Horrible

From a logistical stance, pick up list was updated in your system and not communicated with the staff which caused confusion.
It's super loud and hot in the classroom. Overstimulating. My little reports doing extra curriculum is "horrible." I've been there many days when the kids just seem over it all. Like it's been a long day already and they have to use their brains more.
My daughter is only 5 and often cries and feels sad because she doesnt understand what's going on and things feel really hard. I think she feels unsure and maybe some things are very over her head.
All of the staff and teachers are nice.
We aren't unhappy. Just not overly enthused.

I LOVE our program director, Ms. Kayla. She is AMAZING with the kids and clearly cares so much.

Safe place for my child to be when I’m working

I don’t feel the staff is qualified. I hear constant negative feedback about my child for minor behavior issues that are developmentally normal. My daughter seems to have a new injury every day

My daughers love the arts and crafts

My son loves Ycare and feels very connected and at home there.

Open communication regarding my children is great coming from the teachers.

Convenient as it's at the school but tend to close down on early release days when care is really needed. Staff turnover is an issue.

The program has become too structured for after care. Giving kids unstructured time to learn independence and be creative is an important balance to a full school day that is intensely structured.

Great teachers

The communication with Ycare, whether billing or setting up care, is completely unprofessional and most of the time, hard to understand. I get messages and emails that seem to be mid conversation or provides no information at all and then I’ll get an incorrect charge for drop in charges that my child didn’t attend. Training for the y in general for professionalism and communication is recommended.

There were not many kids and our child was not happy being there.

some issues with communication with DCYF and the finance department at ycare, but other than that it has been a good experience

For care and convenience it’s great but never had my child ever told me that they were working on homework or reading. This is always indicated in the beginning of the year but never seems to occur. Plus, it’s a bit costly when my daughter may only be there for 1-2hrs 4/5 days a week.

My child has complained about being bullied by an older kid named Maisy.

I would not recommend Y-Care based on my experience. On September 15, I received an email saying my child would be unenrolled if I didn’t pay or make a payment arrangement by September 21. I relied on that notice and had to arrange emergency childcare, which caused me to miss work. The email went to my spam folder, and no one called to make sure I had seen it. The YMCA later refused to refund the $240 payment, and despite my request to speak with management, I have not heard from anyone. October was canceled and my payment method was removed, but my concerns about the September charge and the YMCA’s communication remain unresolved.

I adore the teachers who are making this program a cozy and engaging place for kids.

Regarding Garfield Y Care, there is a volume monitor installed on the walls. I have observed that this monitor has never indicated a noise level exceeding a whisper. On several occasions throughout the year my child has been enrolled, I have noted that the monitor registered a silence level, signifying no talking.Our children are expected to remain quiet for nearly the entire school day while in class. The site manager raises her voice at the children to retrieve their belongings as soon as the door is opened for parents. Her demeanor is strict, and she addresses the children in a condescending manner.It appears that the staff may lack adequate understanding of child development. This assessment is based on discussions I've had regarding my child's behavior and a particularly distressing incident where the site manager reportedly shamed my kindergartener for exposing her belly to show a scratch.

The childcare team at Roosevelt YCare this year is great. I gave it an 8 because my kids have been in YCare for many years and this is the first year in a long time that we haven’t had issues with the YCare staff. Prior to this years’s staff being in place (which actually started last school year), I would not have recommended YCare to a friend. Thank you for working hard to recruit and keep quality site staff.

This is our first time using Ycare after school care and so far our little one comes home happy. She enjoys the time spent.

I don’t feel that the YCare program is being ran how the YMCA would like it to be. First, Daryl is running this program like it’s his fiefdom. Including telling the kids that “fear is respect”. I asked if he did in fact say this (like my son told me) and he admitted he did. Why would an adult EVER teach that to a kid. Absolutely disgusting in my opinion.
What if a kid is being abused by and adult in their life, terrified but because DARYL told them to respect even when fearful, they never report it.
YCare being in a portable is wrong for several reasons. Most importantly, there is no over sight for Daryl. No one is keeping him accountable. He’s isolated with these kids out in the portable. Red flags alllllll around.

These kids are not allowed to be kids under Daryl’s dictatorship. There are signs all around the room saying “voice levels = 0”. They’re kids. They aren’t silent.

