April is National Child Abuse Prevention Month. The RYE YMCA is joining with YMCAs from all across the country for Five Days of Action from April 16-20 to raise awareness about how to prevent child sexual abuse.
We want all children to be safe. The safety and protection of children and teens in our care is our primary concern. Thank you for joining us in raising awareness to keep kids safe!
At the Rye Y our top priority is the safety of all of participants and members. See below ways in which we try and ensure a child safe environment.
STAFF SCREENING AND TRAINING
The Rye YMCA has more than 250 staff members and many volunteers working with youth in the various programs we offer.
To keep children in our programs safe we take the following steps in our intensive screening of employees and volunteers:
-Detailed application forms
-Comprehensive interview process
-Four Reference Checks
-Criminal background checks
Employees complete an extensive child abuse prevention training program prior to their first shift at the Y. This includes three hours of training specifically around child abuse. Supervisors complete additional training to further promote a child safe environment. Staff are then presented with additional child abuse prevention training during their first 30 days of employment in our New Staff Orientation. All staff members and volunteers at the Y complete annual child abuse training refreshers and additional department specific in house trainings around the safety of our participants and members. All staff members are mandated to report any suspected child abuse.
OUR POLICIES
Policies exist to ensure staff and volunteers are not alone with a child. Rye Y staff is prohibited from working one on one with youth outside of the YMCA, (i.e. babysitting or tutoring). Child abusers can be parents, caretakers, friends, neighbors, or anyone who comes in contact with your child- even other youth. It takes everyone’s help to stop the cycle of abuse.
EXTERNAL SCREENING
The YMCA may conduct regular sex offender screenings on all members, participants, and guests. If a sex offender match occurs, the YMCA reserves the right to cancel membership, end program participation, and remove visitation access.
Please click on links below for additional resources and information.
Information for Parents of Young Children
Talking With Kids (2:16)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xX57AZjsKkc
Watch this two-minute video to learn how talking with children is important to protect them from sexual abuse.
1 in 10 Children (2:19)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0lRIV6ylrj4
Watch this two-minute video to learn the facts about child sexual abuse.
Consequences of Sexual Abuse (2:17)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D9bEPApPokU
Watch this two-minute video to learn the facts about child sexual abuse.
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