Increasing Physical Activity

YMCA of the USA

2019 Progress Report

Year Committed: 2019

Length of Commitment: 1 years

Select a Progress Report:

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Committed to make physical activity programs more accessible, affordable, and equitable to underserved and at-risk children. Additionally, the Y promises to help advance the CDC’s Active People Healthy Nation program to encourage greater use of walking and biking trails.

Verified Results

Implementation Date
December 2020
Reporting Date
February 2020

Commitment Element
Provide 425 sub-grants for Ys to provide free swimming lessons in 2019 with a goal to serve 31,250 youth
Progress To Date

In 2019, YMCA of the USA provided 439 sub-grants to YMCAs to provide scholarships for swimming lessons for youth. YMCA of the USA reported that 44,695 youth were served through this work.
Implementation Date
December 2020
Reporting Date
February 2020

Commitment Element
Build upon the existing number of new Ys delivering water safety programs (1261 Y branches in 519 Y associations)by committing to fund Water Safety program in 50 new branches (as part of the total 425 sub-grants).
Progress To Date

As part of its 2019 sub-grants to YMCAs to promote water safety, YMCA of the USA funded a water safety program in 35 new YMCA associations.
Implementation Date
December 2020
Reporting Date
February 2020

Commitment Element
Advance 'diverse ability' swim instruction pilot for those children at greatest risk of drowning, e.g. autism, in 10 Ys and reach 750 youth
Progress To Date

YMCA of the USA launched the Diverse Abilities in Aquatics pilot initiative in 2019. Ten YMCAs received resources including schedules, intake forms, and a guidebook to provide youth with diverse abilities with swim and water safety lessons. Over 750 youth with diverse abilities participated in the pilot project.
Implementation Date
December 2020
Reporting Date
February 2020

Commitment Element
Provide 16 Ys with sub-grants from the National Park Service (NPS) to reach a minimum of 5,000 underserved, diverse children and youth (including from military families) who may not have other opportunities to participate in a summer camp or visit a National Park.
Progress To Date

Sixteen YMCAs received sub-grants from the National Park Service in 2019 to provide outdoor play and learning programs in national parks. These Ys served nearly 10,000 children, including over 3,000 that received scholarships or were from military families.
Implementation Date
December 2020
Reporting Date
February 2020

Commitment Element
Develop a new Digital Storybook with stories and resources about these sites to encourage other Ys and community organizations to replicate this work in their communities.
Progress To Date

Active People, Healthy Nation created a digital storybook with effective strategies and resources to encourage people to be active. YMCA of the USA is a Network Partner featured on the website. The YMCA's digital story explains why implementing physical activity solutions is important and encourages community organizations to take action to advance Active People, Healthy Nation efforts.
Implementation Date
December 2020
Reporting Date
February 2020

Commitment Element
Provide 11 YMCA state alliances with sub-grants to advance state level CDC 'Active People Healthy Nation' work in an effort to improve the respective state scores in the Making Strides: State Report Cards on Support for Walking, Bicycling, and Active Kids and Communities.
Progress To Date

YMCA of the USA provided sub-grants to 11 YMCA state alliances to advance active community policy, systems, and environmental changes at the state level.
Implementation Date
December 2020
Reporting Date
February 2020

Commitment Element
In partnership with each State Alliance, develop and implement 11 total action plans to help advance one of four core areas of the State's score in the Report Card.
Progress To Date

The 11 YMCA state alliances that received sub-grants developed work plans to advance active community policy, systems, and environmental change at the state level. Examples of completed activities include hosting and participating in active community trainings, advancing state policies to promote walking and bicycling, and serving on committees to advance active transportation initiatives.
Implementation Date
December 2020
Reporting Date
February 2020

Commitment Element
In partnership with the Safe Routes to School National Partnership, develop a minimum of four state reports on the current reach, capacity and policy opportunities to expand Safe Routes to School programming by December 2019.
Progress To Date

As part of the Active Communities initiative, the Safe Routes Partnership developed reports on the extent and quality of state Safe Routes to School programming and funding in four states.

Partner Statement

Y-USA is proud to report on our successful efforts to promote physical activity through programs, policy and systems change to increase access to health and wellness opportunities for all, especially for low-income, diverse populations. Last year, the Y:

offered 44,695 scholarships to children to participate in Safety Around Water programs to prevent drowning and promote safe swimming, serving 13,000 more youth than included in our PHA commitment;
provided almost 10,000 low-income, diverse youth their first opportunity to visit a National Park and a week-long camp experience—almost double the number our commitment to PHA
Ten YMCAs participated in a pilot to provide a aquatics program designed for the unique needs of youth with diverse-abilities. The program was offered to 750 youth.
Eleven states worked to advance policies to promote active transportation.