Ep 148 | Affordable aftercare & meaningful connections

SPEAKER_00 0:00

As far as I'm aware, it is the first time that we've done anything like this as far as working hand in hand with the city when it comes to our afterschool programming. That's pretty cool.

SPEAKER_01 0:16

Welcome to the Voices United in Education podcast. Each week we showcase the teachers, administrators, and community members who go the extra mile to contribute to the success of every student in Escambia County. You'll meet the real people behind the titles and learn about the amazing resources to support every student's success. Parents rejoice as soon as kids are old enough to have a regular school schedule. But that doesn't usually solve the 2 to 6 p.m. problem. It's the time when kids are usually out of school, but how do you keep them out of trouble? My next guest is the Youth and Family Services Director for the YMCA of Northwest Florida, and today she's going to share how a unique partnership with the Vickery Center is not only giving parents aftercare options at half the regular cost, but truly uniting for the success of children and families in Escambie County. Today you'll hear how it works, where it's happening, and a few stories that'll touch your heart. Community collaborator, relationship cultivator, impact orchestrator, Angela Stevens. Thanks for being here. Wow. Thanks. I'm glad to be here. Those last bits I felt like were an ode to your pastorness. You know, they kind of sounded like they came right out of a church sermon. Well, most of us know that the YMCA has a lot of programs for kids. I don't think that's like anything new. Yes. But what's unique about the partnership with the Vickery Center?

SPEAKER_00 1:44

I think what's re unique about it is that it does take a collaboration of working together with the city. They have staff there, we have staff there, so we have to learn how to operate together. They take care of the building and they do a great job at doing that. And we take care of the students that come in the building. So it's just a really good partnership.

SPEAKER_01 2:02

So it really is like a game of tag, like, okay, we got this, you got that, tag you're in. Absolutely. I love that. We see churches doing that a lot with that multi-use model, but it's interesting to see two organizations like the Y and the Vickery Center and the City, you know, everyone's coordinating for kind of an out-of-the-box solution like that. Is this a first of its kind for Scambi County? Do you know?

SPEAKER_00 2:24

As far as I'm aware, it is the first time that we've done anything like this as far as working hand in hand with the city and when it comes to our after school programming.

SPEAKER_01 2:32

That's pretty cool. Yeah. I think that's neat. Those are the things that kind of slide under the radar when it comes to pride points for Pensacola. Now the Vickery Center serves a lot of seniors.

SPEAKER_00 2:44

Yes.

SPEAKER_01 2:44

Was this arrangement, did it upset the programs that were available for seniors at all? Or how did that work?

SPEAKER_00 2:51

Yeah. So I think initially change is hard for anybody. And it didn't really take away from their programming. They just relocated that program. So like they they do the pickleball in the mornings and on some of the evenings now. Whereas, you know, they they don't do anything between two and six that they were doing. They still have their workout area that they leave open until that two o'clock time, and then after six it opens back up. So just changing of the schedule, you know, more than anything else. But it just took some time for everybody to get accustomed to the new schedule.

SPEAKER_01 3:25

Because the YMC of Northwest Florida was r next to Optimus Park. Yes. And what was going on with that building? What was wrong with that that we needed?

SPEAKER_00 3:35

It was just deteriorating. I mean, it was an old airport hanger and it wasn't really. Yes. And it's just it was just deteriorating. You know, with a lot of leaks and things like that.

SPEAKER_01 3:44

So I didn't even know it was open. I used to live right by there. Oh, really? And drove by. And I didn't, because of the wornness, I'll say, of its outward appearance, I didn't think that it was even operational, but I didn't know that it was an airport hanger. So how did the land swap work exactly with the Vickery Center? Can you kind of give me the the like layman's version of that? The reader's digest version?

SPEAKER_00 4:10

Well, I mean, my CEO, obviously Michael Bodenhausen, took care of most of that. But, you know, we looked at things and said, look, we're kind of doing both the same things in sports and in childcare. Let us do the child care aspect. Let's get let you do the sports aspect. And that way we can meet the needs of the community at large and not duplicate our services. And they'll know exactly who to go to for what. That kind of started the conversation. And then, you know, the land swap happened where we said, look, you've got a lot of kids on the waiting list for this soccer program. They have nowhere to play soccer up on except baseball fields, which, you know, the baseball teams and the football teams want to use their fields for that. And so it left nowhere for the soccer players to go. So they needed some ground to do that. And so we said, okay, we need a building. You need land. So we kind of just worked it out. I love that. And it's a beautiful soccer field. It is. It is. I've driven by there and and gotten out and looked, you know, because reminiscent about the old and little seeing where it's gone to from there.

