Helping Families Thrive

At the heart of communities across the country, YMCAs serve families with programs that help them build bonds, maintain health, connect with other families and access support in times of need.For the fourth year, YMCA of the USA, with the support of the Annie E. Casey Foundation, has presented the FAMILIES COUNT Family Strengthening Awards to YMCAs offering exceptional programming that develops strong, capable and financially stable families. Award recipient YMCAs and their programs include:

WOMAN'S OPPORTUNITY CENTER
Burlington County YMCA, Mt. Laurel, N.J.
The YMCA of Burlington County's Women's Opportunity Center (WOC) is dedicated to improving the lives of women who have lost their primary source of income due to separation, divorce, death or disability of a spouse and are trying to support their families. Since 1990, the WOC has served more than 1,700 women in transition through a broad spectrum of comprehensive services designed to help them achieve economic self-sufficiency.

NORTHSHORE BRANCH YMCA, BOTHELL, WASH.
YMCA English Language Learners Summer Program
The YMCA English Language Learners Summer Program at the YMCA of Seattle's Northshore Branch serves children from newcomer/immigrant families in the Greater Seattle area who have been identified by the school district as needing expanded English language assistance. The YMCA English Language Learners Summer Program is getting ready to celebrate its fifth year of service to the Northshore community and currently serves 60 students from six elementary schools.

LIVESTRONG AT THE YMCA
Providence Metropolitan YMCA, R.I.
LIVESTRONG at the YMCA, offered by the Providence Metropolitan YMCA (one of 145 Ys participating), is a comprehensive program for cancer survivors and their families in partnership with the Lance Armstrong Foundation. As part of the LIVESTRONG program, the Providence YMCA assists in restoring strength and vitality in survivors following cancer treatment through a specialized 12-week program that focuses not only on exercise but also on the importance of empowerment, camaraderie, safety and connection with the whole family. The Providence YMCA has served 700 cancer survivors since 1999.

FAMILY RESOURCE CENTER
Urban Services YMCA, San Francisco, Calif.
Located in an underserved neighborhood of San Francisco, the Family Resource Center of the Urban Services YMCA is a refuge for families residing in the Oceanview, Merced Heights and Ingleside (OMI) neighborhood-an area challenged by high rates of poverty and crime and the lowest per capita income in the city. The Center empowers parents and caregivers through effective, culturally relevant parenting workshops, family counseling, support groups, a business center and community food pantry. Since opening its doors six years ago, the Urban Services YMCA Family Resource Center has served more than 10,000 families.

FATHERHOOD INITIATIVE
The YMCA of Greater Des Moines, Iowa
The Fatherhood Initiative of the YMCA of Greater Des Moines strengthens the parenting skills and increases the overall parental involvement of men who have been living apart from their children and/or involved in child support cases. Through ongoing weekly classes the program offers instruction in health and nutrition, effective communication, co-parenting, financial education and community resources. Since its inception in 2006, the Fatherhood Initiative has served more than 145 participants.

Photo credit: ©Veer