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For Happy, Healthy & Safe Kids

The YMCA of the Blue Water Area is committed to providing a safe and nurturing environment for everyone who enters our doors or participates in our programs. The safety and well-being of youth entrusted to our care is our highest priority, and we appreciate and are respectful of the trust parents and guardians place in the Y.

At the Y, we pledge to protect the children we serve. We have a series of safety measures in place to ensure we keep your children safe. Learn more about how the Y keeps your children safeguarded against abuse through staff training, protocols, and ongoing knowledge of awareness and prevention below.

The YMCA of the Blue Water Area works closely with Praesidium, the national leader in organizational abuse risk management.

How the YMCA of the Blue Water Area Protects Children

The YMCA of the Blue Water Area works in partnership with parents and guardians of children in Y programs to protect children from abuse. To keep children in our programs safe, we require the following steps in our intensive screening of employees and volunteers:

  • Detailed application forms
  • Comprehensive interview process including screening questions related to abuse risk factors
  • Personal and professional references including screening questions related to abuse risk factors
  • Criminal record checks
  • Child abuse prevention training
  • Mandated reporting of suspected child abuse
  • Extensive Child Abuse Prevention Policy and Procedures Manual
  • Certified Praesidium Guardian on staff
  • Implementation of the Praesidium Safety Equation
  • Currently in the process of obtaining a Praesidium Accreditation 

Read our Employee Code of Conduct.

The Facts about Child Sexual Abuse

  • 1 in 4 girls and 1 in 6 boys will be sexually abused before they turn 18.
  • 90% of offenders are known by their victim or their victim’s family.
  • 1 in 10 public school children, accounting for 4.5 million students, have experienced sexual misconduct by an educator.
  • There are more than 60 million survivors of child sexual abuse in America; 80% never reported their abuse.
  • Child abuse costs the United States approximately $103 billion per year.
  • Victims of sexual abuse are:
    • 3x more likely to suffer from depression.
    • 4x more likely to contemplate suicide.
    • 13x more likely to abuse alcohol and 26x more likely to abuse drugs.
    • 40x more likely to experience marital problems.
    • More likely to suffer physically, with an increased risk of heart disease and obesity.

Sources: Praesidium

Know. See. Respond.

Together, let’s pledge to protect the youth in our community by practicing the three habits of child abuse protection each day. When we know and understand how abuse happens, see the warning signs and are prepared to respond quickly to prevent it, we create a culture of child abuse prevention that results in even safer environments for kids to reach their full potential.

Know: When we understand the common practices of those who harm you and the best practices to stop them.

Know how to recognize boundary violations and how offenders operate. It’s up to us as adults to do all we can to prevent child sexual abuse and create safe environments for children. Teaching children about their bodies, recognizing warning signs, and responding to any concerns are important first steps. Even very young children can learn some skills to help keep themselves safe from sexual abuse, but it’s up to parents to help them learn what they need to know. Here are some important things you can teach that will help you help your child stay safe.

Teach Your Child Rules About Touching Their Body

Preschoolers understand the idea of rules, such as rules about playing nicely with others and rules about being safe, like wearing seat belts. So as you teach these rules, just add rules about touching their bodies.

First, talk to your child about body parts, including private parts. This will give your child words to use when he/she needs to tell you anything about his/her body, like an injury or rash or other problem in that area.

Then add rules about private parts, like “Never let other people touch your private parts unless Mommy or Daddy knows about it.” Children also need to know what to do when someone breaks the rules about touching. Teach them:

  • What to say to someone who breaks the rules about touching
  • To move away from someone who is breaking the rules about touching
  • To tell you or another adult if someone breaks the rules about touching
  • Phrases so he/she can tell others to stop and practice saying them with your child
  • Teach your child to say this anyone who invades their privacy (other children as well as to adults)
  • To move away from anyone who is breaking the rules about touching
  • Tell your child that it’s ok to get out of someone’s lap or pull away from a hug, even if an adult asks them not to
  • To tell you or another adult, like a teacher or caregiver, if someone breaks the rules about touching them

 

See: When we can recognize the warning signs or behaviors that signal abuse or risk for abuse.

Keep your eyes and ears open for signs of abuse and talk with your child, asking them about your concerns. If something is wrong, you may see a sudden change in your child’s behavior, or you may hear unusual comments. If you see or hear these things, follow up. Find a relaxed time to talk with them.

