MAPLEWOOD, N.J. - s4story -- The New Jersey YMCA State Alliance (YMCA Alliance) launched the Bright Path Youth Mental Health Program for the 2026-2027 school year at a kickoff event on November 10 at the South Mountain YMCA St. Joseph's Offsite Aftercare Center in Maplewood, NJ.

The event was hosted by the YMCA Alliance in partnership with the Metropolitan YMCA of the Oranges and was attended by New Jersey State Senator John F. McKeon and Assemblywoman Yvonne Lopez, two local and state leaders who were instrumental in securing additional funding for the program. Mayor Victor DeLuca, mayor of the Township of Maplewood, also attended the event.

"Youth development has always been a top priority on my agenda," said New Jersey State Senator John McKeon. "Investing in our youth is an investment in the future of our state. By expanding the reach of the Bright Path program, we can provide support and guidance to more afterschool sites, nurturing the soft skills needed for long-term success."

A Curriculum Built for Confidence and Connection

The Bright Path program is designed to help children in kindergarten through sixth grade build confidence, connection and emotional resilience. The curriculum, designed by Harmony Academy, empowers YMCA staff to help children practice listening, learn how to work through disagreements and build friendships.

"The Bright Path program is a vital community partnership," said Assemblywoman Yvonne Lopez, D-19th District. "The curriculum is designed to help children develop confidence and build resilience – essential skills for our New Jersey youth."

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Measurable Success of Pilot Program

The pilot program, which was funded by the Horizon Foundation of New Jersey, launched in December 2025 with seven YMCA associations at 21 afterschool sites:

• Westfield YMCA
• Raritan Bay YMCA
• Metropolitan YMCA of the Oranges
• YMCA of the Jersey Shore
• Montclair YMCA
• Lakeland Hills YMCA
• Cumberland Cape Atlantic YMCA

"The Horizon Foundation brings the strategic direction and investment, and the Y brings trust, programming expertise and a daily presence in children's lives," said Executive Director, Horizon Foundation Jonathan Pearson. "Together we built Bright Path around what children needed. No one can do this alone. When a corporate foundation, community and government each do their part, we reach children earlier and change the course of their lives."

The evaluation of the pilot year of the Bright Path program demonstrated promising results for strengthening interpersonal skills among children in the participating YMCA afterschool programs, with more than 1,000 children benefiting from Harmony Academy's curriculum. Independent observations found strong program implementation and high levels of student participation and engagement, while parent and YMCA staff feedback indicated encouraging improvements in children's communication, emotional expression, self-confidence, empathy, cooperation, and ability to resolve conflicts.

"The partnership between NJ YMCA State Alliance and Sanford Harmony is an important one as we both seek to build and support healthy relationships," said Scott Page, Executive Vice President, Sanford Harmony at National University. "Our collaboration will reach children and adults in a dynamic way, building self- awareness, social skill building and ultimately strengthening the greater NJ community."

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Expansion Improves Access Across NJ

Thanks to funding from the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs, which Lopez and McKeon helped secure, the program is being expanded in year two to include six additional YMCA associations:

• YMCA of Metuchen, Edison, Woodbridge and South Amboy
• Meadowlands YMCA
• Garfield YMCA
• Greater Somerset County YMCA
• Fanwood-Scotch Plains YMCA
• Hamilton Area YMCA

In total, the Bright Path program will now be offered at 37 afterschool sites, across 11 counties in New Jersey:

• Atlantic
• Bergen
• Cumberland
• Essex
• Mercer
• Middlesex
• Monmouth
• Morris
• Somerset
• Sussex
• Union

"We're thankful to Senator McKeon and Assemblywoman Lopez for their leadership in helping to secure $500,000 in state funding for the Bright Path program," said President and CEO of the New Jersey YMCA State Alliance Julie Gallanty. "The additional funding has allowed us to expand our reach throughout the state, so we can provide support for more of our youth and help them thrive."

Please visit www.njymca.org or email njymca@njyalliance.org for more information on the YMCA Alliance's Bright Path Youth Mental Health Program.

About the New Jersey YMCA State Alliance

The YMCA Alliance is a statewide nonprofit organization leading a coalition of 30 independent YMCA associations. Through public policy, statewide initiatives, strategic partnerships, and service delivery, the YMCA Alliance fosters a greater ability for YMCAs, community partners and leaders across the state to impact families, improve community health and advance equity. Our collective voice strengthens local communities while promoting youth development, healthy living and social responsibility. For more information, visit www.njymca.org.