YMCA of Lakewood - https://www.ymcapkc.org/lakewood-family-ymca/

• Dave Ramirez, Senior Director of Health and Wellbeing, Lakewood YMCA, dramirez@ymcapkc.org
• Representing the Lakewood YMCA, but there are 9 branches in Pierce and Kitsap county.  Gig Harbor, Bremerton, Haselwood, 3 in downtown Tacoma, Lakewood, Sumner, and Puyallup
• Perceptions of the YMCA in east la it is not a place to hang out.  Ideas – workout, village people, programs, swimming, showers, gym – most people come for a physical impact.  It is much more than that.  Some 12,000 members at Lakewood YMCA alone.  People come for lots of different reasons.  (I totally didn’t believe this number, but that is what the annual report says too – with YMCA of Pierce and Kitsap County reaching some 160,000 people in 2015. Kind of makes you want to go to their donation page at https://www.ymcapkc.org/give/  -ed.)
• Tiffany Stewart-Harris,  Senior Membership and Administration Director, Lakewood YMCA - tstewart@ymcapkc.org
• Have treadmills and pools and slides.  Everyone assumes you have to use the treadmills.  We do so much more. 
• 3 types of memberships – want to connect families and communities together. 
  • Individual and Family Memberships – at a cost – can provide up to 50% off for a family – from $20 per month to highest of $130 per month.  1 in 4 are memberships are on financial assistance.
    • 7 branches are family
    • Do community outreach – late night for community members (don’t need to be a YMCA member) – high schoolers use the Y, swim, basketball.
    • Provide no cost individual/family membership to all foster children in Washington State.  Case Manger or a care giver would show proof of foster enrollment, and get membership complimentary.  Can do everything a family membership would provide.
  • Corporate Memberships – employees have no joining fees, get a discount. 
    • Some companies give financial incentive to work out – or no joining fee.  Can also do family nights for companies. 
  • Group Membership – Catholic Community Services uses Y for Case Workers and Children. 
    • Group pays one fee an use all our YMCAs as much as we want – use
    • DSHS – uses the safe and fun space for family visits.
    • Greater Lakes Mental Health – has a workout program for participants twice per week. -  sometimes swimming, sometimes individual workouts. 
    • Can work with other nonprofits and other groups in ways that work for them
    • Work with group homes and do a little of everything – Western State, other groups
    • Women to work program partnership.
      • Kelly - is there a possibility of getting a whole group together to do something?  Tiffany - yes, we are always looking to do things as groups.  Can do a group fitness class, for instance.  We often reach out to businesses near the Lakewood YMCA offering a group event – just to increase awareness of programs.
    • Thinking about how to connect people – let us know about ideas you have.  Group memberships are really customizable. 
    • Questions - what is your Multicare partnership.  Tiffany – all employees have no joining fees.  They run some programs on site at some facilities
    • Work with Community Youth Services too. 
• All branches except UW Tacoma provides free showers to the community.  Family branches is before 8am and after 8pm.  Anyone can use the shower – between 30 and 60 minutes – every time someone comes in, just show photo id (any state ID or high school ID) and sign a waiver.  Background checks are done – to identify sex offenders.  Look monthly for sex offenders in BIB or Rafter.  No sex offenders allowed.  Not limit to the number of visits.  Downtown Tacoma also has showers available mid-day, depending on the season.   Al – homeless person who needs a shower can get one with ID.  Some programs exist that are free of charge.  Theresa – shower program made a difference in our neighborhood.  Doing a great job – will work with folks with no income.  Work with LASA and KWA. Want to create a safe space for folks. 
• Josh – trying to start a mentor program – anything like that working for a population like ours?  Tiffany – there is the late night program – teen program – work with mckinney vento families.  When Y closes, it is open for youth 6-12^th grade – swim lessons, zumma classes, we provide mentors in that program.  work with other nonprofits to provide resources – lots of needs come up. 
• 3 programs of note:
  • Activity changing together (ACT)  - doctor referral or self-referral – for families looking for a lifestyle change in terms of nutrition – for when a child is on path to obesity, for instance.  Program is 90 minutes per week.  Each child comes with a parent or guardian.  Everyone plays together in first 30 minutes.  Next 30 minutes, kids keep playing while adults work on shopping, meal preparation, etc.  Last 30 minutes, family creates a meal together.  Newer facilities have better kitchens.  Lakewood has this ACT program – currently 8 families (35 participants)- get free membership during the 3 month program – so can use all other activities at the YMCA in addition to the activities that are part of the program.  Families are strongly encourages to do other activities. 
    • Sherri -  Do you work with DSHS? Answer - We are happy to find a way to better advertise to community partners. 
    • Question - is there daycare?  Answer - 2 hours of Daycare is included with YMCA membership (for extra $35 per month – I think).  We will try to figure out how we can make the program work for folks. 
  • LiveStrong – a number of Y’s have this program for current cancer patients and cancer survivors.  Requires a referral from physician.  LiveStrong is a support group based on physical activity (no mention if doping is part of the program, now that Lance Armstrong is no longer associated with it.  Sorry, couldn’t help myself –ed.).  During the first 15-20 minutes, the group - around 8-10 patients and care givers – talks.  Then they do 60 minutes of activity (differs each week, but can include yoga, dance, walk, free weights, etc.).  3 month program – membership is free during the program as well. 
  • Late Night – open to community – high school and junior high kids, don’t need to be YMCA members. 
    • Senior High program runs every Friday night.  Usually 9-11:30. – no cost
    • The University YMCA has a Friday night program is for college age community members (up to 35 years old even – no proof needed that they are in college).  Lots of fun stuff for young adults. 
    • 6-7-8 – junior high program – Saturday evenings.   – again, no cost
• Al – would Y be interested in sponsoring team sports for homeless individuals?  Dave - yes, we’d consider anything.  We are limited on time and space – happy to try to figure out how to make something happen.
• Kelly – we need a nonprofit sports league (I think she actually said softball – ed.)
• Contact us to figure out how we can support you better.