En general, para lo que necesito el programa está bien, en mi caso, creo que cumple con el objetivo de cuidar a mi hija. Doy 8 de calificación, porque pienso que podrian mejorar, con un programa de actividades para los niños. Quizá sí tienen un programa y yo no lo sé. 😅
Me gustaría agregar que, en lo personal, el proceso de registro se me hizo complicado, ojalá pudiera tener un proceso mas sencillo.

My children enjoy Ycare

My child enjoys the activities, playing with friends, and overall fun environment.

I and other parents have observed the lead speaking very loudly and in a harsh tone to the children. I also recently heard that the kids are not allowed to use the soccer field any longer because "it's too far away", again from the new lead staff. They have been playing in that field for 4+ years now and it's literally 10 ft from the rest of the area in clear view of staff. They were limited to half the field, now they have to play in a small area with cones as the goals. For 4-5 graders this feels too restrictive...we are paying nearly $500/month and it feels our older kids are being treated like kindergarteners. I don't see rational or safety based reason why they cannot use the field.

I'm not sure.

She loves Ycare!

Last year, Y care was amazing. This year has been nothing but problems. First, they tried to charge my card over $1300, even though we are on DCYF. Then they told me they did not receive my paperwork for DCYF, and then immediately that same night charged me my full balance of almost $300, even though last year I had preferences set up on my account to charge only half the balance on the first and the other half on the 15th. I had to ask for assistance just to even get signed up because they were trying to charge a $50 fee per child for registration, even though DCYF clients would get that refunded later.. So whoever set up my account did it incorrectly when it comes to the billing. And it will not let me update or change my payment method. I also had to update my daughter’s medication with her doctor so that she gets it earlier in the day because Y-care will not give me the medication paperwork that they need filled out to give her meds while she is there, and they will not accept the medication authorization that doctor prints out

My kids love it here!

Treats my child with respect and makes him feel welcomed. Does a lot of activities with him.

I will recommend

Staff at our site are extremely rigid and don’t seem in tune with normal child development. I don’t think there is enough free play outside or in the gym. Staff seem to take kids behavior personally instead of recognizing that these kids have been in school for 6 hours having to work hard and may not be their best selves by 4pm. Discipline doesn’t seem connection focused or emphathetic to the kids. Almost every child at our site has been suspended and or had to create a plan of success which I find to be more indicative of staff opportunity for growth than the children. The site director comes across as extremely militant and looking for an opportunity to “correct” the child instead of trying to catch good behavior and praising that.

My daughter really enjoys her time at y-care
She has what she calls y- care friends
And looks forward to being there every morning
She motivates me in the morning !

YCARE is way too expensive and unaffordable for most families unless they can fully qualify for working connections. Roosevelt should bring in Boys and Girls Club instead. There staffing model is better and they make after school care more affordable for everyone. We are constantly looking for another option to YCare. It is not worth what we have to pay for it. We are only at YCare because we have no other choice and hope that changes in the future. I know multiple families that have had to drop out of YCare due to the high cost and many families that need after school care but can't afford it.

Na

I recommend is good 👍

Sometimes there is a high turn over rate which makes the level of care inconsistent.

There is a lot of unfairness in which kids gets prizes and lollipops. It would be better if they just got rid of those items so every kid is treated equal.

Everything is good.

It's convenient and the kids like it. I wish there were more structured activities

My kids really like Bernard and Mel at Garfield Ycare!

Having so much fun!

Ms. Jessica and Ms. Juanita have the patience, kindness and empathy towards the kids.

This is a Great Option for your kiddo after school.

The staff is very friendly and my child continues to come home and talk about the lessons being taught; ie honesty, kindness etc

I don't recall the names of employees but the female and male that are there are amazing, friendly and we always feel welcomed

Mr. T and Johnathan are phenomenal positive influences for my children at After School care. We’ve seen great development as direct result of their positive leadership. Thank you!

My son always wants to go. He likes to come to y-care early and wants to stay late. He enjoys making friends and playing games. Staff is accommodating to his needs and interests and makes time to communicate his challenges and successes.

Kicked my son out of Y-care for sticking up for himself after being bullied.