Mississippi Gulf Coast Young Mens Christian Association Inc

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

HEALTH & WELLNESS HEALTH AND WELLNESS PROGRAMS AT THE YMCA HELP KEEP US ALL HEALTHIER AND MORE MOTIVATED. CONSISTENT WITH OUR MISSION, WE ENDEAVOR TO PROVIDE NOT JUST PHYSICAL FITNESS FOR OUR MEMBERS, BUT ALSO PROGRAMS TO BUILD HEALTHY SPIRIT AND MIND. MANY ADULT MEMBERS BEGAN THEIR ASSOCIATION WITH THE YMCA IN YOUTH PROGRAMS AND HAVE CONTINUED THEIR ASSOCIATION OVER THE YEARS, BUILDING A HEALTHY LIFESTYLE FOR THEIR FUTURE. ADULT PROGRAMS FOR HEALTH AND FITNESS INCLUDE AEROBICS, AQUATICS, FREE-WEIGHTS AND FITNESS EQUIPMENT, AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR FELLOWSHIP WITH OTHERS THROUGH VOLUNTEER ACTIVITIES, TRIPS AND FELLOWSHIP. FITNESS PROGRAMS FOR ADULTS TRANSLATE INTO HEALTHIER LIFESTYLES AND LESS STRESS, BALANCING WORK AND FAMILY. HEALTH AND PHYSICAL FITNESS INCREASE PRODUCTIVITY REDUCES MEDICAL COSTS COMBATS STRESS AND TENSION RELIEVES STRESS OF WORK/FAMILY LIFE SENIOR PROGRAMS IMPROVE QUALITY OF LIFE BY PROMOTING HEALTHY, ACTIVE LIVING PROVIDE OPPORTUNITIES FOR MEANINGFUL SERVICE OFFER FITNESS, HEALTH SCREENING,I AND EDUCATION PROGRAMS PROMOTE A SENSE OF BELONGING THROUGH ACTIVITIES FAMILY PROGRAMS PARENTING IS AN INCREASINGLY CHALLENGING TASK, WITH NEARLY 70% OF CHILDREN LIVING IN A HOUSEHOLD WITH BOTH PARENTS WORKING OR HEADED BY A SINGLE PARENT. FINDING QUALITY FAMILY TIME IS DIFFICULT. MEANWHILE, CHILDREN FROM LOW-INCOME FAMILIES HAVE MORE PHYSICAL, EMOTIONAL OR MENTAL CHALLENGES THAT INTERFERE WITH THEIR ABILITIES TO DO WELL IN SCHOOL. YMCA FAMILY RECREATION AND PROGRAMS PROVIDE RELEVANT OPPORTUNITIES FOR CHILDREN AND THEIR PARENTS TO RELATE WITH EACH OTHER. YMCA FAMILY PROGRAMS CAN: CREATE MEANINGFUL FAMILY TIME REINFORCE PARENT EFFORTS TO INSTILL VALUES STRENGTHEN PARENT-CHILD BONDS SUPPORT THE FAMILY STRUCTURE DUE TO THE PANDEMIC, THE AMOUNT OF PEOPLE WE SERVE WAS DRASTICALLY REDUCED.

