OUR COMMITMENT IS TO CHILD SAFETY
We all have important roles to play in ensuring bright futures for the children in our lives and we invite you to join us in our commitment to strengthen communities. You can count on the South Shore YMCA to partner with you and your family in committing to keep all children safe through education, prevention, and awareness.
Safe Kids Child Protection BrochureCHILD ABUSE PREVENTION AND RESPONSE
As a leading organization in Youth Development, the South Shore YMCA is committed to educating our community on how to prevent, recognize, and react responsibly to child abuse. At the Y, we are dedicated to providing a child-safe and child-centered environment, where all kids have safe spaces to explore their imagination, learn lifelong skills, and grow. All adults are responsible for keeping kids safe, and we must do our part by being engaged leaders in a call to action.
THE SOUTH SHORE YMCA’S CHILD PROTECTION STEPS
- Screen Staff and Volunteers – all staff members are screened through national criminal background checks and reference checks
- Child Abuse Prevention Training for all staff
- Careful Supervision and Monitoring of all programs
- Emphasis on Our Obligation as Mandatory Reporters of suspected child abuse
- Established South Shore YMCA Guidelines for staff and volunteers regarding appropriate physical, verbal and interactions with children/youth
- Program Design that prevents staff and volunteers from being alone with a child/youth where they cannot be observed by others
- Policies Limiting Staff Contact with children/youth outside of the South Shore YMCA programs or where one-adult/one-child situations could occur.
PARENTS’ CHILD PROTECTION STEPS
P Pay Attention to changes in behavior, such as sleeping or eating patterns, fear of a person or place and discomfort with physical contact.
R Report Concerns about staff or a volunteer. You may call Kristine Swan, Vice President of Youth Development, 781-
O Observe your child/youth’s programs by dropping in and asking questions.
T Talk to Them about their experiences in the South Shore YMCA programs, school, sports, church and other activities.
E Educate Yourself! Learn more about protecting your child at Darkness to Light www.d2l.org.
C Control your child/youth’s isolated interactions and watch for signs they are receiving extra attention (treats, gifts, rides, etc.).
T Trust Your Instincts! Tell us if something seems “strange”.
About Praesidium
The South Shore YMCA is Accredited by Praesidium, which publicly demonstrates our commitment to safety and adherence to the highest standards in abuse Prevention.
Praesidium specializes in preventing sexual abuse in organizations that serve youth and vulnerable adults. For more than 25 years, the company has reviewed over 4,000 cases of abuse within organizations to determine the root causes of sexual abuse within organizational settings. Praesidium employs more than 40 staff, including licensed social workers, lawyers, psychologists, health care researchers, and other experts. The company has served over 5,000 clients with a broad range of products and services to aid organizations in preventing abuse, including online and instructor‐led trainings; organizational risk assessments; model policies and incident investigations. Having trained more than one million people online and hundreds of thousands in person, Praesidium is the largest and most comprehensive sexual abuse risk management firm globally.
Five Days of Action April 13-17
April is Child Abuse Prevention Month. As part of our commitment to protecting children, the South Shore YMCA participates in the Five Days of Action®—a week-long campaign to raise awareness of child sexual abuse and empower prevention. Through this campaign and year-round practices, we remain committed to keeping all children in our community safe. Learn More
Family Resources
- Learn the key questions to ask from Praesidium, the YMCA’s partner in child abuse prevention: praesidiuminc.com/6-key-questions-a-parent-should-ask-of-an-organization.
- Learn the 6 grooming behaviors every parent or caregiver needs to know and what to do if you see them, from our partner, Saprea: saprea.org/blog/6-perpetrator-grooming-behaviors
- These resources are designed to help families and caregivers teach personal and digital safety in a comfortable and accessible way.
- Grades K-2: safersmarterfamilies.org/grades-k-2
- Grades 3-5: safersmarterfamilies.org/grades-3-5