Welcome to YWCA cass clay

chocolate fantasy is September 16

The 27th annual Chocolate Fantasy and Chili, too! will be held Thursday, September 16 from 11:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. at the Fargo Holiday Inn. This annual fundraiser offers participants the opportunity to sample hundreds of chocolate desserts as well as chili with all the fixings. In addition, an excellent assortment of silent auction items will be available for bidding.

All proceeds from this unique event benefit the YWCA Emergency Shelter. To volunteer for Chocolate Fantasy or to donate a dessert or silent auction item, please call (701) 232-2547.

Do you know a girl in grades four through seven? Does she want to design a robot? Or discover cool science experiments and create explosions?

TechGYRLS is a ten week after-school program held on the campus of NDSU. Girls will participate in a hands-on learning experience with YWCA staff and NDSU women engineering students. Past activities have included Lego Robotics, egg day (fun experiments with eggs), house day (use surveying to map out a house), density, and a tour of local businesses.

Classes meet from 4:00-6:00 p.m. starting the week of September 20; on Mondays for grades 4 & 5 and on Tuesdays for grades 5, 6 & 7. Cost for the program is $30, with scholarships available.

A limited number of girls can participate in this program and spots fill up fast - sign up today! Download a registration form here or for more information, contact Nicole at (701) 232-2547 or email her here.

collaborative effort protects pets of domestic violence victims

In an effort to provide safety for the family pets of domestic violence victims, the Fargo Moorhead Humane Society, Rape and Abuse Crisis Center, the YWCA Cass Clay, and a local veterinary clinic have teamed up to create the Safe Paws program. The mission of Safe Paws is to empower domestic violence victims to leave abusive households with their family pets and to provide safety for the animals caught in the middle.

Safe Paws acknowledges the richness of the bond between people and their pets, which often provide unconditional love and comfort to adult domestic violence victims and their children. "It is precisely this bond that can become a tool of violence for an abusive partner who is willing to injure or kill a pet as retaliation or to control and terrorize the victims," stated Nukhet Hendricks, FM Humane Society Executive Director. "That is why the Safe Paws program is not only needed, but absolutely necessary to provide a safe home for the family pets while the victims are getting the help they need."

National statistics show up to 48% of domestic violence victims delay leaving an abusive home out of fear for what will happen to their pets. Because victims understand the extent of the harm that their abusers will likely inflict upon their pets if left behind, many victims remain in violent relationships. “A person in crisis has many difficult decisions to make,” said Greg Diehl, Rape and Abuse Crisis Center Executive Director. “We do not want a decision to flee an abusive situation to be based upon whether or not to leave their pet behind.”

Safe Paws has been established to alleviate some of the stresses associated with leaving an abusive household. The collaborative effort will provide dogs and cats with a pre-approved temporary foster home for up to 45 days, the same time frame as families staying at the YWCA Emergency Shelter. "This is a critical addition to our programming as we often see families struggle to leave an abusive situation if they are unable to bring along their family pet to safety," explained Erin Prochnow, YWCA Cass Clay Executive Director. "It's important to support families in this way to keep everyone safe."

Start-up funds for the Safe Paws program were provided by Jordahl Custom Homes, as well through the Red River Area Learning Center's Philanthropy and Youth program. Safe Paws is currently accepting foster family applicants, as well as donations to the program. For more information, contact Nukhet or Heather at the FM Humane Society at (701) 239-0077. To download a foster family application, click here.

A Child's World earns national NAEYC re-accreditation

A Child's World public childcare center, a program of the YWCA Cass Clay, has earned re-accreditation from the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) – the nation’s leading organization of early childhood professionals. The center first earned accreditation in 2005.

“We’re proud to have again earned the mark of quality from NAEYC, and to be recognized for our commitment to reaching the highest professional standards,” said Linda Sakrismo, A Child's World Director. “NAEYC Accreditation lets families in our community know that children in our program are getting the best care and early learning experiences possible.”

To earn NAEYC Accreditation, A Child's World went through an extensive self-study process, measuring the program and its services against the 10 NAEYC Early Childhood Program Standards and more than 400 related accreditation criteria. The program received NAEYC Accreditation after a site visit by NAEYC Assessors to ensure that the program meets each of the ten program standards. NAEYC-accredited programs are also subject to unannounced visits during their accreditation, which lasts for five years.

In the 23 years since NAEYC Accreditation was established, it has become a widely recognized sign of high-quality early childhood education. Almost 8,000 programs, serving one million young children, are currently accredited by NAEYC – approximately eight percent of all preschools and other early childhood programs. To earn NAEYC Accreditation, a program must meet each of the ten NAEYC Early Childhood Program Standards. Programs are accredited by NAEYC for a five-year period.

In 1985, the NAEYC Accreditation system was created to set professional standards for early childhood education, and to help families identify high-quality preschools, child care centers and other early education programs. Since that time, the Association revised program standards and criteria to introduce a new level of quality, accountability, and service for parents and children in child care programs. The new standards today reflect the latest research and best practices in early childhood education and development. NAEYC is committed to utilizing the newest studies and analysis on positive child outcomes to ensure young children continue receiving the highest-quality care and education possible.

Stay up to date on all the happenings at the YWCA, the Emergency Shelter, and A Child's World. Become a fan of the YWCA Cass Clay on Facebook - just click here.

thank you to our 2010 community collaborators

thank you to our 2010 community partners

about the ywca cass clay

The YWCA Cass Clay is dedicated to eliminating racism, empowering women, and promoting peace, justice, freedom, and dignity for all.

The YWCA is a membership organization. Its strength is in the diversity of its membership and joining together to work toward the goal of empowering women. Please join this important mission by becoming a member today. For membership information click here or call (701) 232-2547.

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A Child's World