La Porte Community School Corporation and La Porte County Family YMCA announce partnership for before- and after-school care program

The La Porte Community School Corporation and the La Porte County Family YMCA have announced a partnership to transition the operation of the district’s existing before- and after-school care program to the La Porte County Family YMCA, beginning with the 2026–2027 school year. 

The program, which has served families across the district, will continue under the YMCA’s leadership, with a shared focus on maintaining continuity of care and supporting a smooth, thoughtful transition for students and families. 

Through this collaboration, the YMCA will build upon the strong foundation already in place, working closely with school leadership to ensure the program remains aligned with the school day and continues to provide a safe, structured, and supportive environment for students. Families can expect many familiar elements of care to remain, including consistent routines and a focus on student well-being, while also benefiting from the YMCA’s experience in youth development programming. 

Nationally, the YMCA is the largest nonprofit provider of childcare, serving children and families in more than 10,000 communities across the country. The La Porte County Family YMCA has prior experience supporting before- and after-school care programming in partnership with school districts across the county, reflecting a longstanding commitment to meeting the needs of working families. 

“We recognize the important role this program has played for families in our community, and we are committed to honoring that foundation as we move forward,” said Scott Helmkamp, CEO of the La Porte County Family YMCA. “Our goal is to ensure continuity of care while building on what already exists to provide a safe, structured, and engaging environment for students. We are grateful for the opportunity to partner with the school corporation and support families in this next chapter.” 

“This partnership allows us to maintain the program our families rely on while transitioning operations to an organization that specializes in childcare. With the YMCA overseeing the program, we also anticipate opportunities to expand offerings and improve staffing reliability, which is extremely important for working families,” said Superintendent Dr. Wood. “Our goal is for this transition to be seamless, with costs kept comparable and current families prioritized for enrollment. We are proud to work alongside the YMCA, an organization that shares our dedication to this community.”

Enrollment for the 2026–2027 school year is expected to open in early May 2026, with programming beginning on August 14, the start of the school year. Additional details, including program information, schedules, and registration instructions, will be shared with families in the coming weeks.