YMCA Child Care Benson

"⚠️ Special Needs Parents Read HERE ⚠️ Benson YMCA overall is a nice clean campus with adequate room space near the fields and Lunch tables. Initially appearing a positive environment, I found a neglectful staff, poor in communication, unaware of company processes, untrained in special needs and poor interactions with children. Laura Guzman the current program director left little to be desired. My time line of events: -Friday Laura emailed information to attended the program on Monday. (She  neglected to review the processes for the special needs program despite me clearly indicating my child would likely need support in the program) but assured me he could attend Monday if forms were submitted before then. Forms were submitted. -Monday Morning I emailed to follow up and confirm. Afternoon I called in to confirm he could attend and was told to bring him Tuesday to join in the field trip. I inquired again about "inclusion" but was assured he should be fine to attend on Tuesday as long as he was prepared for Knotts. Confirmed she HAD received my email but not had time to read or reply. -Tuesday Brought him in on time and waited an hour before getting a chance to talk to Laura. (She accepted multiple new walk ins during the time.) About 5 minutes into sitting with her she identified my kid as "requiring services" and dismissed us. He simply tried to interrupt her to get attention and find out if he could go while she was ignoring him walking by addressing other people's concerns. Summary My kid is autistic and identified her as "not being wanted" and repeatedly asked "why does the YMCA not want me?" He's 6, intelligent, high functioning, and NEVER should have been put in such a disappointing and compromising position. This experience made the next facility we contacted problematic as he went that 1st day saying "mom YMCA doesn't want me, I can't go there!" Following my meeting with Laura there was no further communication, no extension of information on how to proceed with the program in inclusion, no emails to extend remorse for her lack of preparation, or even acknowledgement of our visit. I discovered inclusion on my own and determined Benson does not truly support special needs or inclusion and quite frankly appears to be thoroughly falling apart on varying degrees of capability."

"This YMCA child care location is amazing! The staff members are all great and maintain great communication with the parents. The facility is always kept clean and they provide fun and exciting activities for the kids. Thank you YMCA Benson for helping my child thrive through fun education."

"Stop by to ask for info but the director was not in, so while I waited the kinder teacher showed me around the classroom and answered some of my questions later I found out the kinder teacher was on her lunch and she still was able to attended me with such a dedication. Thats when I decided to enroll my two kids to the Ymca because her kindness to show me around says alot from a happy and dedicated staff where my kids would not only enjoy the Art and cooking Clubs but also have someone who cares and listens. As you go inside the portable classroom you can see boards full of Art and so many other clubs they have including a physical activity club. So my 2 kids love the Y. Some times my kinder kid brings home the funniest Art and other times its just amazing."