SPEAKER_01 5:13

So yeah, we'll we'll sneak out there when there's no uh soccer players and throw our disc, golf discs like really far because it's the perfect place to practice because it's so open. Yeah. And so now that you're inside the Vickery Center, do you have like your own office? Is it co-branded? What's that part look like?

SPEAKER_00 5:32

So I do have my own office and I share it with the child care director that oversees the program, you know, more hands-on. And uh and then they have the city still has their office up the front. So when anybody comes in, you know, they can s go and speak to the folks on staff at the city when it comes to up for signing up for the workout room or for any of the senior games or the sports that are going on out on the campus. And then from two to six, we have a desk up there and it's labeled with our logo, the why, so people know to come that to that desk for the why to go to that office for the city. And we kind of help each other. Like if somebody walks in and they come to our desk, we're like, well, this is what you need, you they're over here, and we'll point them in the right direction. And it's vice versa. My office, though, is down further down the hallway.

SPEAKER_01 6:17

So that's cool. And when it comes to the aftercare, that two to six time frame, you know, that that is so tricky for parents because they are most likely still at work. But even if they're working at home, it's not a lot better, right? Because right.

SPEAKER_00 6:33

Yes. We do have children that parents work from home and they do the drop-off because we transport from the schools and those buses fill. If we don't have room on those buses, some parents elect to do the drop-off and they'll drop them off during the hours.

SPEAKER_01 6:46

Which is such a nice option. Because even if you have like the best behaved kid, let's say you don't work at home and the bus drops your kid off at home. I mean, the the percentage of likelihood that your child is going to be doing their homework and be all done by the time you get home. I mean, that's just not a fair expectation. So tell me, what do the kids do when they're at aftercare at the Y? Because we know what they're not doing at home.

SPEAKER_00 7:12

Sure, sure. So when they first arrive, they usually will gather in the gym until all the buses are back. And they're usually playing basketball or playing an organized game that the counselor has put together. And then after all the buses get back and we do our attendance again, and then they split up into their groups, and then at that time they start to rotate and they rotate with their with their counselors, and so it might involves the computer lab, it involves homework assistance, snack, outdoor play on the playground, outdoor organized games, indoor games in the gym. And so they're continually, you know, moving about every 30, 40 minutes so that they can stay active and engaged in what we're doing. And during the course of that, if we got a student that is really needing to work on homework because they've got a lot, then through each of those they have an opportunity to do their homework as well. So and then they have a gaming room that has a Beam Pro, which is a game that is reflected onto the floor and they can get in the game and play it. What? Up to four to six players. And so they do that. They have board games, other things going on in the game room.

SPEAKER_01 8:25

Oh my gosh. Yes. This sounds way more like one of those indoor entertainment places that parents bring their kids to when they're here on vacation and it rains than it sounds like aftercare.

SPEAKER_00 8:38

Yeah, kind of, you know, it the whole idea is to let's keep the kids busy, let's keep them engaged, let's keep them active, not just emotionally, physically, you know, all that across the board. We're trying to meet their needs as we can. And usually they're always coming in starving because you know, some of them meet lunch as early as 10:30, 11 o'clock at school. So by the time they get to after school, they're starving.

SPEAKER_01 9:00

So you're feeding them. Uh-huh. You're helping them with homework. Yes. And then they can be outside, they can be inside. And did I understand you correctly that they are rotating these different stations every 30, 40 minutes?

SPEAKER_00 9:16

Yeah, they rotate depending on what their group's doing. Some of them, you know, will say, Hey, can I go to the gym if somebody drops down in their ratio and they'll use their walkie-talkie systems and they'll say, Hey, you got room for so-and-so to come to computer labs. So we're really also trying to get their what interests them the most. Like not all kids are athletic. Not all kids are academic and driven. And so it gives them an opportunity to explore their interest at the same time while trying new things at different times.

SPEAKER_01 9:45

And is this year-round or just during the school year?

