Member Impact Story: Cathy Guadagni

Participation in the LIVESTRONG at the YMCA Program helped Cathy Guadagni take charge of her health and life.

When I was finishing treatments for my breast cancer, I knew that I had to be proactive about diet and exercise to help prevent the return of cancer. While meeting with the Middlesex Health Nutritionist, we talked about the importance of exercise. She suggested I look into LIVESTRONG at the Y.

During my intake, the Healthy Living Director, Jill listened so carefully and had such enthusiasm for how the program would help me. The Y immediately felt like it was exactly what I needed to help me get back into exercise and get the endorphin rush I was craving.

I’ve belonged to other gyms. This is not just a gym, this is a community. Every time I walked into the Y, I felt like everyone genuinely cared. The structure of the program with time to gather and connect and check in with each other about our day, our treatment, etc. is what makes it more powerful than being part of a group exercise class. After the first week of sharing and fitness evaluations, the walls came down, the group bonded and held each other accountable. We were all at different levels but all going through the same type of experience. The coaches allowed me to own my progress. They would ask “Are you ready to do more?” They believed in me when I didn’t believe in myself. We gradually began to trust the ability of our bodies to become stronger and increase our weights and reps or length of time on the treadmill.

Now that I’m a member of the Y, I feel a sense of belonging and have continued to become stronger and reclaim my body, my brain and my life.

Learn more about LIVESTRONG at the YMCA

Northern Middlesex YMCA Receives $2 million State of CT Bond Commission Investment

MIDDLETOWN, CONNECTICUT, June 30, 2023 – The Northern Middlesex YMCA is very grateful to have received a State of Connecticut Bond Commission investment of $2 million for renovation and expansion of the youth development space at our downtown Middletown facility. Candace Crane, Vice President of Youth Development & Community Relations at the Y, was on hand for this special designation at the Capitol on Friday, June 30, 2023. The Y is especially grateful for State Representative Kai Belton, D-Middletown, who proposed this funding. Read The Connecticut General Assembly Press Release

“These funds will support Northern Middlesex YMCA's efforts towards a major upgrade to the facility, enriching the lives of Middletown's youth. I am grateful for the Y’s leadership in helping secure this funding. Thank you to Governor Lamont and the Bond Commission for their commitment to Middletown,” said Rep. Belton.

As the Northern Middlesex YMCA prepares for a number of special projects in alignment with a new strategic plan, these funds will be important to take the next steps.

“With the renovation and addition of dedicated youth space, we would expect to expand our already vibrant youth programming, growing our services in excess of the 500+ teens we currently serve,” said YMCA President/CEO Michele Rulnick. “We provide financial assistance for the majority of our youth members, therefore this bonding support will assist in solving our space needs to allow more opportunities.”

For more information, contact Rich McCarty, Vice President of Healthy Living and Social Responsibility at 860-343-6207 or rmccarty@midymca.org.

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About the Y The Northern Middlesex YMCA is a non-profit organization founded in 1886. The organization currently serves tens of thousands in Northern Middlesex County (Cromwell, Durham, East Hampton, East Haddam, Middlefield, Middletown, Portland) through various programs that encourage youth development, healthy living, and social responsibility. A strong community relationship has made it possible for the Northern Middlesex Y to have a significant reach and provide quality service to all regardless of race, creed, gender, sexual orientation or financial status.

Child Abuse Prevention Month | Our YMCA Employee Code of Conduct

The development of children is the core of which the Y’s values were built. This is why the safety of all children in our care is our number one priority. Staff and volunteers at the Northern Middlesex YMCA follow our Code of Conduct to ensure the safety of all children who come through our doors, whether they’re regular program participants or only visit once a year.

During Child Abuse Prevention Month, the Y wants to make sure that all members understand this Code of Conduct. A key tool in abuse prevention is knowledge, so it’s important that parents and caregivers are informed of the Y’s policies around children. Together we can work to ensure all children in Middlesex County reach their full potential.

Click HERE to visit our Abuse Prevention at the Y page on our website to view our Code of Conduct.

In addition to our Code of Conduct, the Y also has a number of safety measures intended to keep kids safe.

