Registration and Consent Release Form 2008/09

Get the Parent's Handbook for 2008-2009 here.

Registration and Consent Release Form 2009/10

Get the Parent's Handbook for 2009-2010 here.

Y Safe 'n Sound Celebrating 25 Years

Y Safe 'n Sound Newsletter

The Y Safe 'n Sound program offers care before and after school. In partnership with the school districts, the Y Safe 'n Sound program is offered in most District 203 and District 204 elementary schools and at Fearn School in District 129. Y Safe 'n Sound is a place where kids are safe and have fun. This program is also designed to meet the needs of working parents. You can work without worry knowing that your child is in a safe and fun environment that is located conveniently in many area elementary schools.

Elementary schools with Y Safe 'n Sound Programs
 in the Fall 2008**

**If you are interested in a program at a school that is not listed here, please contact the Y Safe 'n Sound Program to be put on one of our interest lists.  Also contact us if you are interested in other child care options such as infant/toddler day care, kindergarten before and after school.  These programs can be developed if there is sufficient interest.

Heritage YMCA Group
Y Safe 'n Sound Program
(630) 585-2207

• Staff
• Curriculum
• Fee Assistance
• Y Safe 'n Sound Days Off
• Teen Extreme - a days off program
• Snow Days
• Safety
• Quality Child Care
    

Professional and Caring Staff: Peace of mind- it's what you want most when you're away from your children. You want to know that your children are being cared for by enthusiastic, creative, nurturing staff members who put the safety and happiness of your children first.  At the YMCA we strive to hire staff who meet your expectations. RJ Bartels - Executive Director Shane Loy - Director of Operations Amy Cahn - Program Director, District 203 Desiree Mombleau - NFRC Director Renae Johnson - Program Director, District 204 Lisa Inostroza - Associate Program Director Russell Clarke - Director of Community Programming Samantha Keen - Director of Recruiting & Retention Amy Collins - Child Care Director - Districts 129/131 Our site staff are trained in: Age-appropriate child development Principles of  YMCA child care Positive discipline CPR and first aid Child-abuse prevention Values development and asset building Our management staff have: College Degrees Advanced certifications in child care, day camping and asset building Successful experience working with children All Staff are comprehensively screened through interviews, references, and background checks before working with children.

Fun-Filled Curriculum The curriculum is planned to promote fun and learning for your child with play as the child's primary method of discovery.  A goal of the program is to encourage maximum development of the whole child.  Part of the Heritage YMCA Group's mission is to build healthy spirit, mind and body for all. Spirit -refers to self-esteem and willingness to help others.  Activities include collaboration with others, conflict resolution, and opportunities for success, regardless of ability. Mind- refers to learning and to activities such as problem-solving and using school-gathered knowledge. Body- refers to health and wellness and the activities that include and encourage physical fitness and active games. Carefully Planned Activities: The Y Safe 'n Sound program offers children a variety of age-appropriate activities.  There are opportunities for both structured and unstructured activities. An example of a typical afternoon schedule might include: Group Discussion with asset-building and character development emphasis Bathroom Break Active time-indoor and/or outdoor group games and sports Snack Creative time- arts and crafts and long term projects Homework time- opportunity for homework or recreational reading Free-Choice stations- time for board-games, coloring & activity sheets, active games, homework, projects, etc.

Fee Assistance

• Subject to available YMCA resources, no person will be denied participation because of inability to pay. For a sliding fee scale application, please contact your local branch or call (630) 585-2207.
• The Y Safe 'n Sound Program is partially funded by the United Way.    

Y Safe 'n Sound Days Off   (Grades K-4) Click here for a registration form in pdf format. Offers ALL DAY supervision on most scheduled days off and holidays. Field trips and fun activities are planned, including games and crafts. Opportunity to develop new friendships. A special flyer, with detailed information, is available. Snacks are provided. Y Safe 'n Sound Days Off  is a separate program requiring a separate registration form. You may register at any of the Heritage YMCA Group branches.

Snow Days

This program runs exclusively when school is cancelled due to inclement weather. Our staff will keep your kids busy with crafts, active games and other fun activities from 7:00 am to 5:00 pm.

Your child will need to come in comfortable play clothes and bring appropriate snow clothes: boots, gloves, hat and scarves. Send a sack lunch and a drink with your child, we will provide an afternoon snack. Space is limited. Registrations are excepted on the day school is cancelled. Contact the Y Safe ‘n Sound office at (630) 585-2207 to register. The office will be open at 6:00 am to accept phone registrations the day school is cancelled. Payment is due at the time of registration.

If you need further information, please call Desiree Mombleau at (630) 579-5713.

Ensuring your child's safety:

The Heritage YMCA Group is pleased to be working with Praesidium, Inc., a national abuse risk management firm, to ensure the safety of your children. As a key element of our child-abuse prevention efforts, Praesidium evaluates our hiring policies, guides and trains our staff, and audits our programs to help us provide the safest possible environment for your children.

Praesidium also provides us with information to share with you, so that you are aware of issues that affect your children's safety.  Praesidium recommends that parents maintain open communication with their children. Through careful hiring, education and training, open communication, and vigilance, the Heritage YMCA Group is dedicated to properly serving you and your children.   

Benefits of Quality Child Care:

Quality care can provide kids, families, and communities with many benefits beyond children's safety while parents are at work. Research gathered by the YMCA of the USA has found the following benefits appear consistently with quality child care:

• Parents confident in their child care are less likely to be absent from work. 
• Quality care for children often results in increased parent-child bonding and involvement.
• Children demonstrate gains in results on standardized achievement tests.
• Children experience higher rates of success in school ( better grades, lower grade retention, lower participation in special education, higher rates of high school graduation.)
• Children demonstrate higher levels of cooperation with adults.
• There are fewer behavior problems.
• Child care participants are less likely to become single parents as teens or adults.
• Participants demonstrate higher levels of social responsibility in later life (lower levels of arrest, criminal behavior.)
• Parents entering the labor force are more likely to complete job training than parents who are not confident in the quality of their child's care.

Multiple studies have shown that high quality child care enhances, rather than harms a child's social, mental and physical development.  The YMCA of the USA's research in conjunction with the Search Institute found that there are various developmental assets associated with positive youth development.  Children who grow up experiencing more of these assets are more likely to engage in positive behaviors.  Many of these developmental assets, such as access to caring adults, enjoyable activities, and a safe place to be, can be provided by a YMCA school-age care program.