Youth Protection
OUR COMMITMENT TO YOUTH PROTECTION
As an organization that serves thousands of youth every year, the Y’s most important work is creating safe environments for all. Ensuring the safety and well-being of youth is foundational to helping youth learn, grow and thrive. The Wallingford Family YMCA is accredited by Praesidium, renowned authorities and institutional consultants focused on the elimination of child abuse within organizations.
HOW WE CREATE SAFE SPACES FOR OUR YOUTH
Screening & Hiring: All new employees and volunteers undergo a background check prior to hiring, and they must provide at least three references. All staff and high-access volunteers must also go through new checks on a biannual basis or if they’re returning to the Y after a 90-day break. Our members and guests are also screened through an RSO system daily that integrates with The National Sex Offender Registry.
Training: All staff members complete child abuse prevention training annually and receive education on creating a youth-safe environment. The goal is to educate on inappropriate conduct, while also teaching the warning signs of abuse.
Reporting: If any staff member or volunteer suspects or becomes aware of any inappropriate behavior toward a minor, they are to report the incident immediately. Should any allegation arise, the YMCA will proactively work with the authorities and all parties involved to respond in a prompt, thorough and empathetic manner.
Policies & Procedures: We maintain rigorous policies and procedures that are enforced at all locations to ensure that youth in programs are supervised at all times and no single staff person is ever alone with a youth. The Wallingford Family YMCA maintains a zero tolerance policy toward child abuse and child endangerment. Staff are to report any questionable behavior they see.
Prevention: The Wallingford Family YMCA partners with Praesidium, a team of experts in child abuse prevention, to assess all aspects of our programs and implement best practices. To ensure we continuously uphold the highest standards in child safety & protection, we have developed internal teams that routinely audit our operations, and utilize the Praesidium assessment tool. Additionally, the Wallingford Family YMCA operates under the YUSA Child Protection and Aquatics Safety Membership Qualification Standards.
ZERO TOLERANCE POLICY
The Wallingford Family YMCA has zero tolerance for abuse and will not tolerate the mistreatment or abuse of youth in its programs. Any mistreatment or abuse by personnel will result in disciplinary action, up to and including termination of employment or volunteer service and cooperation with law enforcement.
The Wallingford Family YMCA has zero tolerance for abuse, mistreatment, or sexual activity of youth in its programs. We are committed to providing all youth with a safe environment and will not tolerate the mistreatment or abuse of one youth by another youth. Conduct by youth that rises to the level of abuse, mistreatment, or sexual activity will result in intervention or disciplinary action, up to and including, dismissal from the program.
In addition, the Wallingford Family YMCA will not tolerate any behavior that is classified under the definition of bullying, and to the extent that such actions are disruptive, we will take the necessary steps to eliminate such behavior.
If you have any concerns, questions, or complaints about something at the YMCA, please share it on our Anonymous Form.
WHO DO I CONTACT AT THE YMCA?
If you have questions or concerns about abuse or the Y’s abuse procedures, contact one of our senior staff members below:
Eric Skinner, COO
Emily Walter, Senior Director of Child Care Services
Child abuse can take many different forms:
- Emotional abuse is the use of threats or words to harm a youth’s feelings and self-esteem and the withholding of love and support. Examples include ridiculing, rejecting, blaming or communicating unrealistic expectations.
- Physical abuse is the deliberate injury of a youth by any person, including by another youth.
- Sexual abuse is any sexual activity between an adult and a minor or between two minors when one exerts power over the other. It includes genital touching, inappropriate hugging or kissing, playing sexually-oriented games and sexual intercourse. It also includes non-contact acts such as exhibitionism, exposure to pornography, voyeurism, taking nude photos and communicating in a sexual manner by phone or internet.
- Child neglect is a form of abuse that occurs when a person responsible for the care of a youth fails to provide necessary food, clothing, medical care, education, affection, shelter or supervision.
Watch for these warning signs of abuse:
- Abrupt changes in behavior, anxiety, clinging, aggressiveness or withdrawal.
- Discomfort with physical contact.
- Fearfulness or depression.
- Abuse or bullying of other youth.
- Avoidance of a particular person or place, or refusing to go to a friend’s or relative’s home for no apparent reason.
- Sexual language or behavior that is not age appropriate.
- Unexplained bruises, welts, or burns.
