Barren County Family Ymca Inc

TO PUT CHRISTIAN PRINCIPLES INTO PRACTICE THROUGH PROGRAMS THAT BUILD A HEALTHY SPIRIT, MIND AND BODY FOR ALL.

YOUTH DEVELOPMENT/CHILD CARE/SUMMER DAY CAMP/AFTER SCHOOL: THE YMCA OFFERS STATE-LICENSED, QUALITY CHILDCARE ACTIVITIES FOR PRESCHOOL AND SCHOOL-AGE CHILDREN, RANGING IN AGE FROM FOUR YEARS TO TWELVE YEARS, FROM ALL SEGMENTS OF OUR COMMUNITY. WE OFFER A VARIETY OF CHILDCARE PROGRAM OPTIONS ON A FULL AND PART-TIME BASIS IN A SAFE AND NURTURING ENVIRONMENT. OUR PROGRAMS ARE DEVELOPED WITH AN EMPHASIS ON BUILDING SELF-ESTEEM, MORAL VALUES, AND LEADERSHIP SKILLS WHILE INTEGRATING ENHANCEMENT IN THE AREAS OF SOCIO-EMOTIONAL LEARNING, COGNITIVE SKILLS, AND PHYSICAL DEVELOPMENT. OUR PROGRAMS ARE BASED UPON YEARS OF RESEARCH IN THE FIELD OF CHILD DEVELOPMENT AND ARE DESIGNED TO MEET THE INDIVIDUAL NEEDS OF THE CHILD AND THE FAMILY AS A WHOLE. PROVIDING HIGH-QUALITY CHILD CARE IS CENTRAL TO THE YMCA'S MISSION. WOVEN INTO THE FABRIC OF MISSION AND HIGH-QUALITY CHILD CARE IS A COMMITMENT TO STRENGTHENING FAMILIES. WE RECOGNIZE A GROWING NUMBER OF FAMILIES FROM EVERY SOCIOECONOMIC LEVEL ARE IN NEED. THE STRESS AND STRAIN OF BALANCING WORK AND FAMILY ARE BECOMING DIFFICULT TO HANDLE. THE YMCA ASSISTS IN REDUCING THIS BURDEN THROUGH THE PROVISION OF ASSISTANCE FOR CHILD CARE SERVICES THROUGH YMCA FUNDRAISING AND STATE ASSISTANCE. THE CENTRAL FOCUS OF ALL YMCA PRESCHOOL AND SCHOOL-AGE CHILDCARE PROGRAMS IS TO FOSTER GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT, NOT ONLY IN CHILDREN BY ALSO IN THEIR PARENTS AND FAMILIES. ACCORDINGLY, PARENTS PLAY AN IMPORTANT ROLE IN POLICY AND PROGRAM DECISIONS. THE YMCA CHILD CARE CURRICULUM HELPS CHILDREN DEVELOP MORAL AND ETHICAL BEHAVIOR, SELF-ESTEEM, AND LEADERSHIP. YMCA CHILD CARE ALLOWS PARENTS TO REMAIN GAINFULLY EMPLOYED, KNOWING THAT THEIR CHILDREN ARE THRIVING IN A SAFE, SUPPORTIVE ENVIRONMENT. YMCA FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE POLICIES HELP ENSURE THAT THE YMCA IS A PLACE WHERE CHILDREN OF ALL ECONOMIC LEVELS, FROM THE AFFLUENT TO THE DISADVANTAGED, RECEIVE THE SAME QUALITY CARE IN THE SAME SETTING. THE YMCA DAY CAMP PROGRAM OFFERS BOTH A RECREATIONAL AND LASTING EXPERIENCE OF PERSONAL ENRICHMENT. THE PROGRAM IS TO HELP CAMPERS BE AWARE OF THEIR ENVIRONMENT AND IMPROVE FITNESS. IT IS ALSO STRUCTURED TO HELP YOUNGSTERS LEARN THE VALUE OF COOPERATION AND GAIN CONFIDENCE TO CHALLENGE THEMSELVES TO ACHIEVE PERSONAL GROWTH. THE MAJORITY OF OUR CAMPERS COME FROM SINGLE-PARENT OR DUAL-WORKING-PARENT HOMES. THE YMCA PROVIDES A SAFE, CLEAN ENVIRONMENT AND QUALITY PROGRAMS IN WHICH CHILDREN CAN SPEND SUMMER DAYS. WE OFFER A VALUABLE ALTERNATIVE TO CHILDREN STAYING HOME ALONE WITH FLEXIBLE HOURS THAT ARE CONDUCIVE TO WORKING PARENTS AND GUARDIANS (6:00 AM - 6:00 PM). CURRENTLY, WE PROVIDE HIGH-QUALITY SCHOOL-AGE CHILDCARE CAMPS TO 250 CHILDREN AND AFTER-SCHOOL CARE TO 165 CHILDREN AGES 3 TO 12.

