Somerset Hills YMCA’s Healthy Outcomes Partnership Announces New Partnership Agreement with Community YMCA

Members of the Healthy Outcomes Partnership (HOP) initiative of the Somerset Hills YMCA

On the heels of its successful Mental Health Week in May, the Healthy Outcomes Partnership (HOP) initiative of the Somerset Hills YMCA is proud to announce its recent agreement to collaborate with the Red Bank, NJ-based Community YMCA’s Counseling and Social Services Division. Community YMCA staff members will occupy an office at the Somerset Hills YMCA for administrative and training purposes only beginning August 1, 2010. From that base of operations, behavioral assistance counselors and mentors will go out into the community to provide treatment in the home setting.

The Community YMCA has provided behavioral health services for more than 35 years to the people of Monmouth County; the partnership with HOP and the Somerset Hills YMCA will bring the Community Y’s proven track record and expertise in home-based counseling and mentoring to the northern part of Somerset County, and will be geared specifically to at-risk youths and their families.

“Mental Health Week at the YMCA was extremely well-received, and attracted more than 350 people who wanted to learn and talk about a variety of mental health topics,” said Lauren Luik, HOP Steering Committee chair and member of the Somerset Hills YMCA Board of Directors. “Our collaboration with the Community YMCA represents one more step that HOP and the Somerset Hills Y are taking to help ensure that the people of our community have access to the resources they need to address and overcome behavioral health issues.”

The Community YMCA’s Family Services program has provided community based mentoring, behavioral assistance and in-home therapeutic services for children referred through the auspices of the New Jersey Department of Children’s Behavioral Health Service for eight years; the program began in Monmouth County, but now serves children in six surrounding counties, including parts of Somerset County. “The new partnership offers us not only a physical presence in the northern part of the County, but an alliance with the Somerset Hills YMCA, a well known and respected organization with similar values and mission,” said George Hunt, Vice President, Counseling and Social Services, Community YMCA.

“Though counseling services will not be offered at the Somerset Hills YMCA through this partnership, we believe it is an important strategic alliance that will help guide us toward HOP’s ultimate objective -- to create a mental health resource and referral service right here at the Y,” said Bob Lomauro, President and CEO of the organization.

HOP is a volunteer coalition of experts in psychology, social work, school guidance, public health, adolescent medicine, pastoral care and community education that is exploring the common hurdles that prevent people from having healthy relationships. Among these issues are depression and anxiety caused by job loss, marital and family conflict or caring for an ill or disabled loved one, as well as serious mental illnesses that cause tremendous distress to the individual and his or her loved ones. A long-term goal of HOP is to create a resource and referral service that links community members to the services they need to deal with these problems. In the short-term, HOP is focused on community education and creating dialogue about mental health as an important part of overall health and well-being.

For more information, please visit www.somersethillsymca.org or call 908-766-7898 ext.1536

A Brand New Day: The YMCA Unveils New Brand Strategy to Further Community Impact

Community to benefit from the Somerset Hills YMCA’s focus on youth development, healthy living and social responsibility

[BASKING RIDGE, NJ] (July 13, 2010) – For the first time in 43 years, YMCA of the USA has unveiled a new brand strategy to increase understanding of the impact that YMCAs make in communities across the country. The YMCA has the unique capacity to address many of the challenges facing the nation today. Through its new brand strategy and framework, the nonprofit will extend its reach into communities to nurture the potential of youth and teens, improve the nation’s health and well-being and provide opportunities to support neighbors.

The new brand strategy – the result of more than two years of analysis and research – was introduced this week at a National Press Club event that included leaders from the philanthropic and nonprofit communities. As part of the event, the YMCA unveiled a new, more forward-looking logo that reflects the vibrancy and diversity of the organization, and a framework that focuses resources on three core areas: youth development, healthy living and social responsibility. In another major change, the nonprofit will be called “the Y” to align with how people most commonly refer to the organization.

“The Somerset Hills YMCA is truly excited about the new brand strategy and the opportunity to engage more people in the areas of healthy living, social responsibility and youth development,” said Bob Lomauro, President/CEO of the Somerset Hills YMCA. “There are many exciting changes taking place at the Somerset Hills YMCA – we are building momentum, and this strategy is getting everyone from our volunteers to our members and donors very excited.”

“In our own community, we are focusing on critical needs such as combating childhood obesity, and offering free support programs to cancer survivors and those in job transition, to name just a few,” said Lomauro. “Youth Strength Training, Livestrong at the YMCA and Career Forum are examples of programs that are helping people in our community overcome these issues.”

Today, across the United States, Ys are making a difference in three key areas of focus:

· Youth Development: Nurturing the potential of every child and teen
· Healthy Living: Improving the nation’s health and well-being
· Social Responsibility: Giving back and providing support to our neighbors

“This is a very important, exciting time for the Y,” said Neil Nicoll, president and CEO of YMCA of the USA. “For 160 years, we’ve focused on changing lives for the better. Our commitment to building greater awareness for the important work we do will enable us to expand our efforts and further strengthen communities across the country.”

The Y’s former logo had been in place since 1967 and was the organization’s sixth since its inception. The refreshed logo, with its multiple color options and new, contemporary look, better reflects the vibrancy of the Y and the diversity of the communities it serves. The new logo’s bold, active and welcoming shape symbolizes the Y’s commitment to personal and social progress. Ys across the country will fully transition to the new brand within five years.


For more information, please visit www.somersethillsymca.org or call 908-766-7898.