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April 2015 Newsletter
Stay Connected
List of Contents  
  • Youth Drug Abuse Prevention Series
  • Early Education Advocacy Day
  • Y-Mass News
  • YMCA Advocates Action Network
  • Child Protection
  • Olympic Day
  • Massachusetts Veterans' Services
  • Boston Regional Training Event April/May
  • Department of Public Health Town Hall Meetings 
The Massachusetts Project
Youth Drug Abuse Prevention Speaker Series 

As you know, the Alliance teamed up with The Herren Project to provide the Athol, Greater Boston, Pittsfield, and Springfield YMCAs with the opportunity to offer a speaking series to prevent youth drug abuse. 
The results are phenomenal and we're proud to have been the catalyst for engaging communities and youth around such an important topic. 
Please visit our Twitter page for wide coverage on the series' impact and locations. We look forward to providing Ys with more opportunities to engage communities and discuss topics everyone should be talking about. 

Early Education Day at the State House
On April 8th the Alliance of Massachusetts YMCAs, Methuen YMCA, Massachusetts Association of Early Education and Care, MA Cares for Kids,  sponsored Early Education Day at the State House. Over 500 early education and after-school providers attended, and advocated to their legislators on the importance of quality care, workforce development, and access. 
Luisa Perez Jimenez, a child care teacher from Methuen YMCA, closed the rally with a wonderful testimony. 
Y-Mass News! 
South Shore YMCA Safe Kids 

The South Shore YMCA has launched its Safe Kids Website to promote its commitment to child safety! There's a calendar showcasing 30 ways to promote Child Well Being during April, which is Child Abuse Prevention Month.

Resources are available and ideas for other Ys to create similar sites are plenty, so check it out!

 

Boston Marathon

Are you or your members running the Boston Marathon? Invite them to the YMCA of Greater Boston's Finish Line Party celebrating the 2015 marathon team! 

 

Monday April 20, 2015

2:30-6:30 PM

Huntington Ave YMCA 

316 Huntington Ave

Boston, MA 02115

 

YMCA members will have access to facilities and celebratory reception for their friends and families who can meet them at the Huntington Ave Y. 

 

Runners and guests do not need to belong to the YMCA of Greater Boston but must be a Y member and must register by emailing ymarathonteam@ymcaboston.org

 

All reception guests must pre-register.

 

Contact the Greater Boston Y for more information. 



 

YMCA Housing 

 

If your Y has Housing programs or facilities, please
We're putting together a network to connect Housing personnel in Massachusetts YMCAs. 

MA House Budget

 

IfThe Massachusetts House of Representatives' Budget will be released this Wednesday. Please be on the lookout for emails from the new Massachusetts Advocates Action Networ k asking you to call legislators in support of amendments to the budget next week. 
Join the YMCA Advocates Action Network
National Advocacy Days may have ended, but that doesn't mean our advocacy work is over! The YMCA Advocates Action Network website includes the latest news and updates, Twitter posts, action alerts, photo streams and stories related to advocacy.
 
If you haven't done so already, join the Action Network here!
Child Protection 
Child Protection Task Force

During the last legislative session, the YMCA lead the issue of creating a Child Sexual Abuse Prevention Task Force. We are pleased to let you know the legislation passed and the task force has been formalized. Peter R. Doliber has been invited by the Governor to serve on the task force.  

 

Overview of Youth Protecting Legislation 

As part of National Child Abuse Prevention Month the Alliance would like you to be aware of the legislation that has been filed to protect children. Click here to view the list.

If you have any questions please contact Kate-Marie at kate-marie.roycroft@maymca.com or 978-237-2021.
Massachusetts Citizens for Children' Safe-Child Standards (MassKids) 

MassKids has asked us to share the following information with you-

Masskids announced the release of "Sexual Abuse Safe-Child Standards," its latest resource to help youth-serving organizations strengthen their capacity to protect the children and youth they serve from sexual abuse. The 24-page document identifies six core standards with accompanying action steps to help organizations meet each standard. 
Research shows that to truly confront the problem of sexual abuse and implement lasting changes, organizations need both to educate their personnel, participants and parents about child sexual abuse prevention, and also implement policies and codes of conduct that work to support prevention. Download the "Safe-Child Standards" that builds on MassKids' previous work. 

