YCO New Program or Service

The purpose of this policy is to establish a standardized process for selecting and approving new programs and services within the YMCA of Central Ohio’s Community Centers, Shelter and Housing, Childcare, Social Responsibility, and Resident Camp operations. This policy ensures alignment with the YMCA’s mission and applies to all YMCA of Central Ohio programs and locations.

All new programs and services must:

1. Align with the YMCA’s mission and strategic objectives.
2. Demonstrate financial sustainability or a clear funding source.
3. Comply with regulatory, legal, and accreditation requirements, including all Praesidium Standards.
4. Maintain operational feasibility within existing YMCA infrastructure and staffing.

Proposal Submission: 

1. All new program or service requests must be discussed with your direct supervisor before submission.
2. Any YMCA staff may propose a new program or service by completing this New Program or Service Request Jotform. The Form includes the following:
   
   -Program/service description, objectives, and target demographics
   -Description of how program or service is in alignment with YMCA mission
   -Financial impact with Pro Forma document upload
   -Resource requirements (staffing, facilities, partnerships)
   -Risk assessment and mitigation strategies
   -Evaluation metrics for success
   
   
3. Once submitted the proposal will be forwarded to the Vice President of the relevant business line and Risk Management for review.
4. Clarifying questions may be asked by Vice Presidents or Risk Management.
5. The Vice President of the relevant business line will approve or deny the proposal.   
6. Automated emails will be sent to the proposal requester and their supervisor to communicate the decision.
7. If the Vice President is unsure about the program’s fit, they may forward the proposal to the COO for further evaluation.
8. Once approved the new program or service may begin. Ongoing monitoring should take place to ensure the program or service continues to be viable. 

Proposal Approvers 

Community Center Operations:
Jean Fry- VP of Membership and Programs
Lolita Haverlock- Senior VP of Operations 

Shelter & Housing Operations:
Melissa Sirak- Senior VP Housing, Shelter, and Social Responsibility

Youth Development Operations:
Becky Ciminillo- Senior Vice President of Youth Development

*If additional questions arise the P&C Department should be consulted.