DECATUR, Ill. (WAND) - On Wednesday, YMCAs across the state of Illinois announced a partnership with insurance carrier YouthCare that will provide memberships to children in foster care.
"[YouthCare] works specifically with foster children and people that have been foster children, so it's a program that's specialized for the Department of Children and Family Services," said Decatur Family YMCA CEO Dominic Santomassimo.
YouthCare partners with DCFS to provide coverage to foster children in Illinois.
Santomassimo said kids should have access to all kinds of healthcare, including physicals.
"There's other things that are just as important that you do outside of that doctor's office that affect your care. YouthCare has realized the YMCA can help with things like that. Those environmental type of issues that sometimes affect people. Especially lower-income families or kids at high stress because they're in a foster situation. The 'Y' can help out," Santomassimo said.
The membership will cover other programs that run through the YMCA as well.
"It will also pay for swim lessons or any of our learn to swim programs," Santomassimo said. "Part of health is just what happens before and after school, and the 'Y' offers a before and after school program that this program will also pay for."
If you think you or someone you know is eligible, you can stop by the YMCA to check. You can also call YouthCare directly at 844-289-2264.
The program is available now at YMCAs throughout the state.
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