THREE RINGLEADERS IN CHILD CARE

IT’S BUSTLING AT THE FERCHO YMCA’S EARLY LEARNING CENTER IN DOWNTOWN

FARGO – typical day. Strings of three year olds are lining the hallway in their puffy coats and fluffy mittens dangling down at their toes. They’re peering out the windows and beaming excitedly at each other on their way outside to play tag and make snow angels in Island Park.

The YMCA of Cass and Clay Counties has 30 child care centers hosting nearly 2,500 youth in their 40 programs. The Fercho YMCA was the first Y childcare site in the area to open its doors to preschoolers in 1963. Today, the YMCA of Cass and Clay Counties has become not only the largest child care network in North Dakota, but one of the largest YMCA child care networks in the country – and it’s led by three brilliant women who are nurturing the potential of all youth, one child at a time.

Shannon Lang

Shannon Lang, school age director, has one not-so-simple task: to provide a safe place for nearly 2,000 school-age children in our community to learn and play before and after school. With a focus on health, social growth and academic enhancement, licensed Y school age programs serve kindergartners through middle schoolers with a variety of programmatic and activity options. Staff work with youth every day and provide homework assistance and other interactive activities to nurture their potential. These activities supplement what children are learning during their school day by aligning ND state standards with their lesson plans.

In addition, when the long summer recess begins, thousands of children lose access to the structure of physical and mental activities, healthy meals and possibly even a safe place to play. When kids are out of school, they can face hurdles related to learning, health, safety and hunger. That’s where Lang comes in to fill the gap. She strategically plans program improvements, provides quality assurance, mentors staff, evaluates curriculums and simply “keeps the lights on” for youth.

Lang has a long history working with youth at the Y. She joined the team in 1997 as the early learning site coordinator at Fercho. In 2000, she became the early learning director at Fercho and recently moved into her current position in 2015 as the school age director, over- seeing all 30 school age sites. She loves working with her vibrant group of participants and staff. “I see all walks of life at the Y,” she said, “We all get to share one roof for part of each day.”

Most school age programs are housed in elementary schools – utilizing their classrooms, gyms and cafeterias. “Oftentimes, the schools will reach out to the Y about starting a new site,” Lang explained. “They trust our longstanding reputation in this area – and they know we can meet the community’s needs.”

Tania Erickson

Tania Erickson, early learning director, believes that with so many demands on today’s families, parents need all the support they can get. That’s why childcare at the Y for early learning participants ages six weeks to kindergarten is more than looking after kids. It’s about nurturing their development by providing a safe place to learn foundational skills, develop trusting relationships and build self-reliance.

The Y’s early learning centers offer quality, licensed childcare year-round. Each day, children experience a combination of teacher-guided activities as well as free time to explore. In the preschool classrooms, lesson plans are aligned with the ND Early Learning Guidelines and also include ‘Get Set for School’ curriculum, to ensure that all children are prepared for kindergarten.

Erickson started at the Y in 1997 as the early learning site director at Schlossman. In 2015, Erickson became the early learning director, now overseeing all of the Y’s five early learning centers and the Y’s preschool programs. “We really take pride in the work we do,” Erickson said, “We want to provide high quality services to the families we serve.”

Four out of the Y’s five early learning sites are accredited through the National Association for the Education of Young Children. The West Fargo site is in the process of applying for accredited status. In addition, three of the five sites have received the highest rating in the ND Bright and Early Program, an initiative developed by the Department of Human Services to ensure that North Dakota's children receive the quality childcare and preschool they need for success in school and life. The other two sites are in the process of achieving that status.

We Really Take Pride In The Work We Do

Lorrie Thoemke

Lorrie Thoemke, vice president of youth and child care services, has also made it a priority in her life to impact the lives of children. She started at the Y as the child care and family services director in 1996 and ten years later became the Y’s chief operating officer. In 2014, she left that role to become the vice president of youth and child care services, overseeing all childcare programs, numerous youth sports and special interest programs and three summer camps at the Y.

Since her debut at the Y, the organization has opened an additional 27 childcare sites, reaching as far as Horace, Harwood and even Barnesville. Today, the Y has five early learning sites, 30 school age learning sites and four preschool sites, serving children ages six weeks up to 14 years old – and the numbers are growing rapidly.

“We’re hoping to add a new school age site every year for the next twenty years,” adding that the Y also hopes to form partnerships with local businesses to build and sustain programs. “The Y is all about more,” Thoemke explained, “The more support, guidance and opportunities we give kids, the more amazing qualities they’ll get out and the more they can achieve growing up. Our programs truly make a difference.”

In 2015, the Y gave $200,000 in scholarships to 375 families, who would otherwise not be able to afford childcare. Funds raised by the Y’s Partner of Youth Annual Campaign and the United Way are able to help families who qualify for assistance.

At the YMCA of Cass and Clay Counties, Lang, Erickson and Thoemke are helping children of all ages to be their best selves by creating confident kids today and contributing adults tomorrow. It’s part of the Y’s promise to strengthen communities – and these three women are leading the way . [AWM]