Childcare
School Year Programs
We have spots open for SCHOOL YEAR CHILDCARE For: Before school care, after school care, vacation camps, no school care, and preschool 18 months – 4 years
Contact Birdie Gay for more information and questions or fill out this inquiry form.
YWCA childcare offers quality, affordable childcare for children 1 ½ – 12 years of age, including an all-day preschool and pre-kindergarten, after school programming, and all-day programming during school closures.
In our preschool, we offer three classrooms to meet the different developmental needs of children of different ages, each serving free breakfast, lunch, and snacks each day. The YWCA before, after, and all-day school aged programs serve children in kindergarten through sixth grade with bus transportation provided directly to and from Lewiston schools. We also provide all-day care during school vacations, most holidays, and professional development/early release days, as well as unplanned school closures for emergencies. School-aged children can expect a hearty and healthy snack after school as well as breakfast, lunch, and snack during all-day care.
All programs include swim time in the YWCA pool to support children’s development of swimming skills and enjoyment of the water. We encourage children to take part in weekly swims that includes lessons and unstructured play times in the pool.
We’re working hard to provide the best quality care for your child(ren) and family.
YWCA childcare programming provides an affirming and supportive atmosphere for children to learn, play, and develop meaningful friendships. Preschool programs utilize a research-based social-emotional learning (SEL) curriculum in the classrooms and children are assessed on SEL and developmental standards throughout the year. For school age children, our staff provides special interest and enrichment activities, games, arts and crafts, gardening, cooking, sports, and more. All of our programs balance free play with significant adult and peer social interaction and engaging programming designed to develop self-esteem, self-awareness, and a sense of community.
At YWCA Central Maine, we’ve developed programming that instills appreciation of diversity and recognizes the importance of each child’s unique talents, interests, and needs. All of our teachers have been trained in our mission of eliminating racism and empowering women, and work to bring this mission to life in the classroom. We firmly believe that our mission to eliminate racism and empower women while promoting peace, justice, freedom, and dignity for all starts from the beginning of education and are proud to offer quality, affordable childcare to our community that centers this mission.
You can expect invitations to parent nights and parent teacher conferences, special events, and mission-based family trainings, newsletters and updates on your child’s progress throughout the year as well as direct access to communicating with your child’s teacher(s) via a secured app.
Forms and Handbook
Download the forms below and return in person to our facility (130 East Ave. in Lewiston) or via email to Birdie.
Required Forms for All Programs
Parent Handbook
Calendar
YWCA Central Maine is closed on the following holidays and in-service days for the 2024-2025 school year:
September 1 – Labor Day
November 27-28 – Thanksgiving and the day after
December 25-26 – Christmas Day and the day after
January 1-2 – New Year’s Day and the day after
January 19 – In Service Day
May 25 – Memorial Day
June 11-12 – Staff Training
June 19 – Juneteenth
YWCA Central Maine is often open on days that public schools are closed (holidays, school vacation weeks). Please note that space may be limited and pre-registration for vacation care may be required. Email Birdie Gay for more information or to sign up today.
Paying for Care
At YWCA Central Maine we know that providing safe and affordable care for children is crucial for working women and families. We believe that all families, regardless of income, should have access to childcare that fits their needs. In addition to self-pay tuition agreements, the YWCA accepts State of Maine Child Care Affordability Program (CCAP) vouchers, partners with FedCap, and offers need-based scholarships for summer camp to help families pay for the care they need.
For more information and to apply for CCAP, please visit this site.
Food & Nutrition
YWCA Central Maine launched its Food & Nutrition Program for our childcare in 2017 to address children’s food insecurity in Lewiston and Auburn communities. We now provide up to two meals and one snack every day to children in our care.
Because all our programs are developed in line with our mission to create equitable, just, and dignified resources for all, we believe that offering food to families in need is essential for continued health and well-being and should also be provided in a dignified manner. A primary objective of our Food & Nutrition program is to ensure all children attending our childcare programs have equal access to fresh, healthy, well-balanced, culturally-appropriate, and delicious breakfast, lunches, and snacks each day, regardless of socioeconomic barriers.
In addition to addressing the immediate, short-term concerns of food insecurity for children and families, YWCA Central Maine’s Food & Nutrition programs also prioritize longer-term outcomes by introducing new foods to expand children’s exposure to various flavors and textures, as well as providing nutrition education, gardening, and cooking opportunities. We believe this will break cycles of food insecurity and reliance on highly processed and nutritionally inadequate foods. It is our goal that this will help children to learn more about food and nutrition as a regular part of our childcare educational curriculum, which are lessons that will be transformative and last a lifetime.
https://www.maine.gov/doe/schools/nutrition/nondiscrimination
Wishlist
We are ALWAYS in need of supplies for classrooms and childcare programs. We have a wishlist that reflects the most immediate needs and current interests of the children in our program. We greatly appreciate your support!
USDA Disclosure
In accordance with federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, this institution is prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex (including gender identity and sexual orientation), disability, age, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity.
Program information may be made available in languages other than English. Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication to obtain program information (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language), should contact the responsible state or local agency that administers the program or USDA’s TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TTY) or contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339.
To file a program discrimination complaint, a Complainant should complete a Form AD-3027, USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form which can be obtained online at: https://www.usda.gov/sites/default/files/documents/USDA-OASCR%20P-Complaint-Form-0508-0002-508-11-28-17Fax2Mail.pdf, from any USDA office, by calling (866) 632-9992, or by writing a letter addressed to USDA. The letter must contain the complainant’s name, address, telephone number, and a written description of the alleged discriminatory action in sufficient detail to inform the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights (ASCR) about the nature and date of an alleged civil rights violation. The completed AD-3027 form or letter must be submitted to USDA by:
- mail:
U.S. Department of Agriculture
Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights
1400 Independence Avenue, SW
Washington, D.C. 20250-9410; or - fax:
(833) 256-1665 or (202) 690-7442; or - email:
program.intake@usda.gov
This institution is an equal opportunity provider.
https://www.maine.gov/doe/schools/nutrition/nondiscrimination
Summer Meal Site
YWCA Central Maine is a participant in the USDA Summer Food Service Program. Meals are available at no separate charge to all children Monday through Friday for breakfast and lunch. Breakfast is served from 8am – 9am and, and lunch is served from 11am-12pm. We ask families to call 207-795-4050 by 7am for breakfast and 10am for lunch and we will have it ready.
In accordance with federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, this institution is prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex (including gender identity and sexual orientation), disability, age, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity.
The Summer Food Service Program was established to ensure low-income children continue to receive nutritious meals during the summer months when school is not in session. Free meals that meet the federal nutritional guidelines are provided to all children 18 years old and younger at approved SFSP sites in areas with significant concentrations of low-income children.
Summer Camp
Our YWCA summer camp offers a different theme each week, so children can explore diverse activities that meet the needs and interests of all participating children. Some of our 
past themes have included: art, animals, outdoor adventure, circus, and performance. YWCA summer camp includes swimming and weekly field trips to beaches and lakes, museums, parks, and other activities. Enrichment programming, STEAM activities, and special guests to engage children’s interests and prevent summer learning loss. Children are provided breakfast, lunch and snacks.
Programming is led by young adult camp counselors who bring diverse skills and experiences to the program. YWCA summer camp is open to all children in first through sixth grade. Scholarships are available.