SPEAKER_00 9:48

This is during the school year, but we have a summer camp K through fifth at the Vickery Center. And then we just recently moved our teens down to the Bear Levin Stud or YMCA. So they'll start their summer camp there this year for the first time. Wow. And is summer camp also two to six, or is it different? No, it's an all-day camp itself runs from like 8 30 to 4 30, but we provide morning care and aftercare at no extra expense. Oh, wow. So we we start at 7 a.m. and we end it at 6 p.m.

SPEAKER_01 10:15

This is crazy that there's all this right here. I love this. Okay. So who is eligible for the aftercare during the school year?

SPEAKER_00 10:23

Like what ages? So that's a K through fifth program. Okay. So it's open to anybody that's in those grades.

SPEAKER_01 10:30

That's incredible. And talk to me about the price because in the intro I hinted that it was about half the price. So obviously, this number will be active as of the day of this recording, but what's the rate of all those things that you just mentioned that are included?

SPEAKER_00 10:44

So there's a difference in the rates between being a member of the Y. So if you are a member of the Y, you're going to get a more discounted rate, about $20 a week. So it's $58 a week. If you are not a member of the Y, it's $78 a week. Also, in addition to that, offer what we call why assistance. And that why assistance is based on a scale, but it's a very loose scale. And, you know, if we have a family that's in need, we can make the decision as to whether or not based on their story and and what the documentation they provide us, whether we can provide more than that. Right now they can receive as far as up to 65% off, but foster care receives 75% off. And again, based on their story and the documentation, that may be more. So it just depends on the family dynamics. Because we really want to we want to pay attention to the story and meet the need. And our whole idea here is not to make a buck, but to actually serve our community to the best of our ability. And we're on mission. And so our mission is our community.

SPEAKER_01 11:47

So Yeah, I was I'm so glad that you brought that up because that is really what drives the YMCA. Absolutely. And so that's why I think the partnership is so unique because it's just like a little power couple, you know, to get get the job done, I guess you could say. And that's kind of a a not very fluffy way to say it, but but behind that data are all these heartwarming stories of of connection and meeting the needs. And since, you know, you've been doing this a while, can you share any of those that come to mind? Of stories?

SPEAKER_00 12:22

Yeah, absolutely. We have a we have a lot of stories. You know, makes me think of those children that wouldn't be able to attend if it wasn't for Y assistance, you know, that they they don't they can't afford to attend any other program. The early learning coalition has a waiting list and it takes time to get those those students in. So and a lot of times we offer more if not, you know, than than what they wouldn't otherwise get. We have a lot of families that come in that's in need. We have students that have lost parents, that uh all of a sudden they don't have that second income, and then and mom comes in and says, I I need help. You know, up to this point they've always been there and always paid, and you know, we want their child to continue, so we're gonna do what we can to keep them in the program. One family that actually came from Poland and they had their experience, first experience with the YMCA in Poland, and they relocated here to the United States, and she came in and said, I know the YMCA. It's the one thing I know here and I'm familiar with, and I, you know, and she got her kids in the program and they're still there and doing well, and uh have made that transition. And I just spoke to her like a couple days, well, it's been a couple couple days ago that I spoke to her and she she kind of shared a little bit more of her story and and what the why means to her. So that was that was good to hear.

SPEAKER_01 13:44

What did she say?

SPEAKER_00 13:45

Uh just that you know, it's meant a lot to her and her family and her children, and uh you know, she works from home, so it just gives her time that she needs to be able to do her job. And the kids absolutely love it. In fact, sometimes when she comes to picks them up, they're like, oh you know.

SPEAKER_01 14:02

Well Yeah, I mean, they have that that laser video game that you talked about. Like, I've never even heard of that before. That's very cool. I love that. Do you is that something that there's donations like, or is that also always purchased for the wire?

SPEAKER_00 14:17

Actually, it was through a grant through the power company. Really? Yes, here locally, and we're so appreciative because it was an expensive piece of equipment. And they jumped right in and funded that for us, and we were able to get it in. And it has quite a few games on it. We've had it for several years now, so I think it's on its fifth year.

SPEAKER_01 14:35

Wow.

SPEAKER_00 14:36

And so it was definitely worth the investment. Our younger children probably enjoy it more than our older children who are just getting to that age that everything is difficult for them. But it's still going strong, working, and and so we use it when we can. I love that. In fact, we just gave the city, they came in and asked if they could they could see a demonstration of it so they could look at something similar to get in and into their other community centers. Oh, that's cool. And so we were able to demonstrate that for them.

