YMCA’s Effective Use of CATCH Health Education Programs for Youth

May 14, 2025  | By Hannah Gilbert

Integrating CATCH Programs and Partnering with Schools to Promote Community Health and Well-Being

Key Highlights

• By integrating CATCH Global Foundation’s health education programs, the YMCA of Greater Michiana is driving impactful outcomes for youth health and well-being in underserved communities.
• Youth are generalizing the skills they’ve learned through CATCH health education programs, demonstrating healthy behaviors like physical activity and nutrition awareness beyond the classroom.

Jennie Giesler, Community Wellness Coordinator and Healthy-U Lead for the YMCA of Greater Michiana, is a strong pillar of CATCH’s community of health leaders across the world. Her work focuses on supporting youth from low-income communities – many of whom face significant challenges at home, including the absence of one or both parents.

Healthy-U, the initiative Jennie leads, aligns closely with CATCH’s philosophy of nurturing the whole child – mind, heart, and body. It’s this holistic approach to health that drives the YMCA of Greater Michiana’s commitment to creating environments where every child can learn, grow, and thrive.

For over three years, the YMCA of Greater Michiana has implemented a range of CATCH programs, including CATCH Health Ed Journeys, CATCH Healthy Smiles, CATCH My Breath, and CATCH Kids Club, serving youth from pre-K through 8th grade. By partnering with local schools, these programs reached over 4,000 students during the ‘24-’25 school year.

Jennie has witnessed how the skills youth learn through CATCH programs are generalized. Students not only practice healthy behaviors in the classroom, but they carry them into their homes and into other areas of their lives – a powerful indication of lasting impact and meaningful learning.

CATCH’s evidence-based health education programs are designed to be adaptable and accessible for a diverse range of educational settings including: large public school districts, private and charter schools, state/local public health departments, YMCAs, Boys & Girls Clubs, and others.

To explore how we can partner with your school or organization, please complete our brief form. A member of our Educational Partnerships team will then be in touch with you soon.