(Oneida, NY – April 2012)  On April 28, the YMCA of the Greater Tri-Valley is celebrating Healthy Kids Day with a free community event for kids and families in Oneida, Rome and New Hartford. More than 1,900 Ys across the country are taking part in the celebration, meant to kick start physical activity and learning throughout the summer – a critical out-of-school time for kids.

Healthy Kids Day, a national initiative of the Y to improve the health and well-being of kids, is filled with fun, active play and educational activities that will help parents improve their kids’ lifestyles for the long term. Research shows that without access to activities that stimulate the mind and body, kids are more prone to gain weight and fall behind academically over the summer months.

“At the Tri-Valley Y, we know that when the school year ends, many kids lose exposure to activities that keep them moving and learning. Healthy Kids Day will help parents begin thinking early about what their kids need to stay physically and intellectually active in the summer,” saidStephanie Manion, School Age Child Care Director, at the Oneida Family Y. “Summer is just around the corner and is an ideal time for kids to get out and grow so they are healthier and sharper when the next school year begins.”

Hank Leo, CEO of the Tri-Valley Y added, “Since the month of April is National Child Abuse Prevention Month, we will also be using this Healthy Kids Day to highlight our Child Safety Initiative.”

The Healthy Kids Day event will take place at all three of our YMCA locations in Oneida, Rome and New Hartford from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Events will vary by location but will feature activities such as Martial Arts and dance demonstrations, face painting and Zumba, to name a few.

In addition, there will be YMCA summer camp registration, Pop Warner sign-ups, and a scholastic book fair, free SAFE Child ID cards, complimentary healthy snacks including Chobani yogurt, raffles and give-aways.  Sign up for a YMCA membership on April 28 or April 29 and receive the month of May for free.

For more information, contact the Oneida Family YMCA at 363-7788, the Rome Family YMCA at 336-3500 or the New Hartford YMCA School Age Child Care Site at 797-4787 or visit ymcatrivalley.org.

(Oneida, Rome, New Hartford, NY – April 2012)  April is National Child Abuse Prevention month.  This month and throughout the year, the YMCA of the Greater Tri-Valley encourages all individuals and organizations to play a role in making our communities a better place for children and families.  By ensuring that parents have the knowledge, skills and resources they need to care for their children, we can help promote children’s social and emotional well-being and prevent child maltreatment within families and communities.

Research shows that when parents possess six protective factors, the risk for neglect and abuse diminish and optimal outcomes for children, youth and families are promoted.  The six protective factors are:

Nurturing and attachment

Knowledge of parenting and of child and youth development

Parental resilience

Social connections

Concrete supports for parents

Social and emotional developmental well-being

“April is a time to celebrate the important role that communities play in protecting children,” said Maryalice Golden, Marketing Manager.  “Everyone’s participation is critical.  Focusing on ways to build and promote the protective factors, in every interaction with children and families, is the best thing our community can do to prevent child maltreatment and promote optimal child development.”

YMCAs serve over 9 million children and 12 million adults in 10,000 communities across the United States.  By sheer numbers this makes the YMCA the most effective and efficient pathway to reduce child sexual abuse; locally, the Tri-Valley Y is becoming a leader in New York State for child abuse prevention.  Partnerships with the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, The Redwoods Group and Darkness to light are providing tools, resources and funding for the Child Safety initiative.  With the health and well being of children and families at the heart of the YMCA mission and a long history of tackling tough community issues the Tri-Valley Y and other Y’s across the state are stepping up to convene leaders and engage the entire community in prevention.   “We already instituted Code Adam at all three of our locations and more recently upgraded our membership computer software that cross-references members and day pass users with the National Sex Offender Registry”, said Diana Wozniak, CFO.

This year our Healthy Kids Day will highlight the Child Safety initiative along with the physical and educational components.  To bring awareness to the Child Safety initiative specifically the Tri-Valley Y is honored to bring Olympic swimmer and national spokesperson for the National Children’s Advocacy Center, Margaret Heeler to the Oneida and Rome Y’s.   Margaret is a survivor of sexual abuse and went on to become an Olympian, bringing several medals home in the process.  In 2008, Margaret competed at her second Olympic Games where she won 1 bronze medal in the 100 backstroke, a silver in the 200 backstroke as well as a silver medal for being a member of the preliminary team in the 400 medley relay.   At the US Trials, she posted her first individual World Record swim in her signature event, the 200m backstroke; she is still a current World, American, and US Open Record holder.  Ms. Hoelzer wants to share her story of courage, perseverance and overcoming the odds with our youth.  Margaret will be at the Rome Y from 9am to 11am and at the Oneida Y from 12pm to 2pm, along with sharing her story she will be holding a swim/stroke clinic at both locations.

We will continue with our efforts to keep children safe by once again hosting the opening ceremony for the National Center For Missing and Exploited Children’s “Ride For Missing Children’ – Mohawk Valley on May 18 and NCMEC’s “Take 25” on Friday, May 25.

For more information please call the Oneida Family YMCA at 363-7788, the Rome Family Y at 336-3500 or the New Hartford YMCA SACC Site at 797-4787 or visit www.ymcatrivalley.org.