Northwestern Connecticut Young Mens Christian Association Inc

Housing programsthe y is a safe haven for up to 74 individuals at one time who rest their heads each night and call the y home. We offer a 17 bed homeless shelter for families and single adults in winsted, 15 single rooms in winsted and 42 sros in torrington. Y supportive housing is long-term housing with social services for the formerly homeless, people with medical disabilities, and individuals with low income. Supportive housing is a proven, effective means of reintegrating individuals and families into the community by addressing their basic needs for housing and on-going support. It combines affordable accommodations with services like counseling, education and community activities. In effect, our housing is a bridge to the community and the future and many of our residents go on topursue better jobs, additional permanent housing and higher education. Winchester emergency shelter provides a minimum of 30 days of safe housing for those who find themselves homeless. Guests are placed through our region's coordinated access network (can), and can be single adult males, females or families with children. Single adult shelter guests who qualify will move to permanent section 8 subsidized housing.

Childcareour y provides high quality child care by providing comprehensive activities for infant/toddler, preschool and school age children drawing on diverse members of the community. Woven into the fabric of the y mission is a commitment to strengthening families. Y childcare programs relieve the burden of balancing work and family and make it possible for parents of children in our care to remain employed, knowing that their children are thriving in a safe, developmentally sound environment.we provide aid to families who need help due to family violence, substance abuse, etc. By collaborating with other social service agencies. We also provide a variety of activities that emphasize parent education and help parents learn more about how to raise healthy, happy children with a high self-esteem and moral and ethical values.

Youth development programsy youth and teen programs give kids good role models to help them develop self-esteem and good values, including caring, honesty, respect, and responsibility. Over 300 "at risk youth" are served each year with education and taught coping skills, along with comprehensive support services and life-skills training. Many programs are provided at no cost. Financial assistance is available for fee-based programs, so a young person's economic circumstances are not a barrier to participation.the winchester youth service bureau (wysb) and the torrington youth service bureau (tysb) are part of a state-wide network of agencies that serve at-risk youth and their families. The work of ysbs was actually codified in state statue, when they were penned in 1975. While the majority of ysbs are municipal agencies, some like the wysb and tysb are a part of a larger non-profit organization like the y.the winchester youth service bureau (wysb) serves at-risk youth who are dealing with the stress of family issues, homelessness, domestic violence, financial hardship, abuse, school problems, and mental health issues. Our goals include assisting young people and their families through difficult life experiences; helping to improve the quality of life of our constituents; facilitating families in conflict resolution; assisting families involved in the juvenile justice system; increasing awareness of substance abuse to young people; keeping children safe; and enhancing our communities. The wysb serves youth and families throughout northwest connecticut in barkhamsted, colebrook, hartland, new hartford, norfolk, and winchester.the torrington youth service bureau (tysb) serves at-risk youth who are dealing with the stress of family issues, homelessness, domestic violence, financial hardship, abuse, school problems, and mental health issues. Our goals include assisting young people and their families through difficult life experiences; helping to improve the quality of life of our constituents; facilitating employment opportunities for low-income youth, assisting families involved in the juvenile justice system; increasing awareness of substance abuse to young people; keeping children safe; and enhancing our communities. Tysb serves youth and families throughout northwest connecticut in harwinton, burlington and torrington.in-school and after school groups are offered throughout the school year, in each of the 9 towns served by the ysb's. Our staff collaborates with school leadership and municipalities to determine the specific needs of each school, developing groups (grades k-12) that meet weekly focused on promoting self-awareness, building positive peer relationships, and developing conflict resolution skills. The juvenile review board (jrb), operated by both the wysb and tysb, is for first-time, non-violent juvenile offenders. Jrbs create an alternative path that not only holds them accountable for their infractions, but provides additional resources that can help them change their behavior and be successful. If they successfully complete the program, their case is dropped by the police; otherwise the case is returned to the police.each holiday season, our christmas angels program helps to ensure that children who might not otherwise receive gifts have their wishes fulfilled. In 2021, over 1,000 children & families received gifts and critical needs, including clothing and food.our parent & child, preschool and youth level aquatics program help to develop physical skills and lifesaving experience to children ages 6 months through 12 years; our family swim program gives adults and children shared time in the pool to appreciate one another and promote intergenerational relationships. Sports and ninja warrior programs for youth, families and adults promote fitness, teamwork and development of social and physical skills. The y's competitive girls volleyball program, northwest juniors, provide opportunities for girls, grades 6 through 12, to develop advanced skills and experience competing throughout new england. Boys & girls aau basketball program provides opportunity for those interested in playing high levels of competitionour competitive youth swim team for youth ages 6 to 18 years, provides two seasons of development. In addition, torrington high school boys and girls swimming & diving teams practice and host meets at the torrington branch, and northwest region 7 high school and lewis mills high school swim teams practice and hold meets at the winsted branch. Special olympics also uses winsted branch as their swim team practice facility.

Summer camps and programsthe y summer camping program provides a lasting experience of personal enrichment for children during the summer months. Day camps offer adventure and learning activities that provide challenge and promote spiritual awareness, mental development, physical well-being, social growth, and self-respect. Camping helps youth become aware of their physical and mental capabilities, to recognize the value of cooperation, and to gain an appreciation of their natural environment.our camps are open to all regardless of income or special needs, so that children appreciate diversity, and develop the values of caring, honesty, respect and responsibility. Y summer camps include traditional camp,educational camp, ninja warrior camp, sports camp, as well as, rising star camp for high risk kids. Rising star camp provides children, who often cannot be successful in a community camp, a small group setting with a well-trained counselor who works on goals, improving self-esteem, learning new & appropriate ways to resolve conflicts and to just have carefree fun.