Seeing the Entire Person

At the Y, we consider the entire person and the circumstances around them when we speak of Whole Person Health. This practice refers to the perspective that individual health is influenced by a range of environmental, social, and biological factors; thus, we need to consider helping young adults across five aspects of well-being: 

1. Physical: Caring for your body to stay healthy now and in the future across all ages and stages of life. The Y understands that people's comfort with and access to physical activity varies based on their location, cost of services, and the dimensions of diversity the staff and organization represent.  
    
2. Emotional: Understanding and constructively managing your emotions, along with having caring adult role models, supports healthy youth development. The Y acknowledges the heightened chronic traumatic experiences of people who face ongoing discrimination related to race, ethnicity, gender identity, sexual orientation, immigration status, and more. 
    
3. Social/Relational: Maintaining healthy relationships and building a strong social support network. The Y works to build and sustain the relationships young people need to thrive in their health journeys, including those with their family, friends, educators, peers, and neighbors. 
    
4. Spiritual/Cultural: Finding purpose, value, and meaning in your life through participating in activities that build your beliefs while seeing your unique identity and values reflected at the Y. The Y works to ensure its programs and services celebrate all cultures and align with the values and norms of diverse communities. 
    
5. Community: Finding safety in and meeting daily needs through the surrounding environment while contributing to a shared and thriving community. The Y connects young people with resources like housing, food, academic support, job-skill training, and more while providing meaningful opportunities for young people to give back to the community through volunteering and mentoring relationships.
    

Investing in Youth

We believe that investing in young people, particularly those who are farthest from opportunity, is key to advancing equity and justice and building Whole Person Health for all. Below are just a few of the ways we are investing in Whole Person Health for young people. 

• Access for All: Income-based financial assistance ensures equitable access for all, ensuring no one is denied access to YMCA programs and services due to financial barriers.
    
• Before and After-School Enrichment: We work hand-in-hand with schools to foster social and emotional learning, encourage active play, and allow kids to discover what they love.
   
• Camp and Outdoor Leadership: Outdoor programs help build leadership, life, and community-building skills through traditional camp experiences and a modern curriculum focused on social and emotional learning, as well as environmental education and stewardship.
    
• Social Impact Center: The Y provides wraparound services, including shelter, counseling, employment training, educational support, and more to young people through branch and community locations.  
   
• Teen Programs: Our Ys offer a variety of skill exploration, movement, civic engagement, and leadership development programs to help teens and young adults thrive and become change-makers in the world.  
   
• Water Safety and Swim Lessons: We provide a safe environment for swimmers of all ages and abilities to set goals and achieve success, learn water safety (especially in communities with the highest rate of drownings), and enjoy swimming as a form of exercise.  
   
• Youth Sports: Youth sports encourage healthy kids by prioritizing family involvement, healthy competition, and the value of participation over winning.
   

Together, through the dedicated work of staff, volunteers, and community partners, we are supporting the healing and recovery process from trauma and mitigating both the immediate effects and long-term disruptions to the whole person's health, well-being, and quality of life for young people.  

Learn more about how you can support Whole Person Health through our Advancing Equity and Justice for All campaign and Vision 2025, our strategic plan to support youth and communities.