Olympic Day at Your Y!


 

Commemorating the birth of the modern Olympic Games, Olympic Day is not only a celebration, but an international effort to promote fitness and well-being in addition to the Olympic ideals of Fair Play, Perseverance, Respect and Sportsmanship. 

This year, organizations can host an Olympic Day celebration between May 31-July 1, 2015. 


 

Communities across the U.S. will celebrate Olympic Day through educational programming and other activities and may also include Olympic Day as part of a pre-existing event. 


 

We encourage your Ys to host an event in your community in the month of June. Tag Olympic Day onto the event to make it bigger! 

Resources such as physical tool kits and virtual seminars headed by the United States Olympic Committee are available. In addition, the US Olympic Committee will work with 10,000 Olympians and Paralympians to find an athlete to potentially attend your event!

  • Some event ideas to host:
    • Fun Run
    • 5k Run
    • Mini-Olympics
    • Sport Clinics
    • Day Camp Theme/Events
    • Olympic Art
    • Olympic Trivia
    • Torch Relay
    • Obstacle Courses
To register an event for Olympic Day, visit www.TeamUSA.org/OlympicDay, click on "Host Registration" and follow the on-screen prompts and questionnaire. 
Once completed, you are registered to host an Olympic Day celebration in your community!
Massachusetts Veterans' Services 

Please share this information about Veterans' Services with all Y staff, members and family members! 


 

Veterans seeking support in a crisis or general resource and benefits navigation, should contact the Massachusetts Department of Veterans' Services Statewide Advocacy for Veterans Empowerment (SAVE) Program.  SAVE helps veterans and their families navigate federal, state and local resources to ensure successful outcomes at home.  SAVE can be reached at 617-210-5743 or  rsaucier@massmail.state.ma.us.


 

For more general information regarding benefits and resources for veterans and their families in Massachusetts please go to www.massvetsadvisor.org.


 

Regional Training Event 
Located at the Constitution Inn, Boston's Spring Regional Training Event will begin April 27  
  • Become a Trainer!
    • Do you have a passion  for a specific Y Training or topic?- Become a trainer and help others learn and grow!
  • Leadership Competency
    • Intro to Listen First 
    • Facilitation Skills & Trainer Course
    • Leading & Coaching others!
  • Multi-Team/Branch Leader
    • Project Management & Trainer Course
  • Team Leader 
    • Intro to Fiscal Management
    • Intro to Leading Others
    • Intro to Volunteerism
  • Aquatics
    • YSL & Trainer Course
  • Healthy Living
    • Healthy Living Principals
    • Foundations of Group Ex & Trainer Course
  • Membership
    • Creating the Member Experience 
    • Keys to Member Engagement
  • And More!

Department of Public Health Town Hall Meetings
The Massachusetts Department of Public Health wants to hear from you about how it can improve services to families, women, children and youth, including children and youth with special needs. 

Friday, May 1
1:00 PM - 2:30 PM 
Moakley Center Auditorium 
Bridgewater State University 
100 Burill Ave. Bridgewater, MA 

Tuesday, May 5 
1:00 PM - 2:30 PM 
Kittredge Center  (KC 301/303) 
Holyoke Community College
303 Homestead Ave.  Holyoke, MA

If you can't attend the meetings and choose to attend via the webinar a survey is  provided to record opinions and needs. 

Sincerely,

Your Alliance 
Alliance of Massachusetts YMCAs | | daniel.padilla@maymca.com
| http://www.maymca.com  |
14 Beacon St
Suite 803
Boston, MA 02180