YMCA Child Care Department receives $150K in grants, launches new programs
By: Sarah Waller, Chief Marketing Officer YMCA of Southwest Kansas
Dodge City, Kan. – Successful collaboration with the community and USD 443 recently paid off for the Dodge City Family YMCA’s Child Care Program when it was awarded a total of $150,000 in grants from the 21st Century Community Learning Centers.
The 21st Century grants support the creation of community learning centers that provide academic enrichment opportunities during non-school hours. The YMCA will use the grants to help improve its existing After School Program with tutoring, homework help, and enrichment at each elementary school and the YMCA program site. In addition to the program improvements, the grant will help fund two new initiatives: Before School Programs at Sunnyside Elementary and the YMCA, and a two-week-long Jump Start Academy for summer school students at Ross, Northwest, Linn and Soule.
“I feel that our programs can really help children in our community,” YMCA Family Director Cassie Roths said. “We believe it will help them reach their grade level expectations.”
Jump Start Academy will take place from July 30 through Aug. 10 and will focus on academic activities to help students prepare for the upcoming school year.
The grant will help fund supplies, tutoring, and mandatory staff trainings. It will also allow the YMCA to decrease the weekly cost of the After School Program, allowing more families to participate.
“We are thankful to have such a great relationship with the school district,” Roths said. “We feel it was instrumental in our receiving this grant, and we are excited for the opportunity to better serve the children in our community.”
For more information about the YMCA’s Child Care Program, visit ymcaswkansas.org, or contact Cassie Roths at (620) 225-8157 or croths@ymcaswkansas.org.