YOUTH SERVICES CHILDCARE IS THE FIRST CHANCE THE YMCA HAS TO CARE FOR ITS MEMBERS. ALL YMCA CHILDREN AND YOUTH PROGRAMS ARE TOOLS FOR BUILDING SUCCESSFUL RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN CHILDREN AND ADULTS, WHETHER THOSE ADULTS ARE PARENTS, OTHER CAREGIVERS, OR YMCA VOLUNTEERS AND STAFF MEMBERS. PRESENTLY MORE THAN 30 DIFFERENT PROGRAMS INCORPORATE CORE VALUES OF CARING, HONESTY, RESPECT, AND RESPONSIBILITY WITH THE ENCOURAGEMENT OF ADULTS AT THE Y, CHILDREN OF DIFFERENT BACKGROUNDS WILL HAVE INCREASED OPPORTUNITIES TO GAIN THESE CRITICAL DEVELOPMENT ASSETS: SUPPORT ASSETS: MAKING CONNECTIONS BETWEEN PARENTS, EXTENDED FAMILY MEMBERS, AND NON-RELATED ADULTS AND YOUTH CONSTRUCTIVE USE OF TIME: YMCA SPONSORED ACTIVITIES AND SUPERVISED RECREATION PROVIDE OPPORTUNITIES FOR POSITIVE USE OF OUR YOUTH'S TIME THROUGH PRESCHOOL, BEFORE AND AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAMS, AND SUMMER DAY CAMPS. COMMITMENT TO LEARNING: TUTORING AND HOMEWORK ASSISTANCE IN AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAMS DEVELOPS A SENSE OF COMMITMENT AND A HEALTHY PERSPECTIVE ON LEARNING, WHILE NURTURING ALL-IMPORTANT "MENTOR RELATIONSHIPS. SOCIAL AND PHYSICAL COMPETENCIES: ARTS PROGRAMS AND YOUTH SPORTS (HERE THE YMCA MOTTO, "EVERYBODY PLAYS, EVERYBODY WINS" APPLIES) HELP DEVELOP SKILLS THAT PROMOTE GOOD DECISIONS AND A HEALTHY OUTLOOK ON COMPETITION. POSITIVE IDENTITY: COMMUNITY-RELATED PROGRAMMING ENCOURAGES ADOLESCENTS TO TAKE ON LEADERSHIP ROLES WHILE ESTABLISHING A SENSE OF SELF WORTH. IN ADDITION, CREATIVE VENUES AND COUNCILS ALLOWING YOUNG PEOPLE TO CONTRIBUTE THEIR IDEAS ARE USED TO DEVELOP NEW PROGRAMS, ESTABLISH RULES AND GUIDELINES AND HELP PLAN YOUTH EVENTS. EMPOWERMENT: YOUNG PEOPLE LEARN THE IMPORTANCE OF SERVING OTHERS THOUGH PROGRAM-SPECIFIC VOLUNTEERISM OPPORTUNITIES. THESE ENABLE YOUTH TO RAISE THE BAR IN SETTING AND ACHIEVING HIGH EDUCATIONAL AND PROFESSIONAL GOALS. BEFORE AND AFTER SCHOOL CHILD CARE AND PRESCHOOL KEEPS KIDS SAFE SERVED OVER 85 KIDS PER DAY IN SUMMER PROGRAMS IN 2020 SERVES APPROXIMATELY 200 KIDS PER DAY DURING THE SCHOOL YEAR DEVELOPS POSITIVE DEVELOPMENTAL ASSETS THAT PROVIDES A DETERRENCE FROM GANGS AND DRUGS TO MEET NEEDS OF WORKING PARENTS PROVIDED BY A COST EFFECTIVE SERVICE FOR BUSINESS SCHOOL AGE CHILDREN ARE INVOLVED IN AFTER-SCHOOL CARE, YOUTH SPORTS, CAMPING, AND MANY OTHER EXPERIENCES. FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE IS MADE POSSIBLE BY THE UNITED WAY, AND BY YMCA MEMBERS AND COMMUNITY FRIENDS THROUGH THE YMCA'S STRONG KIDS CAMPAIGN. WATER SAFETY INSTRUCTION PROGRAMS KEEPS KIDS SAFE BUILDS CONFIDENCE PROMOTES PHYSICAL FITNESS SERVING 150 CHILDREN THROUGH THIRD GRADE LEARN TO SWIM PROGRAM; HUNDREDS MORE THROUGH YMCA SWIM LESSONS SUMMER PROGRAMS A TEN WEEK PROGRAM TEACHES CHILDREN TO LEARN AND GROW THROUGH ACTIVITIES WITH CHILDREN FROM WIDELY VARIED BACKGROUNDS SPENDING SUMMERS TOGETHER CHILDREN CAN BUILD A BETTER FUTURE FOR THEMSELVES, THEIR FAMILIES, AND THEIR COMMUNITIES BY LEARNING RESPECT FOR ALL. PROVIDE CHARACTER BUILDING EXPERIENCES OFFER SELF IMPROVEMENT CHALLENGES TEACH TEAMWORK INCLUDE OUTDOOR/ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION FOSTER FUN AND CHRISTIAN FELLOWSHIP AND FRIENDSHIPS SERVED OVER 285 CAMPERS, AGES 5-12, IN 2020 DUE TO CDC REGULATIONS AND THE PANDEMIC, THE AMOUNT OF CHILDREN SERVED WAS DRASTICALLY REDUCED.

COMMUNITY OUTREACH THE MISSISSIPPI GULF COAST YMCA PROVIDES SERVICES OVER THE ENTIRE GULF COAST WHICH ARE DESIGNED TO HELP ADOLESCENTS BECOME SUCCESSFUL AND PRODUCTIVE. THESE PROGRAMS INCLUDE THE HEALTHY WEIGHT AND YOUR CHILD, REACH AND RISE, AND DIABETES PREVENTION PROGRAM.