YMCA of Western North Carolina

The 21st Century Community Learning Centers (CCLC) program provides afterschool services for at-risk and underserved students from Enka, Erwin, Reynolds and Owen middle schools within the Buncombe County School (BCS) system. Program runs 4 days per week, 3 ½ hours per day at each school, with field trips and special events many Fridays. 21st CCLC emphasizes academic achievement by providing one hour of daily math/literacy tutoring and homework help led by certified BCS teachers. The program also works to improve parental involvement and support student development through daily enrichment activities in the arts, service-learning, health/wellness, Science Technology Engineering and Math (STEM), and character development within the Developmental Assets® framework. The Search Institute determined that these developmental assets are positive experiences and qualities young people need to grow into healthy, caring, responsible adults and contribute to minimizing risky behaviors.

The YMCA’s Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP) helps adults at high risk of developing type 2 diabetes adopt and maintain healthy lifestyles by eating more nutritiously, increasing physical activity and losing a modest amount of weight in order to reduce their chances of developing the disease. Based on research funded by the National Institutes of Health and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, this program reduces the risk of developing type 2 diabetes by nearly 60%. This reduction is even greater (71%) among adults aged 60 years or older.

Primary care physicians from both hospital systems in our county (Mission Health and Blue Ridge Healthcare), the Health Department and our local free healthcare clinic provide a steady stream of prospective participants, directly referring patients at risk of developing the disease or already diagnosed with prediabetes to this program. Case workers at the Department of Social Services also refer clients who receive Food and Nutrition Services.

To be eligible for this program, an individual must be at least 18 years old, have a body mass index greater than or equal to 25, and either have a formal diagnosis of prediabetes or be considered at risk for developing the disease (as determined by a combination of risk factors). Since retention for the entire year of the program is critical, extensive intake interviews are conducted with all potential participants to ensure that they fully understand the intensive nature of the program, that they are fully committed to actively participating the entire year of the program, and that they have the ability and the desire to implement significant and permanent lifestyle changes.

Taking Control of Type 2 is a free year-long program for eligible adults (age 18-64) who live in McDowell County and have been diagnosed by a physician in the past 5 years with either insulin dependent or non-insulin dependent type 2 diabetes. Since approximately 32% of households in our county live at or below the Federal Poverty Limit, more than 10,000 families receive food and nutrition benefits, and 23% of our adults are unemployed, low income individuals (who are disproportionately affected by this disease) will be specifically targeted for this program and allotted 75% of the available participant slots. Approximately half of these individuals (45) will be Medicaid beneficiaries while the other half (45) will be uninsured. The remaining 25% of slots will be filled with 30 individuals who are privately insured. Participant referrals for insured patients (either privately insured or with Medicaid coverage) will be generated through physicians from each of our local primary care practices, while referrals for the uninsured participants will come from the Good Samaritan Clinic. The physicians in this county have embraced this program and are committed to “prescribing” it to eligible patients and providing a steady stream of referrals.

Project RISE (Reaching Individual Success through Empowerment) is a program offering academic support to Buncombe County and Asheville City youth (grades 4-6), who struggle in school due to limited language abilities, socioeconomic challenges, lack of caretaker attention, or other barriers. School administration refers students at risk of academic failure. RISE provides support which many parents are unable to give. Offered 5 days a week (3.5 hours per day), programming emphasizes academic support by providing math and literacy tutoring led by certified teachers. Enrichment activities are provided in arts, wellness, cultural diversity and character development through the Developmental Assets® framework. RISE students graduating to Buncombe County middle schools will enter 21st Century Community Learning Centers program, and RISE students graduating to Asheville City middle schools will enter In Real Life for continued service.

Summer Discovery is a 7-week specialized summer program targeting economically-disadvantaged youth from Enka, Erwin, Owen, and Reynolds middle schools (yet open to all local middle school students), who have no opportunities for enriched learning during summer months. We take referrals from administrators, counselors and teachers who know family situations. Students engage in academic enrichment activities through experiential learning focused on STEM (Science Technology Engineering Math), literacy, arts, culture and recreation, all of which align with Common Core State and NC Essential Standards. Developmental Assets® curriculum is incorporated to build character, explore diversity, and promote youth empowerment. With the assistance of program staff, certified teachers will facilitate morning academics, which will create 1:7 ratio for instruction. Collaborations with new and existing community partners will enable service and career exploration.

Through the Healthy Living Food Programs, the Y distributes food and other free resources to families in need. In April 2014, the Y launched the Healthy Living Mobile Kitchen, which serves meals to children in under-served areas, distribute fresh produce to families, and offer nutrition education opportunities.

Working with MANNA Food Bank, the Pantry has brought in over 13,000 pounds of food to over 200 adults and children since it opened mid-November 2013. As the pantry grows, families will participate in hands-on nutrition education through a partnership with Inter Faith Food Shuttle and Share Our Strengths Cooking Matters programs.

Our Healthy Living Community Gardens provide youth life lessons and opportunities to serve their community. The Y is establishing gardens at several Afterschool sites to grow fresh fruits and vegetables for distribution and to help combat hunger and poverty in our community.