Program areas at Ywca Sweetwater County
The Ywca early care and learning center in rock springs provided quality, dependable childcare to approximately 103 students from birth to age twelve. The original center opened in 1977 with an addition in 2009 of a separate infant and toddler center. Children learn from a developmentally appropriate curriculum while parents are able to work and/or go to school. The center focuses on school readiness and age-appropriate experiences to prepare the children for their future. The Ywca provided financial assistance to 42 children whose parents income qualifies and would not otherwise be able to afford quality childcare. The Ywca hosts a summer day camp for school-aged children. Over the duration of the summer as well as a before and after school care program with activites plan for no school fridays. Approximately 49 children attended the program allowing parents to continue working and/or attending school.
Financial empowerment has been a valuable program for Ywca of Sweetwater County for over eight years. The 2022-2023 fiscal year served 72 adult clients and 58 youth. Clients can take the class on-site, or the instructor can come to them. The class time lasts approximately three hours, depending on the client's needs. Each participant is provided with a workbook. This workbook teaches participants how to budget immediately and in the long term. In 2022, financial empowerment received a grant to introduce a new component to the program in the form of a workforce development program called strive. In addition to the financial education already taught, strive teaches participants digital skills such as google drive, google sheets, and slides, as well as gmail. Additionally, participants can learn public speaking tips and resume/cover letter building and customer service skills. In the 2022-2023 fy strive served 15 adult clients.
The Ywca center for families and children provides services to victims and survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking, human trafficking, and elder abuse. The program has two offices, one located in rock springs and one in green river, and an emergency shelter that provides safe, temporary shelter for victims in need. The shelter is pet friendly. The program provides a twenty-four-hour crisis line and advocates that are available to victims of these crimes in and around Sweetwater County. Advocates take crisis calls by phone or may respond to the hospital, law enforcement agencies or other County agencies to provide services. Advocates also may assist with protection orders, case management, housing, employment, safety planning, financial assistance, and more. The program provided 10,053 services to 252 individuals in 2022. Advocates answered 1,051 crisis calls, assisted with 234 protection orders, and provided 1,874 shelter nights to survivors and their children.