UT, YMCA sign agreement to enhance healthy living initiatives
By Staff : January 10th, 2012
The YMCA and JCC of Greater Toledo and The University of Toledo are partnering to strengthen healthy living initiatives available to the community to promote wellness and maximize the amount of resources going to those seeking healthy living services.
The YMCA and the University signed a contract to begin a partnership managing the YMCA’s Healthy Living initiatives. UT President Lloyd Jacobs, YMCA President and CEO Todd Tibbits and Interim Executive Director of UT Physicians Bryan Pyles signed the agreement.
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The YMCA and UT have identified a shared staff position to manage the Healthy Living initiatives, which include worksite wellness programs, diabetes education, executive health assessments, the YMCA’s Kids in Motion program, weight management and other health-related programs.
“The YMCA believes collaboration and partnerships are the best way to address the critical needs of our community including healthy living,” Tibbits said. “The YMCA is pleased to open its doors to the University, as it positions us to better deliver programs and services by adding the resources of the University and clinical expertise from UTMC.”
“The YMCA is an outstanding resource for northwest Ohio and southeast Michigan, and The University of Toledo is proud to expand its strong partnership with them,” Jacobs said. “The YMCA’s efforts to improve the health and well-being of our community through exercise, healthy habits and preventative medicine mirrors much of the University’s work in these areas and a closer relationship just makes sense.”
Already the YMCA manages its South YMCA location at the Morse Center on UT’s Health Science Campus. Officials say that by working collaboratively, the community will have improved access to initiatives that will focus on the prevention of chronic disease and educational services that integrate wellness for the whole family.
Additionally, the partnership will offer relevant internships and professional experiences for University students studying in health and wellness fields. Also UT and the YMCA plan to work to create more scholarship and education opportunities at UT for YMCA staff and will strive to find mutual research and grants relative to community health and wellness.