YMCA Women in Transition program a support system for women, children

DR. PHILLIPS  For friends Sam Ramcharan and Shelly Chehansky, getting their kids involved in sports at the Dr. P. Phillips YMCA was something they’d been talking about for a while.

However, each of them was adjusting to life as a newly single mother living off one income, and the cost of YMCA memberships for multiple children just wasn’t feasible.

But, as Ramcharan says, “You don’t know what you don’t know.” 

And what they didn’t know until early this year was that the Dr. P. Phillips YMCA is one of three YMCA locations in Central Florida that offers the scholarship-based Women In Transition program, which provides support to women and children during phases of major life changes.

POSITIVE OUTLET

The Women In Transition program first started at the Roper YMCA in Winter Garden three years ago, thanks to a generous benefactor. Since then, it has expanded to the Dr. Phillips and Winter Park locations.

Allie Halbert, membership director and head of the WIT program at the Dr. Phillips location, oversees the classes, volunteering and more for the nearly 40 women enrolled in WIT there. 

“The program is a support network for moms who are divorced, separated or widowed and their children,” Halbert said. “We want to be a positive outlet for these families during a difficult time of transition and to help improve the families’ physical and mental health, as well.”

About 100 women currently are enrolled among the three program locations. Many receive financial assistance for YMCA memberships, children’s athletic programs and life classes such as Divorce Care, Grief Share or Financial Peace University. The main goal is to support the families’ holistic health and wellness endeavors.

As part of the program requirements, children must be involved in youth sports, and the women must give back to the community through volunteer opportunities. The mothers can be at ease knowing their children are in a safe environment and well taken care of, and all participants have myriad resources at their fingertips, including mental-health counseling. 

“Sometimes, the children have behavioral health issues, and some are struggling with anxiety, depression or other health issues and they don’t know how to manage it,” Halbert said. “Some people that come and see me are really struggling. They’re trying to figure out how to manage being a single mom with kids. 

“I really get to know the women and their kids, what kind of issues they’re struggling with and how we at the Y can connect them with our services to help them out, improve their health and get them in a more positive situation,” Halbert said.

THE SPOT TO BE

Chehansky and her three boys have always been active in sports and other programs at the Dr. P. Phillips YMCA. And for a long time, it was just a part of their lives.

After being separated from her husband and eventually finalizing their divorce last fall, Chehansky was recalculating and cutting her budget when it became apparent that their memberships might have to be cut, too.

But then she discovered the WIT program.

“I had some friends at the Y who had been hearing about the scholarship. Networking with them through conversations, they were like, ‘You need to go talk to Allie,’” Chehansky said. “It was challenging, because when you get down to your bills (the memberships) were the last thing to go. But through several phone calls, it was a good fit, and I was a candidate to receive the scholarship.”

“I really get to know the women and their kids, what kind of issues they’re struggling with and how we at the Y can connect them with our services to help them out, improve their health and get them in a more positive situation.”— Allie Halbert

Knowing Ramcharan was in the same situation, Chehansky immediately called her. The two women joined the WIT program on the same day.

“When I read about the program I was like, ‘I can finally do this!’” Ramcharan said. “It gave me the help to regroup myself. I’m a full-time student and was working full-time. Now, I’m changing careers, and this is helping with my transition to changing careers and starting a new life. As soon as I heard about it from Shelly I was like, ‘Thank God.’ It’s a huge confidence boost.”

And with the kids’ school being so close to the YMCA, it’s the perfect destination for after-school activities such as swimming, running, working out or playing sports together. Their kids have played soccer together thus far, and now the kids meet up with friends after games or practices. As Ramcharan puts it, the Y is “the spot to be.”

“Seeing the excitement in my kids’ faces when we’re able to go and play sports at the Y is the most rewarding thing,” Ramcharan said.

Major life changes can be tumultuous and strenuous on all family members, so the two mothers wanted to keep as many things in their children’s lives as constant as possible.

“Sam and I, we put our kids first: That’s the main goal,” Chehansky said. “It (the divorce) was a turning point in my life. Transitioning to a sense of permanency financially was hard and still is. Ever since we joined, we’ve all just really embraced this YMCA, and everyone really embraced us. You feel like, ‘OK, I’m not alone, I have people here at the YMCA who know my story and care about me.’

“It’s a support system; this just feels like part of our family,” she said. “I’ve always been a people person, but just knowing I’m with other women who are in the same boat has been helping me get more of a sense of empowerment.”

Contact Danielle Hendrix at [email protected].