Innovative partnerships: YMCA extends its traditions to Naval Station Everett.

Downsizing. Rightsizing. Outsourcing. These ominous words seem to have affected most military installations over the past several years. Even those who have just stood up have felt the effects of smaller budgets and reduced personnel.

But just when you think it's impossible to provide more with less, along comes an innovative partnership. Looking for ways to serve its new and growing military community in Everett, Washington, the Snohomish County YMCA, Naval Station Everett, and the Armed Services YMCA entered into a unique and innovative partnership in Everett on February 21, 1996. The three-way agreement brought these agencies together to create one new position designed to assist with serving the mission of each of the supporting entities -- a YMCA Armed Services program director. Those involved with the decision to form this position included the Snohomish County YMCA CEO, the Armed Services YMCA executive director, the Naval Station Everett CO, the Morale, Welfare & Recreation (MOOR) director, and the Everett chief of police.

This new position was placed under direction of the Teen Services Branch, as their work is performed all over the county, rather than in one of the four county YMCA facilities that tend to program geographically.

It is crucial that the YMCA Armed Services program director works closely with the MWR Department aboard the Everett Naval Station and the YMCA of Snohomish County to plan, develop, implement, and evaluate programs to provide services to military personnel and their families. The three entities work closely with other Naval station and community agencies to coordinate activities for active-duty sailors and their families and to avoid duplication of services.

In this initial program effort, time has been spent to determine what is currently available within the county, what sailors (single and married) need, and to enlist the availability of community resources to meet those needs. It is envisioned that sailors and their families, especially those in the range of 18 to 25 years of age, will be offered a full range of organized programs to enhance their quality of life. All programs will be designed to encourage a healthy lifestyle and to promote positive interaction and involvement with the local community.

The specific services provided depend on the Navy community's needs, as determined by Naval station agencies, such as the MWR Department. In addition to the programs provided on base, the five local Snohomish County YMCA branches offer recreational and social activities for personnel and their families assigned to the area.

"Strategic homeports like Naval Station Everett are designed to tap into the resources of local communities," retired Rear Admiral Frank Gallo, USN said in making the announcement of the agreement. "The YMCA contribution in Snohomish County," he said, "demonstrates the genuine desire people have to be supportive of the young service men and women and families who are assigned to military installations in their local communities." A national network of branches and affiliates is operated by the Armed Services YMCA. With the addition of the Snohomish affiliate, there are 14 branches and six affiliates nationwide that operate a network of some 50 program centers serving all branches of the military.

Some of the programs that have resulted from this collaboration include:

Pool Contract--Since the Naval station budget did not include money to construct a pool on base, they have turned to "outsourcing" for the use of pools at the Snohomish County YMCA and the Everett Parks and Recreation Department. The contracts allow active-duty personnel to lap swim at one of three pools (available seven days a week) and conduct the swimming portion of their physical testing at these pools. Located one and one-half miles from the Naval station, the Everett YMCA attracts an average of 100 swimmers each month. The contract also provides a monthly "family swim" at the YMCA. All active-duty personnel and their family members are welcome to swim for free at this once-a-month program.

Earth Day--In celebration of Earth Day, personnel from the Everett Naval Station, CBU-421 and the USS Abraham Lincoln joined forces with the YMCA Teen Services Branch to participate in a community effort of replanting an area of Portage Creek (north Snohomish County) that had experienced a loss of natural vegetation. Twenty-five Navy personnel joined teenagers from various high-school Earth Service Corps clubs around Snohomish County to spend an afternoon planting more than 1,800 plants.

Healthy Kids Day--The YMCA's annual Healthy Kids Day program incorporated a kayak demonstration from the MWR "Liberty Outfitter" Outdoor Recreation Department, a nutrition booth (complete with five-pound fat and muscle models) from the branch Medical Clinics Health Promotions Department, and "Identa-Child" information (youth fingerprinting and photographs) from Naval Stations Security Department. More than 800 local families participated in this annual program at the YMCA.

D.E.F.Y.--With the assistance of 15 team leaders (Navy personnel--active duty and reservists), six committee members, and several additional supporters, 40 Navy youth were served and educated at the Everett Naval Station's first D.E.EY. (Drug Education for Youth) camp. D.E.F.Y. is targeted at 9 to 12 year olds of Department of Navy personnel (military and civilians). Funding is provided by the Drug Demand Reduction Task Force (DDRTF), and, therefore, the program is offered at no cost to the participants. The curriculum covers topics such as self-esteem, substance-abuse prevention, physical fitness, relationships, conflict management, gang awareness, citizenship and leadership, and goal setting. This is truly a joint effort between the YMCA and the entire Naval station, one that benefits the entire community, arming young people with the information and prevention assets they need to become productive citizens.

Youth Photo Exhibit--Developed by a member of the county's Children's Commission and coordinated by the Armed Services program director, this new project has empowered youth within the county and youth leaders in schools and recreation programs to show off their world. The exhibit was displayed during the month of April (Snohomish County's "We Value Kids" month, Month of the Military Child, and National Child Abuse Prevention Month) at the Everett Public Library and was viewed by more than 16,000 people. A second showing of the exhibit at the Everett Mall during the YMCA Teen Services Youth Rally was viewed by more than 5,000 people in one day. More than so young people submitted photographs that depicted their lives in Snohomish County.

Youth Volunteer Corps--The YMCA's Youth Volunteer Corps (YVC) coordinates teams of young people to work on summer service projects. Upon publicizing its need for projects this summer, the Naval station was able to come up with three projects for YVC. Approximately 30 young people will be busy giving to their community via these projects aboard the Naval station, the results of which will show in a beautification/planting project, a new deck at the Pierside Laundry and Grill, and a fresh coat of paint on the obstacles used to train security dogs. The Armed Services YMCA affiliation with the Snohomish County YMCA is an efficient and effective way of collaborating with the local human-service network to support young service members. "We are really pleased to be able to work with the Navy in supplementing their programs," said Jerry Beavers, president of the Snohomish County YMCA. "The support we, in cooperation with our agencies, provide will be flexible and responsive to the developing needs at the Everett base."

In addition to the program examples provided above, the Armed Services program director participates in a variety of meetings and committees, both at MWR and the YMCA. The YMCA is proud to continue its long-standing traditions with this new addition of service at Naval Station Everett and stands ready to unite in sharing the values of caring, honesty, respect, and responsibility through programs that build strong kids, strong families, and strong communities.