ReCharge! Training Center | Train-the-Trainer Tools | Model Outreach Programs: Working with a Local YMCA to Implement ReCharge!


		The Colorado Action for Healthy Kids Team has a strong partnership with the YMCA of Metropolitan Denver. In fact the Y's executive director of before- and after-school programs is an active and enthusiastic Colorado Action for Healthy Kids Team member. The Team viewed this connection as a perfect opportunity for Colorado Action for Healthy Kids to launch ReCharge! within established after-school sites already run by the YMCA. As a result of the partnership, resources were profitably shared and pooled — the Y even providing its own highly qualified staff for ReCharge! training and implementation. A total of 21 Denver-area sites launched ReCharge! during 2005-06, all at schools in which the YMCA oversaw the existing after-school program. Here are a few tips based on what the Colorado Team learned about working within a YMCA partnership — wisdom that can be applied by other Teams or coalitions working with their local Y's or any partnering organization. Tip #1: Similar goals are important. The YMCA of Metropolitan Denver had a specific internal mandate to become involved in the issue of childhood obesity, so ReCharge! was naturally appealing to the organization. In other words, the Y had as much to gain from this partnership as the Action for Healthy Kids Team did. When partnering with a local organization, these kinds of shared goals and common missions are essential, so everyone involved is working toward the same end. Tip #2: A sharper focus on nutrition training can be desirable. YMCA staff tends to be very familiar with, and conversant in, physical activity and physical education — but less so when it comes to nutrition topics. The Colorado Action for Healthy Kids Team advises, when partnering with Y staff, be sure to build this fact into training. How? By focusing closely on the background information about nutrition provided in the Coaches' Clipboard and Healthy Snacks sections of the ReCharge! materials. If possible, have a local nutritionist review this information with the Y's staff and answer any questions they may have about nutrition basics. Tip #3: Fitness philosophies. The YMCA has its own well-respected publication, "The Y's Way To Physical Fitness," which Colorado Action for Healthy Kids found thoroughly compatible with, and a useful complement to, ReCharge! The point? When partnering with a fitness- or nutrition-related organization on ReCharge!, it makes sense to integrate or reference any of that organization's existing programs, philosophies and guidelines where relevant. Tip #4: Take full advantage of your partnering organization's capabilities. Colorado Action for Healthy Kids benefited from use of the YMCA of Metropolitan Denver's powerful information-distribution capabilities. In Colorado, in addition to the Team's employing the menu of promotional/communications tools provided in the ReCharge! kit (and now via this ReCharge! Training Center website), the Y assumed responsibility for additional promotion of ReCharge! — via flyers and materials of their own sent to involved schools, parents, and community sites. The Y also took an active role in participating in, promoting, publicizing, and creating community excitement around a "Denver Broncos Spirit Day," organized by the Colorado Action for Healthy Kids Team in cooperation with the Western Dairy Council. Contact Information Tami Anderson Colorado Action for Healthy Kids 303-451-7711 tanderson@wdairycouncil.com

The Colorado Action for Healthy Kids Team has a strong partnership with the YMCA of Metropolitan Denver. In fact the Y's executive director of before- and after-school programs is an active and enthusiastic Colorado Action for Healthy Kids Team member.

The Team viewed this connection as a perfect opportunity for Colorado Action for Healthy Kids to launch ReCharge! within established after-school sites already run by the YMCA.

As a result of the partnership, resources were profitably shared and pooled — the Y even providing its own highly qualified staff for ReCharge! training and implementation.

A total of 21 Denver-area sites launched ReCharge! during 2005-06, all at schools in which the YMCA oversaw the existing after-school program.

Here are a few tips based on what the Colorado Team learned about working within a YMCA partnership — wisdom that can be applied by other Teams or coalitions working with their local Y's or any partnering organization.

Tip #1: Similar goals are important.

The YMCA of Metropolitan Denver had a specific internal mandate to become involved in the issue of childhood obesity, so ReCharge! was naturally appealing to the organization. In other words, the Y had as much to gain from this partnership as the Action for Healthy Kids Team did. When partnering with a local organization, these kinds of shared goals and common missions are essential, so everyone involved is working toward the same end.

Tip #2: A sharper focus on nutrition training can be desirable.

YMCA staff tends to be very familiar with, and conversant in, physical activity and physical education — but less so when it comes to nutrition topics. The Colorado Action for Healthy Kids Team advises, when partnering with Y staff, be sure to build this fact into training. How? By focusing closely on the background information about nutrition provided in the Coaches' Clipboard and Healthy Snacks sections of the ReCharge! materials. If possible, have a local nutritionist review this information with the Y's staff and answer any questions they may have about nutrition basics.

Tip #3: Fitness philosophies.

The YMCA has its own well-respected publication, "The Y's Way To Physical Fitness," which Colorado Action for Healthy Kids found thoroughly compatible with, and a useful complement to, ReCharge! The point? When partnering with a fitness- or nutrition-related organization on ReCharge!, it makes sense to integrate or reference any of that organization's existing programs, philosophies and guidelines where relevant.

Tip #4: Take full advantage of your partnering organization's capabilities.

Colorado Action for Healthy Kids benefited from use of the YMCA of Metropolitan Denver's powerful information-distribution capabilities. In Colorado, in addition to the Team's employing the menu of promotional/communications tools provided in the ReCharge! kit (and now via this ReCharge! Training Center website), the Y assumed responsibility for additional promotion of ReCharge! — via flyers and materials of their own sent to involved schools, parents, and community sites. The Y also took an active role in participating in, promoting, publicizing, and creating community excitement around a "Denver Broncos Spirit Day," organized by the Colorado Action for Healthy Kids Team in cooperation with the Western Dairy Council.

Contact Information

Tami Anderson
Colorado Action for Healthy Kids
303-451-7711
tanderson@wdairycouncil.com