The Northshore YMCA has been selected to receive the 2009 YMCA of the USA/Annie E. Casey Foundation Families Count Family Strengthening Award in recognition of its exemplary work to strengthen and support families in the Northshore community.

This is the fourth year that YMCA of the USA, with the support of the Annie E. Casey Foundation, has presented the award to YMCAs whose work helps develop strong, capable and economically successful families. The Northshore YMCA is one of five YMCAs nationwide to receive the award this year. Each recipient will receive $15,000 in recognition of its accomplishments and will serve as a model for YMCA family strengthening programs throughout the United States.

The award recipients were chosen from submissions from local YMCAs across the country that serve low-income, disadvantaged families and provide intentional family services that make a positive difference in the lives of children.

Specifically, the YMCA English Language Learners Summer Program serves immigrant/newcomer families of the greater Seattle community by helping to improve the language skills of children and by connecting families to community resources and other families. Through reading, writing projects, hands-on exploration, guest speakers and traditional summer program activities, this collaborative program gives students a better chance at academic success. These students are then better able to help their families as they adjust to living in a new community. The YMCA English Language Learners Summer Program celebrated its fifth year of service to the Northshore community.

“We are very proud of the accomplishments of our family strengthening efforts and are grateful to the Annie E. Casey Foundation for supporting our work and stimulating family strengthening discussions and activities within our organization,” said Luann Jackman, executive director of the Northshore YMCA. ”Programs like the English Language (ELL) Learners Summer Program underscore the YMCA’s ability and commitment to respond to the needs of local communities in innovative and meaningful ways.”

In addition to the ELL Summer Program, the Northshore YMCA serves and strengthens local families in a number of different ways. The Northshore YMCA provides Family Nights and Family Dinners; these events are an opportunity for families to come together in a relaxing environment to spend quality time with their own families and have the opportunity to meet other families as well. The Single Parent Family Program (SPF) is another way the Northshore YMCA serves and strengthens families. With the SPF program, the Northshore YMCA offers parent education, social activities, mentoring programs, holiday assistance and ongoing needs to single-parent families in the Northshore area. Activities and events are designed for the unique needs of single parents and a great way for single parents to network with other single parents.

“Research tells us that children do better in strong, healthy families, and families do better when they live in communities that help them succeed,” said Miriam Shark of the Annie E. Casey Foundation. “YMCAs like the Northshore YMCA truly make a difference in their communities. Their outstanding work opens doors to real opportunities for families.”