Program areas at Ymca of San Diego County
Youth development: at the y, we create a safe place where youth achievement means more than just learning their abc's. Youth form meaningful relationships and a sense of belonging that develops sportsmanship, leadership, confidence, healthy habits, and values that will enable them to be our engaged and contributing adults of tomorrow. This program area includes child care and camping. The Ymca of San Diego County operates 187 child and youth development programs throughout the County where the mission is realized in the lives of over 10,000 children. Child care: 151 of these programs are before and after school programs where kids receive academic assistance, participate in character development, health and wellness, homework support, literacy, stem (science, technology, engineering and math), service learning, and social competence and conflict resolution. Preschool programs offered at 5 locations provide critical development support for the brain and body, build social-emotional skills, and meet family childcare needs so parents can work. Camping: the program categories within camping include day camping, resident camping, environmental education, family camps, leadership development, & intersession programs. Ymca camping programs utilize indoor and outdoor settings, work with people in small groups, and include lots of activities all to build character, social and emotional skills, self-efficacy, achievement, and belonging. Programs are offered at fees as affordable to the community as possible. We also support access to camp through fund-raising efforts such as the "kids to camp" campaign and our endowment earnings, which provides the financial assistance to families who otherwise could not afford camp. Last year, 11,545 children attended day camp. Over 250 staff guided these campers, ages 5-16. In addition, 4,281 campers experienced immersive outdoor programming through adventure guides and/or resident camp.
Social responsibility: thanks to the generosity of volunteers and public and private donors who give to the y, our community is stronger every day, we work side-by-side with our neighbors to make sure that everyone, regardless of age, income or background, has the opportunity to learn, grow and thrive this program area includes group services, enrichment, active older adults, youth & government, outreach programs, skate parks, youth shelters, housing and transitional living programs, counseling, inclusion, respite care, drug/gang prevention, and more Ymca childcare resource service serves the community through a variety of programs designed to foster education and development of child care professionals, provide resources and education for parents, and help families pay for child care as an example of the programs provided in fy22, more than 13,000 child care providers received services that allowed them to care for children and to improve the quality and professionalism of their practice, contributing both to positive outcomes for children in their care and to their own economic well-being nearly 1,100 children were served through programs that promote social connections and social-emotional competence so they can establish and maintain positive relationships that provide emotional and informational support and recognize and regulate their own emotions. Over 1,200 families with children with special needs received respite care services, allowing parents to rejuvenate while their children experienced new interactions with caring adults and over 4,500 families received subsidized child care, allowing them to engage in activities to transition to economic self-sufficiency through these and other programs, Ymca childcare resource service served more than 85,000 children, families and child care providers in fy22 Ymca youth & family services believes all youth and families should have a safe place to live, a reliable support system and a sense of purpose, and should be connected to the resources needed to flourish to accomplish this, youth and family services operates in three main areas 1) mental health & support, 2) family support & preservation, and 3) transitional housing and youth development for young adults we reach over 12,000 community members each year through social service programs designed to address our community's most pressing social issues we understand the challenges that keep individuals from reaching their fullest potential and continuously expand our services to help people become more self-sufficient, productive and connected to the community youth and government.
Healthy living: because the y is for everyone, we bring together children, adults and families of all abilities like no other organization can. As a result, hundreds of thousands in San Diego County are receiving the support, guidance and resources needed to achieve greater health and well-being for their spirit, mind and body. During fiscal year 2022, the Ymca of San Diego County served 141,514 members of which 46.3% identified as male, 54.7% identified female, and 0.1% identified as another gender. By age: preschool (under 5) 4%, school age (5-12) 18%, teen (13-17) 10%, adult (18-63) 55%, and senior (64+) 13%. Prevention is the key word for physical education and health at the y. Exercise is a way of life that requires education in good nutrition, proper exercise, avoidance of drug and alcohol abuse, dealing with stress and reducing the problems associated with chronic diseases. Y exercise programs include strength training, group classes, walking clubs, martial arts, running clubs, yoga, stretch, soccer, gymnastics, swimming, water fitness, tennis/pickle ball, volleyball, basketball, dance, mind/body fitness, and prenatal classes for expecting mothers. Many of these programs are available to Ymca members as well as the public.