HEALTHY LIVING/MEMBERSHIP - THE BARREN COUNTY FAMILY YMCA IS A CHARITABLE, SOCIAL SERVICE ORGANIZATION DEDICATED TO YOUTH DEVELOPMENT, HEALTHY LIVING, AND SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY. OUR IMPACT IS PROVEN WHEN A PERSON MAKES A HEALTHY CHOICE, WHEN A YMCA COACH INSPIRES A CHILD, AND WHEN OUR COMMUNITY COMES TOGETHER FOR THE COMMON GOOD OF ALL. OUR MISSION COMES ALIVE THROUGH PROGRAMS THAT HELP PEOPLE APPRECIATE DIVERSITY, BECOME BETTER LEADERS AND SUPPORTERS, DEVELOP LEADERSHIP SKILLS, AND HAVE FUN WITH OTHERS AND LEARN FROM THEM. YMCA PROGRAMS FOCUS ON FOUR CORE CHARACTERISTICS: VALUES-CARING, HONESTY, RESPECT, AND RESPONSIBILITY. WE SERVE MEN, WOMEN, AND CHILDREN OF ALL AGES, RACES, ABILITIES, INCOMES, AND RELIGIONS. EVERYONE IS WELCOME AT OUR YMCA, REGARDLESS OF THEIR ABILITY TO PAY. THE YMCA IS FOUNDED AND LED BY VOLUNTEERS THAT GUIDE US IN IDENTIFYING NEEDS WITHIN OUR COMMUNITY AND HELP FORM STRATEGIES TO RESPOND SO THAT THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY BENEFITS FROM OUR EFFORTS. OUR PROGRAMS ACHIEVE THESE PURPOSES IN THE FOLLOWING WAYS: OVER 6,200 INDIVIDUALS WERE MEMBERS OF OUR YMCA IN 2023.

SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY/AQUATIC PROGRAM - THE YMCA PROVIDES WATER EDUCATION INSTRUCTION TO PROMOTE WATER SAFETY AND DROWNING PREVENTION FOR INFANTS SIX MONTHS OF AGE THROUGH SENIOR CITIZENS. OVER 100 COMMUNITY AGENCIES, CHURCHES, AND SCHOOLS USE THE YMCA POOL, AND THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS IN FREE SERVICES ARE PROVIDED. OVER 1,000 YOUTH RECEIVED FREE SWIM LESSON INSTRUCTION AND PARTICIPATED IN WATER SAFETY INSTRUCTION IN 2023. INSTRUCTIONAL CLASSES INCLUDE INFANT, PROGRESSIVE, AND ADULT CLASSES. THE YMCA TAUGHT 184 YOUTH TO SWIM IN 2023. YMCA PROVIDES AMERICAN RED CROSS-CERTIFIED LIFE-GUARDING TRAINING, CPR, AND FIRST AID CERTIFICATIONS. RECREATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES SUCH AS FAMILY SWIM PARTIES AND PARENT'S NIGHT OUT LET FAMILIES RELAX AND ENJOY EACH OTHER. YMCA FAMILY LIFE PROGRAMS, SUCH AS THE YMCA SQUIZ TEAM, HELP INDIVIDUALS GROW AS RESPONSIBLE MEMBERS OF THEIR FAMILIES. YMCA AQUATICS PROGRAMS PROVIDE CHILDREN AND THEIR PARENTS WITH ACTIVITIES THAT FOSTER UNDERSTANDING AND COMPANIONSHIP. PARENTS HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO LEARN FROM EACH OTHER AND THEIR CHILDREN IN AN ENJOYABLE WAY. OVER 100 ADULTS PARTICIPATED IN OUR AQUATICS EXERCISE PROGRAMS. THESE PROGRAMS ARE BENEFICIAL FOR INCREASED JOINT FLEXIBILITY, MUSCLE STRENGTH, AND BALANCE THROUGH A STRONGER CORE. NOT ONLY DO THE YMCA AQUATICS PROGRAMS ENHANCE PHYSICAL WELL-BEING, BUT ALSO MENTAL WELL-BEING, AS WELL AS PROMOTE SOCIAL INTERACTION.