At the Fanwood-Scotch Plains YMCA, we believe strong communities are built through collaboration. By partnering with local schools, nonprofits, health organizations, and community leaders, we are able to expand our reach and create meaningful opportunities for people of all ages and backgrounds.

These partnerships help us deliver impactful programs, address community needs, and strengthen connections that support youth development, healthy living, and social responsibility. Together, we are creating a more vibrant, inclusive, and thriving community for everyone. Our partnerships include:

 

Atlantic Health System

We work with Overlook Family Practice to receive electronic referrals for the LIVESTRONG® at the YMCA program, a free research-based physical activity and well-being program designed to help adult cancer survivors reclaim their total health. The Atlantic Health Overlook Medical Center Community Advisory Board has awarded grants to the Fanwood-Scotch Plains YMCA to help support the LIVESTRONG® at the YMCA program.

Imagine 

The Fanwood-Scotch Plains YMCA is proud to partner with Imagine, a grief support center for children, young adults and families dealing with the death or life-altering illness of a parent, sibling or child. To support children and families who are dealing with a family loss or illness, the Fanwood-Scotch Plains YMCA will offer a free, 1-year famiy membership to those who are referred to us by Imagine. Contact Kristine Keating at kkeating@fspymca.org for additional information.

North Jersey Health Collaborative

The Fanwood-Scotch Plains Y participates in the North Jersey Health Collaborative, a 501(c)(3) organization comprised of a diverse group of partners representing health care, public health, social services and other community organizations. The collaborative works on community needs assessment and health improvement planning to identify the most pressing health issues and facilitate the development of collaborative action plans to address them.

Praesidium

The Fanwood-Scotch Plains Y is proud to have earned Praesidium Accreditation®, the highest industry standard in child abuse prevention.

This accreditation demonstrates that the Fanwood-Scotch Plains Y upholds fundamental organizational values and stringent safety practices that demonstrate our commitment to protecting children in our care from abuse.

Rotary Club of Fanwood-Scotch Plains

The Fanwood-Scotch Plains Y is a member of the Rotary Club of Fanwood-Scotch Plains, a worldwide organization of professional leaders working to address various community and international service needs to promote peace and understanding throughout the world.

Scotch Plains Fanwood Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service Committee

For more than 15 years the Scotch Plains/Fanwood community has joined together to remember, learn and give our time on MLK Day. Created by volunteers for volunteers, this day has become a celebration of the interwoven, connected, and compassionate community we create together.

Our Y is part of the planning committee for the event and the Y has hosted a number of volunteer initiatives on the MLK Day of service including food and clothing drives, household item collections those in need, Valentine’s for Veterans,  and virtual Kindness Rocks activities. If you are interested in joining the committee, contact spfdayofservice@gmail.com.

Scotch Plains Mayor’s Wellness Campaign

The FSPY participates in the Mayor’s Wellness Campaign to help promote health in the following areas: healthy living, youth, seniors, employees and communities. We also work with the campaign to inform the community of our programs and services, specifically in the areas of wellness and chronic disease management.

Scotch Plains Fanwood Ministerium

The Fanwood-Scotch Plains Y is a member of the Scotch Plains-Fanwood Ministerium, a coalition of local clergy, nonprofit leaders, and town officials who gather monthly to promote religious tolerance, combat hate, and support community-wide charitable causes.

Scotch Plains-Fanwood Public Schools

To give children the tools needed to thrive, we partner with the public schools in Scotch Plains, Fanwood and Clark to offer sports programs, including our successful Middle School Track program and we welcome the Scotch Plains-Fanwood High School Swim Team to practice and host meets in our pools.

Seton Hall University College of Nursing

Seton Hall University Nursing students visit our Y throughout the year as part of their community health curriculum. The nursing students provide our members with health screenings and information and visit with our child care students to share health education, such as proper hand washing and germ prevention.

Special Needs Programming

At the Y we believe that all people of all abilities should have the opportunity to be healthy, confident, connected and secure. We partner with local groups to offer recreational, social, and volunteer activities for young adults and adults with special needs.

Swim Instruction and Recreation

    • Honor Ridge Academy -We’re proud to work with Honor Ridge Academy, a New Jersey state-approved private school for students with behavioral, social, emotional, and learning disabilities based in Clark, NJ. At the FSPY, Honor Ridge students participate in swimming instruction and enjoy recreational swim time after their lessons.
    • ABLE (Achieving Better Life Experiences) – We’re honored to work with ABLE (Achieving Better Life Experiences), a day habilitation, community inclusion, and respite services program to support special needs adults. We welcome our friends from ABLE each week to enjoy recreational swim time in our accessible pool.
    • Union County Office for Persons with Disabilities & Special Needs
    •  We partner with the Union County Office for Persons with Disabilities & Special Needs to offer recreational swim time in our accessible pools.

Swim Team Practice

    • Navigators Adaptive Sports Club – We’re honored to work with the Navigators Adaptive Sports Club, who provide training and competitive athletic opportunities for youth and adults with disabilities that promote success, self-worth and independence. Each week, the Navigators Adaptive Sports Club dives into practice at the FSPY, using our lap lanes to sharpen their swim skills and connect as a team.
    • Seahawks Swim Team – We’re honored to work with the Seahawks swim team, a New Jersey Special Olympics Swim team. Each week, the Seahawks dive into practice at the FSPY, using our lap lanes to sharpen their swim skills and connect as a team.

Community Inclusion and Social Interaction

    • Nettingham Middle School, Scotch Plains – We’re honored to work the Nettingham Middle School in Scotch Plains, NJ. The school provides community outings and life skills experiences for self-contained special education students. At the FSPY, students engage in activities like cooking and obstacle courses, and practice social interactions with staff and members in a welcoming, community-based setting.
    • First Children School – Through our collaboration with First Children School in Plainfield, NJ, special education students in the vocational program are gaining valuable workplace experience while supporting our Y as volunteers. From administrative tasks to helping create welcoming spaces in our Welcome Center and Community Café, students build real-world job skills while making a difference in their community.
    • Newmark High School – We partner with Newmark Education to give students from the High School Senior Class the opportunity to volunteer and gain valuable work experience while developing essential work readiness skills along with increased independence and confidence.

Union County, Department of Parks and Recreation

We partner with the Union County Department of Parks and Recreation to provide competitive swim team space and lifeguard training.