Decatur Shelby County YMCA

Healthy living - the y is a leading voice on health and well-being. We bring families closer together, encourage good health, and foster connections through fitness, sports, fun, and shared interests. Last year we served more than 16,000 people in our communities; the y provides the support, guidance, and resources needed to achieve greater health in spirit, mind, and body. This is particularly important as our nation struggles with an obesity crisis, families struggle with work/life balance, and individuals search for personal fulfillment. In 2023, we continued to enhance our 3 existing chronic disease prevention programs, a diabetes prevention program, a blood pressure self-monitoring program, and our parkinson's program which empowers those living with parkinson's disease to optimize their physical function and help delay the progression of symptoms. Diabetes prevention program: the program was beneficial with participants having success losing weight and increasing their activity level. Our parkinson's exercise participants have reported improvements in posture, strength, balance, and walking ability; cardiovascular health measures have also improved. Our programs are accessible, affordable, and open to all faiths, backgrounds, abilities, and income levels. In 2023, we provided more than 119,865 in financial assistance to people who otherwise would have faced economic barriers to participation. We offer a variety of water exercise and aqua arthritis classes. The arthritis program keeps seniors and adults active and flexible; our swim lessons helps to develop physical skills in toddlers and school age children; our family swim program gives adults and children shared time in the pool to appreciate one another and promote inter-generational relationships. In 2023 we were able to enroll 107 participants in our grant funded safety around water classes which aids in drowning prevention. Our services are offered at affordable fees for the community at large, with reasonable accommodations for those with special needs, and with financial assistance available for those who cannot afford the full fee.

Social responsibility our Ymca believes in giving back and supporting our neighbors. We have been listening and responding to our community's most critical social needs for more than 100 years, since our inception in 1914. Y programs, such as our 21st century community learning center (cclc) after school initiative (academic and enrichment) program and partnership wtih the flat rock river Ymca residential camp, are examples of how we deliver training, resources, and support that empower our neighbors to affect change, bridge gaps, and overcome obstacles. In 2023, we engaged more than 17,160 Ymca members, participants, and volunteers in activities that strengthen our community and pave the way for future generations to thrive. The y helps to fight the hunger issue in our community by providing the participants in our programming, with healthy snacks and meals. In 2023, we provided breakfast, lunch and a snack to our summer camp attendees providing over 4000 meals. Our 21st century students who are all on free and reduced lunch all benefit from the nutritious meals and snacks we provide as well as those who attend our summer camp. We had 61 students participate in our free 21st cclc afterschool program during 2023. The 21st cclc program offers students a broad array of enrichment activities that complement their academic programs. Slightly over 96% of the 1st through 5th grade regular participants achieved a c or better in reading from and math scores from the fall to spring semester. Both measurements exceeded the target goal of 70%.

Youth development our Ymca is committed to nurturing the potential of every child and teen. We believe that all kids deserve the opportunity to discover who they are and what they can achieve. That's why we help young people cultivate the values, skills, and relationships that lead to positive behaviors, better health, and educational achievement. Our Ymca programs, such as after-school, preschool, summer day camp, youth sports, aquatics, teen programmin, stem programming, home school physical fitness classes and our summer starter and school send off program offer a range of experiences that enrich cognitive, social, physical, and emotional growth. Statistics show that a large number of children from low-income environments reach kindergarten unprepared and that they continue to fall behind in school without proper interventions. This is known as the "achievement gap." Our preschool school, after-school and summer programs are designed to improve academic outcomes for children in our community. The Ymca provides financial assistance for all of our programming including our child care services. Scholarships based upon family financial need were awarded to 434 participants to defray their fees this year. We provide a variety of activities that emphasize parent education and help parents learn more about how to raise healthy, happy children who develop self- esteem and moral and ethical values. In 2023 we also sent 5 families and 20 children to the flat rock river residential camp which provided a number of experiences to improvel sel (soicial and emotional learning) outcomes. These participants were 100% subsidized and given care packages to assist them in having the necessary items to attend an overnight camp. The Ymca day camp program provides a lasting experience of personal enrichment. Day camp offers adventure and learning activities that provides challenge and promotes spiritual awareness, mental development, physical well-being, social growth, and self-respect. Day camp helps youth become aware of their physical and mental capabilities, to recognize the value of cooperation, and to gain confidence. In 2023, we served over 300 participants in preschool, afterschool, and camp programs. Ymca youth and teen programs give kids good role models to help them develop self-esteem and good values, including cooperation, respect, good citizenship, and a strong work ethic. Our service learning and environmental programs help youth develop an appreciation of charitable service and preservation of our natural resources. In 2023 we again participated in the youth in government program for teens. Students have the opportunity to immerse themselves in experiential civic engagement and to practice democracy. Teens from across the state meet in their local youth and government groups throughout the year to discuss and debate issues that affect citizens of their state and to propose legislation. The program culminates with teens serving as delegates at their state conference, debating bills on the floor of the legislature. Financial assistance is available for fee-based programs, so a young person's economic circumstances are not a barrier to participation. In addition, we stood up a teen leadership advisory board (tlab) to help us develop further programming with teen input.