YMCA of Greater Pittsburgh

YMCA of Greater Pittsburgh has thirteen sites around Allegheny county and reaches thousands of children and families every year. Kids grow up at the Y. Inside a classroom or outside at camp, youth and teens are learning values from positive role models who help every child set and achieve their goals. We have our own goals for the impact our work has on the region and the families who need us most. Within Allegheny County and neighborhoods across the country, it’s been proven that children from economically disadvantaged households experience a measurable gap in learning. The Y is stepping up, working side-by-side with parents, teachers, and students to provide every child an opportunity to succeed.

Additionally, the youth development and character-building programs offered by the YMCA, particularly in Homewood, have embraced primary prevention as an important component of its work. Staff have been trained in Coaching Boys into Men and have begun implementing this model in their work with youth. The YMCA is also partnering with Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh on a grant to help young men to think differently about masculinity and manhood. This “gender norms” approach has been recognized internationally as an important approach to primary prevention, and is beginning to be embraced in the US as well.