SAFE AND CARING ENVIRONMENT DURING THE SUMMER. SCHOLARSHIPS TO ATTEND THE PROGRAMS ARE ALWAYS AVAILABLE TO ELIMINATE COSTS AS A BARRIER. IN 2023, APPROX 50% OF PARTICIPANTS IN ALL PROGRAMS, EARLY CARE, AFTER SCHOOL AND DAY CAMP RECEIVED FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE.

HEALTHY LIVING AND WELLBEING: THE YMCA OF GREATER AUGUSTA WAS FOUNDED IN 1858 WITH A VISION OF CREATING AN ORGANIZATION THAT WOULD WELCOME INDIVIDUALS AS THEY CAME TO THE COMMUNITY. THE Y PROVIDED A SAFE PLACE FOR GROWTH, COMMUNITY, AND FAITH THEN, AND NOW. OVER THE YEARS, THE Y HAS GROWN TO MEET MANY COMMUNITY'S NEEDS. THOSE NEEDS INCLUDE SERVING HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF INDIVIDUALS AT NUMEROUS MEMBERSHIP BRANCHES AND PROGRAM SITES ACROSS THE CSRA. THIS ASSOCIATION HAS SERVED THE CENTRAL SAVANNAH RIVER REGION AND BEYOND FOR MORE THAN 165 YEARS. IT HAS BEEN AN ESSENTIAL COMMUNITY ORGANIZATION, OFFERING HEALTH AND WELLBEING OPPORTUNITIES FOR CHILDREN, TEENS, ADULTS, AND SENIORS TO LEARN, GROW, SERVE, AND THRIVE. BY PROVIDING HIGH-QUALITY PROGRAMS THAT ENGAGE NEARLY 60,000 MEMBERS THROUGHOUT THE COMMUNITIES WE SERVE WITHIN EVERY STAGE OF DEVELOPMENT, THE Y STRENGTHENS INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES THROUGH EDUCATION, WELLNESS, AND YOUTH DEVELOPMENT, ESPECIALLY IN OUR CITY'S MOST UNDER RESOURCED COMMUNITIES. THE YMCA OF GREATER AUGUSTA CONTINUES TO LEVERAGE PARTNERSHIPS TO DELIVER AND EXPAND EXISTING HUNGER RELIEF EFFORTS TO SUPPORT MORE THAN 1,000 FAMILIES MONTHLY. THIS EFFORT HAS ALLOWED OUR Y'S TO REACH MANY INDIVIDUALS WHO'VE NOT HAD ANY PREVIOUS AFFILIATION WITH THE Y. THE Y DELIVERS FOOD TO MOBILE HOME COMMUNITIES, LOWINCOME APARTMENT COMPLEXES, SENIOR LIVING AREAS, HOUSING AUTHORITIES, AND EXTENDED STAY HOTELS THROUGHOUT THE CSRA. OUR Y FACILITIES, PROGRAM SITES, AND CAMP LOCATIONS SERVE AS FOOD DISTRIBUTION AND PACKING CENTERS FOR MOBILE MEALS. IN TOTAL, WE PROVIDED NEARLY 360,000 MEALS TO KIDS, FAMILIES, AND SENIORS. THE POSITIVE COMMUNITY IMPACT OF THE YMCA OF GREATER AUGUSTA PROGRAMS IS DEPENDENT UPON OUR ABILITY TO ENGAGE THOSE WITH THE GREATEST NEEDS. THE ALL IN FOR A BETTER US ANNUAL CAMPAIGN ALLOWS US TO MEET THIS GOAL AND FULFILL OUR MISSION BY PROVIDING FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO ENSURE CHILDREN, ADULTS, AND FAMILIES, REGARDLESS OF BACKGROUND, ZIP CODE, OR SOCIO-ECONOMIC STATUS, HAVE ACCESS TO Y FACILITIES AND PROGRAMS. SCHOLARSHIP OPPORTUNITIES ARE REGULARLY SHARED ON COMMUNITY MESSAGE BOARDS AND GATHERINGS TO BROADEN OUR REACH AND TO ENSURE THOSE LESS FAMILIAR WITH OUR PROGRAMS LEARN ABOUT OPPORTUNITIES TO ENGAGE AT LITTLE OR NO COST. FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE IS AWARDED ON A SLIDING SCALE BASED ON INCOME, NUMBER OF DEPENDENTS, AND OTHER FACTORS. ADDITIONALLY, WE ENGAGE UNDER RESOURCED COMMUNITIES THROUGH WATER SAFETY INITIATIVES, A PLACE TO DREAM AND HUNGER RELIEF PROGRAMS. THE A PLACE TO DREAM PROGRAM PROVIDES BEDS TO CHILDREN ACROSS THE CSRA AT NO COSTS TO THE FAMILY.

SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITIES - THE MISSION OF OUR FOOD PROGRAM IS TO COMBAT HUNGER AND ENSURE THAT NO CHILD GOES HUNGRY BY PROVIDING FREE MEALS AND SNACKS TO ANYONE UNDER 18. THE PROGRAM ALSO DISTRIBUTES FOOD BOXES TO CONTINUE TO HELP ADULTS AND SENIORS THAT HAVE BEEN IMPACTED FINANCIALLY, AS WELL AS OTHER CONTRIBUTING FACTORS. CHILDREN AND FAMILIES RECEIVE FREE NUTRITIOUS MEALS THROUGH FOOD BOXES, BLESSING BAGS, MOBILE FEEDING SITES AND WEEKEND MEALS AND SNACKS. THE Y ON THE FLY PROGRAM BRINGING ACTIVITIES ALONG WITH FOOD FOR FAMILIES WILL BE EXPANDED TO THE FOOD DESERTS. THE FAMILY YMCA'S EFFORT TO ATTAIN THE MUCH-NEEDED FUNDS TO CONTINUE TO EXPAND THEIR SERVICES AND DIRECTLY SUPPORT THE FAMILIES IMPACTED MOST. OUR PLAN TO TAKE PROGRAMMING TO FAMILIES WHERE THEY LIVE AND PROVIDE SERVICES SO THAT ALL CHILDREN AND FAMILIES WILL BE ABLE TO CONTINUE THE FIGHT AGAINST FINANCIAL BARRIERS. IN 2023, WE SERVED NEARLY 360,000 MEALS TO YOUTH AND FAMILIES IN 10 COUNTIES. A PLACE TO DREAM WAS STARTED IN 2018, AND TO DATE WE HAVE DELIVERED OVER 2,000 BEDS TO CHILDREN IN THE COMMUNITIES WE SERVE. THIS PROGRAM IS PROVIDED BY COUNTLESS VOLUNTEERS WHO WORK IN TEAMS TO DELIVER AND SET UP BEDS FOR FAMILIES ONCE PER QUARTER. WE WILL DO EMERGENCY BED DELIVERIES FOR FAMILIES IN NEED. IT IS ESTIMATED THAT 65 PERCENT OF CHILDREN IN SUBSIDIZED HOUSING SLEEP EITHER ON THE COUCH, A CHAIR, WITH MULTIPLE OTHER FAMILY MEMBERS, OR ON THE FLOOR. EACH BED SET INCLUDES A BED FRAME, MATTRESS, A PILLOW, A BED SHEET, COMFORTER, PILLOWCASE, A BOX CONTAINING FOOD FOR THE FAMILY AND A BACKPACK OF SNACKS FOR THE KIDS, A STUFFED ANIMAL AND A CHILDREN'S BIBLE. MANY RESIDENTS SLEEP ON THE FLOOR, AIR MATTRESSES, SOFAS OR CROWDED INTO A BED WITH NUMEROUS FAMILY MEMBERS. THE FAMILY Y HELPS THESE CHILDREN GET THE SLEEP THEY NEED. KATHRYN M. YORK AQUATICS CENTER AT THE WILSON BRANCH HOSTS ONE-ON-ONE AND GROUP THERAPEUTIC AQUATICS PROGRAMS FOR ALL AGES AND TYPES OF DISABILITIES. KNOWN AS KATIE'S POOL, IT IS THE LARGEST, PUBLIC AQUATICS THERAPY POOL IN THE SOUTHEAST. MIRACLE LEAGUE BASEBALL FIELD IS A SPECIFICALLY DESIGNED, BARRIER FREE BASEBALL FIELD THAT WAS BUILT IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE CHARLIE VA MEDICAL CENTER. THE FIELD HOSTS TWO SEASONS PER YEAR OF ADAPTED BASEBALL FOR CHILDREN AND ADULTS WITH DISABILITIES. EACH PARTICIPANT IS ASSIGNED AN ABLE-BODIED BUDDY THAT ASSISTS DURING PLAY. OUR PROGRAM IS THE ONLY YMCA/MIRACLE LEAGUE PARTNERSHIP IN THE US. TOTAL ACCESS WELLNESS CENTER IS LOCATED AT THE WILSON BRANCH. THIS CENTER PROVIDES ACCESSIBLE LAND-WELLNESS PROGRAMS IN TANDEM WITH OUR AQUATICS WELLNESS PROGRAMS AND FEATURES ADJUSTABLE EQUIPMENT FOR THOSE CONFINED TO A WHEELCHAIR. AT THE EXPANDED,RENOVATED CAMP LAKESIDE, MORE Y CAMPERS THAN EVER BEFORE CAN EXPERIENCE OUR ENRICHING OUTDOOR-RECREATION PROGRAMS. THE CAMP IS AN EXTENSION OF THE FAMILY Y'S ADAPTED PROGRAMS, FURTHER SOLIDIFYING ITS ROLE AS A NATIONWIDE MODEL IN PROVIDING PROGRAMS AND FACILITIES THAT ARE ACCESSIBLE TO PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES OR CHRONIC HEALTH CONDITIONS. THROUGH A PARTNERSHIP WITH THE CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL OF GEORGIA, CAMP LAKESIDE IS BEING DEVELOPED AS AN ADAPTIVE CAMP LOCATION TO OFFER SPECIALIZED CAMP PROGRAMS FOR CHILDREN ACROSS GEORGIA FACING SIGNIFICANT HEALTH CHALLENGES SUCH AS CANCER, HEART CONDITIONS, DIABETES, AND JOINT DISORDERS. HEALING THROUGH JOY IS THE CAMPAIGN TO RAISE THE FUNDS NECESSARY TO MAKE IMPROVEMENTS TO OUR GROUNDS AND MODIFY CAMP PROGRAMS TO ENSURE THESE CHILDREN HAVE ACCESS TO TRADITIONAL CAMP ACTIVITIES. TEACHING CHILDREN HOW TO BE SAFE AROUND WATER IS NOT A LUXURY; IT IS A NECESSITY. THE YMCA'S SAFETY AROUND WATER PROGRAM CAN HELP YOU MAKE SURE THEY LEARN ESSENTIAL WATER SAFETY SKILLS, WHICH CAN OPEN UP A WORLD OF POSSIBILITIES FOR THEM TO SATISFY THEIR CURIOSITY SAFELY. SAW (SAFETY AROUND WATER) IS A NATIONAL YMCA INITIATIVE THAT TEACHES CHILDREN THE BASICS OF WATER SAFETY.