Eliminating Racism & Empowering Women for over 100 years.
YWCA is on a mission to eliminate racism, empower women and promote peace, justice, freedom and dignity for all.
YWCA Carlisle & Cumberland County actively promotes and recognizes principles of fairness, equity, and social justice across intersections of race, age, color, disability, faith, religion, ancestry, national origin, citizenship, sex, sexual orientation, social class, economic class, ethnicity, gender identity, gender expression and all other identities represented among our diverse community.
Our History
Since our founding in 1919, YWCA Carlisle and Cumberland County has been a cornerstone of empowerment and community support. From opening the area’s first daycare center in the early 1920s to launching fitness and empowerment programs for women and girls, we’ve always focused on uplifting our community. During the Great Depression, we provided food to those in need and established clubs for African American girls in the 1930s, making inclusivity a key part of our mission.
Our journey began at the Bosler House on West High Street. After moving to the YMCA facility on South West Street in 1972, we finally built our current home in 1990 at 301 G Street on land generously donated by the George family. This location houses our Administrative Offices, Preschool, and Sexual Assault/Rape Crisis Services. Today, we are proud to serve as YWCA Carlisle & Cumberland County, reflecting our commitment to every corner of the region.
How We Make an Impact
We’re dedicated to creating a safer, more equitable world. Through our Sexual Assault/Rape Crisis Services, we support survivors and their families. Our Empowerment department offers programs for every stage of life, including:
- Second Seasons: A monthly meeting for women 65+ to connect and grow.
- After the Bell: An after-school program for youth at Grandview Apartments.
- Harvest Bounty: A sustainable gardening initiative.
Our Little Wonders Preschool provides quality early childhood education, our Pad Pantry addresses period poverty by distributing feminine hygiene products, and our prevention education seeks to create a safer community.
How You Can Help
The life-changing work of YWCA Carlisle & Cumberland County wouldn’t be possible without the generous support of our community. Individual donors, local clubs, organizations, and private foundations are critical to our mission. Every gift matters, whether it helps fund preschool scholarships, collects and dispurses menstrual products, or provides critical care for survivors of sexual violence.
We are proud to partner with:
- United Way of Carlisle & Cumberland County
- United Way of the Capital Region
- United Way of the Shippensburg Area
- The Housing Authority of Carlisle & Cumberland County
State and federal contracts, including Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) and PCCD funding, enable us to expand services. Corporate partners and local businesses provide crucial resources to reduce waitlists for survivors and support prevention and empowerment programs for all ages.
Every donation fuels a stronger, more inclusive Cumberland County. Join us in making a difference—your generosity creates lasting change. Visit ywcacarlisle.org/donate to learn more about how you can contribute today.
We are here to support
Statistics
The World Health Organization reports 1 in 3 women worldwide is subjected to physical or sexual violence in her lifetime: Source
SARCS – all statistics are reported from RAINN
- Every 68 seconds, another American is sexually assaulted- every 9 minutes, that victim is a child
- 1 out of every 6 American women has been the victim of an attempted or completed rape in her lifetime (14.8% completed, 2.8% attempted).
- Females ages 16-19 are 4 times more likely than the general population to be victims of rape, attempted rape, or sexual assault.3
- Women ages 18-24 who are college students are 3 times more likely than women in general to experience sexual violence. Females of the same age who are not enrolled in college are 4 times more likely.7
- 1 out of every 10 rape victims are male
- Approximately 70% of rape or sexual assault victims experience moderate to severe distress, a larger percentage than for any other violent crime.
Empowerment/Youth Programming
“A robust body of evidence demonstrates the effectiveness of Social Emotional Learning (SEL) on academic outcomes. A 2023 meta-analysis led by Yale University reviewed more than 400 studies and found that students participating in SEL at school had higher “school functioning,” including grades, test scores, attendance, homework completion, and engagement. The research further demonstrates that SEL creates better conditions for learning as it found students saw decreases in aggression and bullying, anxiety, stress, depression, suicidality; felt safer at schools, and reported higher levels of inclusion, connectedness and healthy relationships.” -Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning (CASEL) from the March 8, 2024 article titled U.S. Senate and White House Honor ‘National Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) Week’ with Bipartisan Resolution, Presidential Letter
UPMC Community Health Needs Assessment
Click Here to access the source
- More than half (59.6 percent) of the ZIP codes represented in the UPMC Pinnacle Hospitals study area reported percentages above the nation (10.8 percent) of adult residents without a high school diploma.
- From 2007 to 2012, rates of emotional, behavioral, or developmental conditions in children in the U.S. and Pennsylvania both rose, with the Pennsylvania rate being slightly higher. In most recent years, U.S. saw a notable increase in the rate of 30 Any mental illness (AMI) is defined as having a diagnosable mental, behavioral, or emotional disorder, other than a developmental or substance use disorder, that met the criteria found in the 4th edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV). UPMC Pinnacle Hospitals CHNA 2018 34 children with emotional, behavioral, or developmental conditions while the rate in Pennsylvania declined; a positive sign (19.0 percent to 18.0 percent respectively).
- Health education related to understanding poor behaviors is necessary to instill in children at an early age. Teaching children the dangers of substance abuse and recognizing early signs related to mental health provides a pathway to learn about important health risks and conditions. Children readily grasp habits at an early age. Reinforcement along with healthy actions can change and reduce the likelihood of future poor behaviors. Health education aims to build on a framework of existing knowledge and attitudes. It sets out to reduce diseases and risky behaviors. Health education can help patients understand their own diagnosis and recovery stages as it provides an outline and furthers goals and objectives. Development of skills at an early age, understanding conditions, and aliments throughout life will create a better future for the individual. Health education should include physical, mental, social, and emotional health. Residents throughout the U.S. suffer from anxiety, depression, eating disorders, etc. and many do not understand what may be occurring physically. Having accessible facts and knowledge, along with a strong fostering environment, will help the individual and those around them.
- Individuals who have an education, in particular, a higher education (a bachelor’s degree or higher), tend to have strong employment security, earn a higher income, and hold an advantage for additional employment opportunities. Having an education also enables individuals to navigate the health care system for services, understand the importance of preventive care, make better health choices for themselves and their family, therefore, improving their own health and well-being.