Child Abuse Warning Signs

  • Frequent or unexplained bruises or injury
  • Unkempt or malnourished appearance
  • Bathing frequently; obsessive cleanliness
  • Disturbed sleeping or eating patterns
  • Inability to stay awake or concentrate for extended periods
  • Abrupt changes in behavior, anxiety, clinging, aggressiveness or withdrawal
  • Sudden, dramatic changes in activities or personality
  • Sexually transmitted diseases and infections
  • Fear of a certain person (this can include other minors) or place
  • Discomfort with physical contact
  • Fearfulness or depression
  • Aggression toward adults or other children
  • Abuse of other children
  • Nervousness around adults
  • Low self esteem
  • Displays knowledge or interest in sexual acts inappropriate to his/her age

Watch for these things in adults that may signify potential abuse. Remember, offenders seek access, privacy & control.

Emotional Boundary Violations

  • Making them feel important, cared about and understood
  • Spending too much time with them
  • Choosing favorites
  • Giving gifts
  • Acting possessive
  • Sending excessive or inappropriate text messages
  • Pretending to be the child’s friend on social networking sites like Facebook
  • Sharing personal information to make the child feel like they have a special relationship
  • Promising extra coaching time, a college scholarship, a place on a national team or even an Olympic Team spot!

Physical Boundary Violations 

  • Tickling
  • Horseplay
  • Hugging
  • Massaging
  • Wrestling
  • Going overboard with affection

Behavioral Boundary Violations

Offenders manipulate kids into doing things they wouldn’t otherwise do, such as:

  • Sneaking around by saying they will be in one place when actually they are in another
  • Keep secrets with the offender
  • Look at pornography
  • Use drugs or alcohol

 

Respond: When we take action in response to behaviors we recognize as being inappropriate or questionable.

If you see warning signs from your child or you hear about something that sounds like abuse, report it immediately.

If your child tells you about sexual abuse or inappropriate behavior, your response plays a big role in how your child understands abuse and how he/she recovers.

  1. Stay calm.
  2. Comfort your child.
  3. Listen carefully.
  4. Ask for examples.
  5. Do not threaten or criticize the person your child is accusing.

REPORTING CONCERNS OR RULE VIOLATIONS

Child predators break rules to gain privacy, access, and a relationship with children. People who do not follow child safety rules put all children at risk. 

WHAT ARE “RED FLAG BEHAVIORS? 

  • violations of Code of Conduct
  • allowing children to sit on his/her lap
  • tickling, wrestling, or touching that seems odd
  • giving participants gifts
  • being one-to-one with a child where they are not visible and interruptible by others
  • violations of rules/boundaries in general with children
  • neglecting or leaving children unsupervised
  • touching participants in their bathing suit area
  • contacting minors via phone, online or in person outside of the Y
  • accessing/referencing child pornography
  • taking pictures of minors on his/her personal devices
  • making excuses as to why the rule violation is okay
  • ANY GUT FEELING REGARDING THE WAY AN ADULT IS INTERACTING WITH MINORS.

 

Report Abuse

You do not need proof that abuse is occurring to make a report, only reasonable suspicion. Reporting child sexual abuse is key in preventing and intervening in abuse.

If you believe a child is in immediate danger of harm, call 911 first.

Praesidium Hotline for YMCAs: If you have questions or concerns, or would like to report an incident anonymously, please call the YMCA helpline staffed by YUSA’s experts/Praesidium, at 1.855.347.0751.

YMCA of the Blue Water Area Hotline: If you would like to report an incident anonymously directly to the YMCA of the Blue Water Area, please call out hotline at 1.810.987.6400, and select option 9.

If you would like to report a suspicion that a child has been harmed or is at risk of being harmed by abuse or neglect, call the MDHHS Child Abuse Hotline: 1.855.444.3911, or visit the MDHHS website.
 

Report YMCA Concerns or Policy Violations

If what you learn from your child, or if what you’ve observed or overheard sounds like abuse, call the Child Abuse Hotline or the police. If what you learn from your child, or if what you’ve observed or overheard sounds like a boundary violation, suspicious or inappropriate behavior, or a policy violation, then:

  1. Share your concerns with the employee, supervisor, or the person in charge. Be sure to follow up with both your child and the adult you’ve talked to.
  2. If you are unable to do this, you can share your concerns via email

Report a Concern Anonymously

Parent Resources
 

Educational Videos and Information by Praesidium

• Abuse Prevention Introduction
• Recognize Abuse and it’s Warning Signs
• How to Talk to Youth About Abuse
• How to Respond to Child Abuse
• 6 Key Questions a Parent Should Ask of a Camp


Online Trainings

Online Trainings for Parents & Caregivers by U.S. Center for SafeSport 

The U.S. Center for SafeSport produces online abuse awareness and prevention courses.

Click here to access all online training materials. After following the link, click on the “Get Trained Now” button. This will take you to the Learning Management System, where you can create a free account and access the trainings.

Child Sexual Abuse Prevention Online Training by Darkness to Light 

Darkness to Light offers training that specializes in the education and prevention of child sexual abuse, other forms of abuse and mandated reporting. Click here to access all online training materials.


Other Materials