Resources to Support Families and Our Community
YMCA of San Diego County
For more than 160 years as one of the nation's leading non-profit organizations, the YMCA of San Diego County has supported our community through programs and services dedicated to youth development, healthy living, and social responsibility.
That's why we're proud to provide several resources to support families and our community – from virtual field trips and fun activities for kids to blood drives and enhanced child care referrals for first responders.
Looking for more ways to stay fit and reduce stress from home? Check out the other services our Virtual YMCA offers here.
Strengthening Families™
A Guide to Protective Factors
Families may face new challenges as communities around the world respond to COVID-19. Caregivers may face more anxiety, uncertainty, economic pressure, or demands on their time. This stress can impact the harmony of the home, but it doesn’t have to. Strengthening Families™ is a research-informed approach to increase family strengths, enhance child development and reduce the likelihood of child abuse and neglect.
Together with First 5 San Diego and the San Diego County Office of Education, the YMCA brings you strategies and resources you can implement today that are centered around these protective factors.
Child Care Referrals
Enhanced Referrals for Critical Workers
The YMCA's Childcare Resource Service has been helping parents find trusted daycares and licensed child care providers throughout San Diego County for over 40 years — including non-YMCA child care centers, family child care homes, nanny agencies, and license-exempt school-based programs.
In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the YMCA is now offering enhanced child care referral services to essential critical infrastructure workers, health care workers, and first responders through a dedicated phone line. Learn more about this enhanced service here.
Family Resources
Education, Food Distribution and More
We've compiled a list of local resources and community partners that help support youth and families during the COVID-19 crisis, including educational resources, virtual therapy, food distribution and more.
Youth Activity Resources
Virtual Field Trips, Home Science Projects, and More
Looking for something engaging or educational to do at home with your kids?
The YMCA of San Diego County has compiled a list of online resources for kids of all ages, from crafts to classes, and virtual tours to kid-friendly podcasts.
Blood Drives
With American Red Cross
While our locations are closed during the COVID-19 pandemic and California's mandate to shelter-in-place, we are proud to partner with the American Red Cross to host blood drives at select locations.
If you have fully recovered from COVID-19, you may be eligible to help those who are currently sick by donating your blood plasma. Find out if you qualify for this program here.
Blood donations are always needed, so please consider donating and helping someone in need. Please note that appointments are now required in order to support social distancing.
The Y In Our Community
Thank You for Staying With Us
While our physical branches are closed in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, our non-profit organization's Community Support Services departments are continuing to provide critical support to the community through many essential programs, including access to affordable child care, housing to homeless youth, mental health counseling, senior check-ins, and more.
We thank our members and donors for staying with us during this trying time. We count on our community just as much as they've counted on us for over 135 years. Together, we can support those who need us the most.
Help Support the YMCA
Donate Today
Now more than ever, we need your help to deliver our mission. By choosing to keep your membership or make a contribution, you're helping to ensure that those who need us can continue to count on our community services.