A BOLD PLAN FOR OUR KIDS. A BRIGHT FUTURE FOR OUR COMMUNITY.
When it comes to creating a strong future for our community, nothing is more important than laying a strong foundation for the children who will inherit it one day.
Some children don’t grow up with great role models and mentors to emulate and learn from, nor do they have access to excellent educational opportunities. Many hard-working families simply lack the support and resources they need to fully prepare their children for the future. That’s where the Y comes in. As innovators in education and youth development, we have initiated a number of groundbreaking programs that prepare today’s children to become the dreamers, achievers, and leaders of tomorrow. Through these programs, all kids and teens, regardless of their background, can learn the strong values and positive behaviors they need to thrive throughout their lives.
We work hard to nurture the potential of every child and teen, and to be a recognized leader in childhood development in every community we impact. Our programs focus on fostering learning, building confidence, and creating opportunities to thrive.
Instilling Core Values
Instill positive values based on YMCA values: Caring, Honesty, Respect, Responsibility, and Faith.
Strengthen Families
Reduce family stress and improve family relationships by providing a supporting and nurturing environment for children outside of the home.
Nutrition
Provide ongoing activity and nutrition guidance to foster a healthy lifestyle and prevent childhood obesity.
Physical Activity
Encourage kids to keep moving and stay fit by incorporating physical activity to many of our School programs.
Literacy
Improve child literacy by exposing children to books and activities that inspire a passion for reading. This passion will help children thrive in school and life.
STEM
Promote more involvement within the science, technology, engineering, and mathematics fields for boys and girls.
Eight Categories of the 40 Developmental Assets
The Y’s Education Initiative cultivates these assets over the course of a child’s life—from the moment they first begin to explore their world in preschool, to the day they are beginning to prepare for the future.
1 SUPPORT
from family, adults, caring neighbors and school climate that emphasizes strong parental involvement.
2 CONSTRUCTIVE USE OF TIME
such as pursuing creative activities, youth sports, religious community, and spending quality time.
3 POSITIVE VALUES
including caring, equality and social justice, integrity, honesty, responsibility, and restraint.
4 POSITIVE IDENTITY
that enables youth to develop personal power, strong self-esteem, a true sense of purpose and a positive view of their future.
5 SOCIAL COMPETENCIES
that range from planning and decision-making to interpersonal competence, from resistance skills to peaceful conflict resolution.
6 COMMITMENT TO LEARNING
through achievement motivation, school engagement, homework support, and encouraging reading for pleasure.
7 EMPOWERMENT
throughout the community that values youth and emphasizes service to others, while keeping young people feeling safe in their community at home.
8 BOUNDARIES AND EXPECTATIONS
from family, schools, and neighborhood while having access to adult role models, positive peer influence, and high expectations from parents and teachers.
YOUTH DEVELOPMENT ROADMAP
Youth Development is the social-emotional, cognitive, and physical process that all youth uniquely experience from birth to career. A successful development process fulfills children’s and teens’ innate need to be loved, spiritually grounded, educated, competent, and healthy.
| Social/emotional | cognitive | physical |
|---|---|---|
| (1) Forms positive attachment to a caregiver. (2)Makes eye contact and responds to social engagement. (3) Responds to environmental stimulation. | (4) Has a caregiver that sings, reads, and talks to them. (5) Actively explores surroundings. (6) Develops basic recognition of letters, numbers, and shapes. (7) Receives effective preschool preparation. | (8) Receives quality prenatal care. (9) Achieves basic development markers including crawling, walking, and weight gains. (10) Has access to lifelong basic dental, health, and eye care. (11) Has a routine of healthy eating, playing, and sleeping. |
| (12) Exhibits a desire to learn. (13) Forms positive peer relationships. (14) Engages in activities that strengthen social emotional competencies. | (15) Attends Kindergarten. (16) Reads at grade-level by the end of grade 3. (17) Sets academic expectations of good grades. | (18) Has access to healthy foods. (19) Masters fine and gross motor skills through activity. (20) Learns basic safety habits. (21) Has a positive, non-parent adult mentor. |
| (22) Has positive peer influences. (23) Participates in leadership-building activities. (24) Has an expectation of attending college. | (25) Masters Algebra 1. (26) Self-directs part of their own learning. | (27) Chooses to knowingly eat healthily. (28) Engaged in positive physical activity. (29) Establishes resistance to risk-taking activities. |
| (30) Develops values that include caring, honesty, and responsibility. (31) Feels supported by others. (32) Feels empowered. (33) Connects with community, school, and/or church. | (34) Passes most of their classes. (35) Masters a favorite subject. (36) Masters math and/or science. | (37) Establishes a peer group that supports healthy habits. (38) Engages in activities that promote mental health like service learning, getting plenty of rest, and faith-based activities. |
| (39) Begins working on a career plan. (40) Develops time and stress-management skills. | (41) Has a financial plan to support post-secondary studies. (42) Makes strong connections with a post-secondary institution. (43) Has a career plan. (44) Transitions into their career of choice. | (45) Establishes a peer group that supports healthy habits. (46) Engages in activities that promote mental health. |