SPEAKER_01 15:04

I I couldn't, I'm just imagining you demonstrating the video game. Like Well, we let a child come. Oh, dang, dang. I would have liked to see you demonstrate the video game. I guess it's best to let the kids demonstrate the video game. Yeah. I like the collaboration though between organizations. Is there any collaboration between resources offered in the community? Like, do you ever find yourself in the position of matchmaker with families come in who have a need and you don't have what they need, and you say, Oh, but this nonprofit does. Let me introduce you. Is that something that happens?

SPEAKER_00 15:38

Absolutely. Even with, you know, I'd spoken about the children that had lost some parents. We partnered up with Valerie's house and they actually came in and did some grief counseling for some of those children. We're involved with Big Brothers and Big Sisters, our director is a part of that. And uh and you know, there's some kids in our program that attend their programs. And then anytime we have a child in need, we try to refer them to, you know, wherever we can to help them out. Whether it's, you know, we have the Gulf Coast Kids House, we've referred kids over there. We have them come in and do our trainings for us for dealing with child abuse and neglect. And again, Valerie's house is great for grief counseling for kids that have suffered loss.

SPEAKER_01 16:17

I love that. We have had all of those on the show. And so yeah, yeah. So we we are big fans of all those those organizations. But what I love even more is showcasing what we're doing right now is showing how behind the scenes they're all talking to each other at the best they can. Absolutely. Because it takes everyone collaborating, not competing, to really make it a difference.

SPEAKER_00 16:42

Yes, like right now we have mess hall that comes every week and and they put on you know little science and steam things going on. And and the kids love it. You know, you say, Who wants to go to the go to the mess hall? Oh, I'm going today, I'm going today.

SPEAKER_01 16:55

So that's so much more than what on the surface people would think of when they think of aftercare. Yeah. Right. Because I mean, I would think it's just daycare with another name. You know, like, hey, your kids can run around, but don't worry, we have a fence.

SPEAKER_00 17:11

Yeah. And I always like to differentiate between the daycare when a parent uses that language. I I, you know, no, we're after school care. And and the kids, there's a purpose here. You know, we're actually doing things with them. And it's not a babysitting service, it's coming in and learning, growing. Yeah, there's an enrichment. Yes.

SPEAKER_01 17:29

It's but the connection and the the relationship building and the connection. All of that. So that's that's why I love especially that you mentioned that if parents are even working from home, there is benefit for your kid to have another place outside the home where they can connect and w work on their social skills. Absolutely.

SPEAKER_00 17:48

Yeah, and it's especially important in the summer because we're offering the Y reads at the summer camp. We're offering swimming so they can go and swim and have a good time there. We offer field trips so they can get out in the community themselves. Our teenagers in the past have been involved with community mission projects where they go to schools and or other places and do things like they put together a prayer garden at Inslee Church of the Nazarene one year and built that by themselves and it's still being used. And they help paint a gym one year. So there's things that they can be doing out in the community to serve as well. And so we want to instill that in them.

SPEAKER_01 18:27

I love that. That's so great. Okay, so tell parents where's the first place that they go to learn about, you know, the important signup windows and the resources available. Is that just the website?

SPEAKER_00 18:39

Yeah, they can go to the YMCA website, they can actually register for all those programs on the website. Typically, our registration for the school year starts July 1. It gives us time to get into the summer camp and get it going and before we start registering for another program. And then our summer camp usually starts March 1. And so that's ongoing right now. I love that. And that goes all the way up to the ages of 15. You know, a lot of parents will say, Well, there's nothing for the teens to do in this area. We have something for the teens to do in this area. And so we keep them quite busy.

SPEAKER_01 19:10

That's cool. Well, I like the give back too, because that's also, I think, an important thing for as children are transitioning from, you know, those earlier stages of adolescence into the earlier stages of adulthood. Thinking outward outside of yourself is an important skill that you have to practice. Yes. So, well, this has been such an amazing discussion. Thank you so much for taking time to come and talk with me. I'm gonna put all the links in the show notes. That way parents can connect with you. Oh, that's great.

SPEAKER_00 19:42

And I I really appreciate you having me. I'd love to talk about the why and the afterschool programs and everything that's involved. So absolutely.

SPEAKER_01 19:51

Thanks for listening. Be sure to subscribe and share. Voices United in Education is a production of Escambia County Public Schools.