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Advocacy

Stay Involved The YMCA of the USA Government Relations and Policy office is located in Washington, D.C., and is dedicated to supporting local YMCAs in building strong kids, strong families and strong communities. Staff members educate and engage members of Congress, the White House and other policymakers about the YMCA mission, community impact and expertise on youth, family and community issues.

YMCA of the USA also supports and encourages YMCAs to participate in public policy at the state and local levels.

If your YMCA is interested in applying for federal funds, go to www.fbci.gov, or view a new publication from the federal government that lists more than 100 grant programs available to community-based organizations. If your YMCA would like to contact its member of Congress, go to http://www.congress.org. For opportunities on how to get involved with your local advocacy work visit the Legislative Action Center.

Partnership to Fight Chronic Disease

YMCA of the USA is a proud member of The Partnership to Fight Chronic Disease (PFCD), a national coalition committed to raising awareness of policies and practices

Promising Practices to Fight Chronic Disease

Photos of Workplace, Community, Health System and Schools

that save lives and reduce health costs through more effective prevention and management of chronic disease. “Keeping America Healthy: A Guide To Successful Programs,” a document produced by PFCD, showcases public and private programs from across the country that have proven successful in promoting healthy behaviors and reducing the burden of disease. YMCA of the USA contributed to this report.

Keeping America Healthy examines programs across four settings – workplaces, schools, communities and health systems – and identifies nine “essential elements” for success. It also includes a catalog that can serve as examples of ways to change individual behavior, maintain or improve health and manage the staggering health care costs associated with chronic diseases. This new resource is available on the PFCD Web site at www.fightchronicdisease.org/promisingpractices.

To contact the Y-USA Government Relations and Policy office, call 800-932-9622.