A principal endeavor of the Middlesex Y is to provide an atmosphere for the growth and development of youth and children.Thus, the mistreatment or neglect of youth or children and the resulting severe effects are of primary concern to the Y. Child abuse is mistreatment or neglect of a child by parent(s) or others resulting in injury or harm. Abuse can lead to severe emotional, physical and behavioral problems. Because of its concern for the welfare of children and youth, the Y has developed policies, standards, guidelines and training to aid in the detection and prevention of child abuse.

1. All employees are screened and background checks are conducted upon hiring or rehiring. Additionally, employees who have contact with children and youth receive training in recognizing, reporting and preventing child abuse, which includes training in recognizing signs that a child is being groomed for abuse.

2. Before employment, all staff must complete Praesidium's Armatus Child Abuse Prevention Training. These online modules of training include "Duty to Report, Mandated Reporter", "Keeping Your Y Safe", "Preventing Sexual Activity Between Young Children", "Meet Sam", and "It Happened to Me".

3. All employees are required to sign and abide by our Codes of Conduct, Work Rules, Childcare Code of Conduct, and our YMCA Policy Preventing the Abuse and Mistreatment of Youth.

If you have questions about the Y’s Code of Conduct or our child safety measures policy, please contact

Candace Crane, VP of Youth Development & Community Relations 860.343.6204 or ccrane@midymca.org

Rich McCarty, VP for Healthy Living & Social Responsibility 860.343.6207 or rmccarty@midymca.org

Join Five Days of Action to Help Prevent Child Sexual Abuse, April 24-28

April is Child Abuse Prevention Month. As part of our commitment to protecting the children in our community, we’re participating in the Five Days of Action - a week-long campaign to increase awareness of child sexual abuse and empower and equip us all to prevent it. By taking part in this important campaign and through implementing abuse prevention practices year-round, The Middlesex Y is committing to the safety of all children in our community.

The Know. See. Respond. campaign is back this year, tying in three impact areas – preventing child sexual abuse at both summer camp and in youth sports, and internet safety. The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, U.S. Center for SafeSport and Praesidium have shared resources to support this campaign.

Summer Camp KNOWing about child sexual abuse can help adults better understand what to look for and how to prevent it. As parents, caregivers, and trusted adults to the young people in our lives, we play an important role in protecting them from abuse. This requires our commitment to continually learn and then ask questions about the safety of our loved ones.

The Y – and other youth serving organizations – implement a series of measures to keep the kids in their care safe. Next time you enroll your loved one in a new program, ask them about their child protection practices. For this summer, you can use this list.

See: Youth Sports When we SEE boundaries being crossed or suspect a child is being abused, we can and should act quickly. Sports should be safe places for children to grow, both as people and athletes. As a parent, caregiver, coach, or volunteer, it is up to you to make sure any environment in which children in your care interact is free from abuse. Learn more about the signs and how you can help prevent child sexual abuse in youth sports at https://uscenterforsafesport.org/parents/.

Respond: Internet Safety Did you know that you don’t need evidence to report abuse—only reasonable suspicion? But even for adults, reporting abuse is hard. We don’t want to falsely accuse someone or get someone in trouble. On the other hand, reporting might be the one thing that saves a child – or children – from abuse. It is our responsibility to RESPOND to any and all disclosure, discovery or suspicion of child sexual abuse. As adults and children alike have turned to digital tools for school, work and socialization, online safety matters now more than ever. Many online dangers put children at risk, such as cyber bullying, online enticement and more. As an adult, keeping an open line of communication with any children in your care who may access online content can be key to helping prevent sexual abuse. Learn the facts, how you can keep kids safe, and how to respond to online victimization at https://www.missingkids.org/netsmartz.

We take our commitment to child protection seriously and we hope you do too. Check out our protection policy here https://www.midymca.org/abuse-prevention-at-the-middlesex-y to learn more about how we keep kids safe in Middlesex County.

GENDER EQUITY Workforce Gender Equity Begins With Affordable, High-Quality Child Care by YMCA of USA CEO Suzanne McCormick

As a mother and the first woman to lead YMCA of the USA, access to affordable, quality child care is an issue especially close to my heart. When my children were growing up, one of the greatest stressors in my life was finding quality care for them while my husband and I worked.

Access to affordable child care has been a problem in this country for a long time, and today it seems to be reaching a breaking point. We know that so many parents – mostly women – left the workforce to care for their children during the pandemic, and many have struggled to return.

