KNOW, SEE, RESPOND
Help Prevent Child Abuse
At the YMCA, we believe ALL children deserve the opportunity to discover who they are and what they can achieve. Every day, we are proud and respectful of the TRUST parents and the community place in our YMCA. From Summer Camp, Child Care, Youth Sports, and Teen programs, our Y’s are buzzing with activity to serve youth. We work to ensure your children have a safe, fun-filled experience.
As you know, at the Y, child protection is our number one priority. Our goal is to help educate parents and children on how to be safe from child abuse in any environment with the skills they learn at our Y. Our staff and volunteers are trained on comprehensive and innovative practices around child safety to ensure your children are safe in our care. The trust that you, as parents and guardians, place in us to care for your children is important to us, and we do not take that trust for granted.
You may see these symbols at our YMCA and Program Sites:
These symbols stand for KNOW SEE RESPOND
This symbol is a conversation starter for staff, parents, and guardians to talk about child protection. As we mentioned, our staff is fully trained on how to protect children. Please ask them about it. When we KNOW how abuse happens and SEE
the warning signs, we can RESPOND quickly to prevent it. Together, we can foster a culture of child abuse prevention.
Together, we can keep our children safe and cultivate the values, skills, and relationships that lead to positive behaviors, better health, and educational achievement.
Thank you for being part of our Y family.
To report suspected abuse, call the 24/7 Helpline 1.855.347.0751. The Praesidium’s Helpline is dedicated to YMCAs and is a way to report suspicious or inappropriate behaviors and policy violations. Anonymously, if desired.
The helpline does not replace any applicable mandated abuse and neglect reporting to state authorities. To report suspected abuse in WA State, call 1.855.420.5888.
Additional Resources
Together, we can keep our children safe and cultivate the values, skills, and relationships that lead to positive behaviors, better health, and educational achievement. At the YMCA, in order to keep children safe, we require all staff and volunteers to follow a code of conduct. We do not allow staff to have outside contact with children we serve at the YMCA. In addition, only authorized staff are allowed to take photos of children in the YMCA. No special attention or gifts are allowed to be given by staff.
- Creating Your Family Code of Conduct
- Being a Safe Adult: Worksheet for Kids
- Being a Safe Adult: Worksheet for Adults
- 5 Steps to Protecting our Children
- Body Safety and Boundaries
- Check List for Safe Sleepovers
- Information for Parents of Young Children
- Talking to Children About Digital Safety
- Step-Up and Speak out
- For more information, visit www.fivedaysofaction.org
Want to learn more?
Click the links to watch informative videos.
