Youth Safety at The Y
Our core values —caring, honesty, respect, responsibility and faith—are part of everything we do. At the Y, youth develop a community of friends and have fun in a safe, nurturing environment.
The Y understands that children today are faced with situations that may affect their safety and well-being. It is our job as a community organization to educate ourselves, our children and their parents and guardians, and the community about these potential dangers and to protect them from these dangers:
About one in 10 children will be sexually abused before their 18th birthday.
About 90% of children who are victims of abuse know their abuser.
86% of child sexual abuse victims never tell anyone.
About one in eight youth experience online sexual exploitation.
Statistics provided by Darkness to Light
Read below for education regarding child abuse prevention, how the Y protects children, and some community and national partner child abuse prevention and treatment resources.
KNOW
When evaluating camps, sports, and other activities for your child, do you KNOW what questions to ask about abuse prevention? As parents, caregivers, and trusted adults, we play a vital role in protecting children and teens from abuse. Learn the key questions to ask from Praesidium, the YMCA’s partner in child abuse prevention.
SEE
When we SEE grooming patterns—methodical, subtle, gradual, and escalating behaviors used to groom a child for sexual abuse—we can identify them, strengthen our intuition, and protect children. Learn about the six grooming behaviors every parent or caregiver needs to recognize and know what to do if you see them.
RESPOND
RESPONDing starts when a child or teen feels heard and is helped. How can you take action to prevent child sexual abuse? The Trusted Triangle (for younger children) and the Safety NETwork (for older youth) are strategies from Lauren’s Kids Safer, Smarter Families Family Safety Toolkit. These resources are designed to help families and caregivers teach personal and digital safety in a comfortable and accessible way.