Mini Paper

Melissa Day

HRM 591

Mini Paper

October 4, 2013

For the final project I wanted to conduct a training needs assessment for the Marietta Family YMCA. Being a former employee of the Marietta YMCA from 2008-2010 I still have many close contacts that are employed there who could offer a unique look into what they feel are the needs of this organization. During my last year and half of employment at the

YMCA, the childcare department (the department I spent the vast majority of my time in) began to provide its employees with training opportunities outside of CPR and First Aid certifications, which were mandated by the State of Ohio. The training that slowly started to be delivered was mandated by a program, called Step Up To Quality, that the YMCA was hoping to add to its childcare curriculum. This program, which was designed by the State also offered monetary reimbursement for those individuals and organizations that attended these trainings and implemented their practices. Although the trainings I was asked to attend were beneficial they were merely the minimum required to keep this program at the Marietta YMCA. We never had any of the optional trainings (How to Speak to Children and How to Interact With Children) at our site-which could have added another layer to our program and make it more beneficial not only for us as the educators and employees, but also for the children who attended our programs.

This project allows me to see if things have changed at the Marietta YMCA, or if the organization is continuing their minimalist mentality of only offering the minimum to keep this program at the YMCA. Given the dedication, eagerness, and openness to bettering themselves and the program many of the employees that I had the pleasure of working with and continue to keep in contact with would have eagerly attended any additional training sessions, had they been offered. Albeit a needs analysis should align with their organizations overall goals and...