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 FlyerCHILD 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/volunteers 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”.
5 Days of Action
COMING TOGETHER TO PROTECT CHILDREN FROM SEXUAL ABUSE,ONE DAY AT A TIME.
April 24-28, 2023
ymca.org/fivedaysofaction
The Five Days of Action is a weeklong campaign designed to raise awareness and inspire adults to take action to protect children from sexual abuse. Led by the YMCA Guardians for Child Protection, the goal is to engage communities, improve internal operations, and advance policy and environmental change to protect youth from sexual abuse and keep our children safer.
Throughout the week of April 24-28, 2023 YMCAs and youth-serving organizations all across the country will come together to spread prevention messages on social media and educate the community about keeping youth safe from sexual abuse.
Please visit YMCA.org/fivedaysofaction and join our community efforts to protect children from sexual abuse:
Learn More, Step Up and Speak Out!
CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE STATISTICS – PROVIDED BY DARKNESS TO LIGHT
- One in ten children will be sexually abused before their 18th birthday
- 90% of child sexual abuse victims know their abuser.
- Approximately 30% of children who are sexually abused are abused by family members.
- 60% of child sexual abuse victims never tell anyone.
- False reports are rare. Research shows that only 4 to 8% of child sexual abuse reports are fabricated.
WHAT TO DO IF YOU BELIEVE A CHILD IS BEING ABUSED – PROVIDED BY DARKNESS TO LIGHT
- You do not need to have proof that abuse is occurring to make a report, only reasonable suspicion. Reasonable suspicion means that you have witnessed maltreatment or boundary violations, either in the child or adult, or both. Or, you have received a disclosure from a child about abuse, neglect, or boundary violations towards them.
- Child sexual abuse reports should be made to the police and/or state child protective services.
- Contact the Darkness to Light Helpline at 866-FOR-LIGHT or text LIGHT to 741741 to have questions answered by trained counselors at no charge.