This trend threatens to slow the progress women have made in recent decades. Not only do we now account for more than half of the college-educated workforce, but for the first time, women are leading 10 percent of Fortune 500 companies.

During Women’s History Month, I want to celebrate the steps society has taken toward narrowing the gender gap in the workforce. But I also want to recognize that there is a lot more work to be done, and that increasing access to affordable, high-quality services is essential if we are to continue narrowing the gap.

A (brief) history of child care at the YMCA Most people today know the Y as a youth development organization, serving nearly 5 million kids and teens a year through our programs, including afterschool, early care and education, overnight and day camp, youth sports and more.

YMCAs have developed and evolved these programs over time, always in response to the specific needs of their communities. For example, YMCA preschool programs emerged during World War II and were a vital part of the nation’s support for the millions of women who were entering the workforce because of the war.

When women’s participation in the workforce steadily increased between 1960 and 1980, so did the demand for affordable, accessible child care. Recognizing this growing need, YMCAs launched formal child care programs in the 1970s.

Today, this responsiveness remains central to who we are as an organization. When COVID-19 forced school and daycare closures across the country, more than 1,000 YMCAs quickly began offering emergency child care services for essential workers and first responders. While they were leaving their homes every day to care for our country during a time of crisis, they at least had some peace of mind knowing that their kids were being cared for and kept safe.

During World War II, the YMCA offered weekly nursery services to Service wives. Source: https://umedia.lib.umn.edu/item/p16022coll379:4306

Nine Healthy Eating Tips for the Entire Family!

By Dawn Jackson Blatner, RDN in partnership with Eggland’s Best

Post a snack list on the fridge Have a list posted on the fridge of available and healthy snacks so it’s more likely everyone will choose those nourishing options when hunger hits. Snacks that have protein + produce are great options such as an Eggland’s Best hard-cooked egg + cucumbers, nut butter + celery, cheese stick + apple, edamame + orange slices, or yogurt + berries.

Play “Try It Tuesday” Trying new foods is such a great way to get a wide variety of nutrition and create more adventurous eaters. Make Tuesday theday each week to open everyone’s mind & palate to try a new snack, a new side dish, a new recipe, or even just take a bite of a new fruit or veggie.

Team up in the kitchen Cooking together makes it feel more fun and when kids play a role in prepping, they are more likely to enjoy the meal. Teaching kids how to cook is a valuable life skill that you can start teaching at any age, it’s never too early or late. And bonus, the better kids get in the kitchen, the less work it ends up being for parents!

Count the color on your plate One of the best ways to eat better is by adding more colorful fruits & veggies to meals and snacks. So have kids count the colors on their plate and the more colors the better. Take it to the next level and create a family chart to track the colors eaten through the week or month!

Learn the superpowers of each food group Each food group does powerful things in your body. And when kids (and adults) focus on the superpower benefits of food, it becomes more meaningful and fun to choose nourishing options. For example: • Protein foods like Eggland’s Best eggs, chicken, and beans help grow and repair muscles. • Fruits & veggies give us vitamins & minerals to protect our cells. • Whole grains like whole wheat, oats, and brown rice give us energy. • Fats like nuts, avocado, and olive oil support our organs.

Create a water station Staying hydrated helps keep us healthy and energized. Keep a pitcher of water that’s easy to see on the counter or in the fridge. And nearby have cups/water bottles and some slices of cucumbers, lemons, limes, oranges, mint, and/or berries so kids can create their own special flavor combos. Keeping water available and fun encourages the whole family to drink more of it.

Give everyone their own day of the week To help make dinner a peaceful, complain-free zone, give each family member a day of the week that they pick what’s for dinner. It makes planning easier and kids love having a say in what they are eating. Pro-tip: Even when kids ask for mac & cheese, chicken nuggets, or pizza, you can make those classics healthier by rounding out the meal with plenty of veggies.

Make dinner a digital detox Enjoy meal time without phones, games, or TV. It creates more mindful meals and more connection and conversation. Need help coming up with what to talk about, read the next tip!

Create a bowl of conversation starters Sometimes it can be difficult to come up with things to talk about at the dinner table, so write questions on pieces of paper, put them in a bowl, and each night grab one or two to help get the conversation flowing. Questions like “What was the best part of your day, What was the funniest thing you heard/saw today, If you got one wish from a genie what would yours be?”