the Young Men's Christian Association of Greater Louisville

Healthy Living- improving the Greater Louisville community's health and well-being means building healthy spirit mind and body for all. The YMCA is a leading voice on health and well-being. We bring families closer together, encourage good health, and foster connections through fitness, sports, character development and shared interests. YMCA health enhancement programs are medically based and stress the value of prevention through balanced efforts of good exercise habits, and overall health including proper nutrition, stress management and health education. This is particularly important as our nation struggles with an obesity crisis, families struggle with work/life balance and individuals search for personal fulfillment. Our programs are family oriented and offered at affordable fees, with financial assistance for those that are unable to pay the full fees. The YMCA provides a variety of programs that assist our community with attaining healthier habits and includes adventure guides, family camps, fitness classes, CPR and First Aid, lifeguard training, diabetes prevention, starter fitness programs, aquatic exercise, sports and swim lessons for adults, indoor cycling and senior social groups. The nature of these programs is to promote one's own self-worth by emphasizing skill acquisition & development, safety, cooperation and self-confidence, leadership & teamwork.

Social Responsibility - the YMCA has been listening and responding to the Louisville community most critical social needs since 1853. YMCA supports our community's through programs such as housing for runaway and homeless youth at our YMCA Safe Place branch, permanent housing for men trying to break out of the cycle of homelessness at our Chestnut Street YMCA branch and teaching Safety Around Water, a drowning prevention initiative, to children. With these programs, we deliver training, resources and support to empower our neighbors to produce change, bridge gaps and overcome obstacles. The outreach shelter and counseling services offered at YMCA Safe Place Services enable teens that may come from abusive homes or struggle with chemical dependency a "Safe Place" to land. Here, youth are provided emergency shelter, individual and family counseling, opportunities for spiritual activities, and life skills learning sessions that aim at healing and re-uniting families. Street outreach and programs directed toward children of incarcerated parents -YNOW (YMCA's New Outlook Within) provide mentors and peer education groups that stress problem prevention and personal fitness to families in crisis. Services are offered as a form of financial assistance to assist these youth since YMCA Safe Place is the only 24 hour free, crisis shelter for teens and the only free care-based intensive case management and family mediation program for teens and their parents in this community.

Youth Development- nurturing the development of every child and teen means we believe that all children deserve the opportunity to discover who they are and to foster growth and development of not only the child but also the family. We help young people cultivate the skills, values and relationships that lead to positive behaviors, better health and educational achievement. Our YMCA programs such as before/after school child care, child watch, preschool child development centers, achievers, youth sports, swim lessons, day & resident camps offer variety and a wide range of experiences to help foster social and emotional learning. Parents play an important role in programs such as child care. As such, social events are scheduled at appropriate times to include interaction with and between the children and their parents.