- Unkempt or malnourished appearance.
- Disturbed sleeping or eating patterns.
- Sexually transmitted diseases and infections.
Why are youth afraid to tell?
- The abuser tells the youth that his or her parents will be angry.
- The abuser confuses the youth about what is right and wrong.
- The abuser tells the youth that they will hurt a family member if they tell.
- The abuser tells the youth that it is a game or a secret.
- Children think that it is their fault, or that they should have done something to prevent it.
- The abuser may encourage the youth to break rules set by their parents, causing the youth to fear punishment if they tell.
Learn the facts of child sexual abuse. Understand the risks. Realities, not trusts, should influence your decisions regarding children.
- Minimize opportunity. If you eliminate or reduce one-adult/one-child situations, you’ll dramatically lower the risk of sexual abuse for children.
- Talk about it. Children often keep abuse secret, but barriers can be broken down by talking openly about it.
- Stay alert. Don’t expect obvious signs when a child is being sexually abused.
- Make a plan. Learn where to go, whom to call and how to react.
- Act on suspicions. The future well-being of a child is at stake.
- Get involved. Volunteer and financially support organizations that fight the tragedy of child sexual abuse.
Please educate your children about appropriate and inappropriate physical, verbal and emotional contact. Make sure that your child knows that if they experience any inappropriate actions at our Y (or elsewhere), that they should alert you immediately.
If you see warning signs from your child or adult, or you hear about something that sounds like abuse, report it immediately. If your child tells you about sexual abuse or inappropriate behavior, here’s how to react. Your response plays a big role in how your child understands abuse and how they recover.
- Stay calm – Staying calm at a time like this will be very difficult for you.
- Avoid overreacting or expressing shock or outrage. Try not to cry.
- Comfort your child – Let your child know that you love them very much and that they have done nothing wrong. A big hug can work wonders.
- Tell your child that you believe them. Praise your child’s courage for telling you. Don’t ask your child why they didn’t tell you sooner—that will just make them feel guilty.
- Listen carefully – Listen carefully to what your child tells you. They will be scared and may not give you many details. Ask questions like: “Can you tell me more about it?” “What did the person do?” “When did this happen?” or “How many times did this happen?”
- Do not threaten or criticize the person your child is accusing – Although this is a natural response, avoid criticizing the person your child has identified as the abuser. Chances are, your child knows the person well and may even care very much for the person.
- Take action – Trust your instincts and keep your child away from the person involved. If you think they are physically injured, seek appropriate medical attention.
If what you learn from your child or if what you’ve observed or overheard sounds like abuse, call the CT DCF Careline, 1-800-842-2288 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 in an organization, share your concerns with the individual employee, supervisor, or the person in charge of your organization. Be sure to follow up with both your child and the adult you’ve talked to.
At the Wallingford Family 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 communities place in us. From youth sports to day and overnight summer camp; from out-of-school time to preschool; our Ys work to ensure your children have a safe, fun filled experience.
At the Y, child protection is our number one priority year-round. During April – Child Abuse Prevention Month – we participate in a week-long campaign— Five Days of Action—to increase awareness of child sexual abuse and empower and equip our communities to prevent it. By taking part in this important campaign and through implementing abuse prevention practices year-round, we can all commit to the safety of all children in our care.
The Know. See. Respond. campaign ties in three impact areas – preventing child sexual abuse at summer camp, in youth sports, and on the internet. The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, U.S. Center for SafeSport and Praesidium have shared resources to support this campaign.
Our culture of child safety includes the foundational habits of child sexual abuse prevention—Know. See. Respond. When put into practice, they help us create safer environments for children to grow and learn.
KNOWing about child sexual abuse can help adults better understand what to look for and how to prevent it. For example, did you know that 1 in 10 children in the U.S will be sexually abused before their 18th birthday? As parents, caregivers, and trusted adults to the young people in our lives, we play an important role in protecting them from abuse. This requires our commitment to continually learn and then ask questions about the safety of our loved ones.
When we SEE boundaries being crossed or suspect a child is being abused, we can and should act quickly. When we know the signs of abuse, we can intervene on behalf of children.
Did you know that you don’t need evidence to report abuse—only reasonable suspicion? But even for adults, reporting abuse is hard. We don’t want to falsely accuse someone or get someone in trouble. On the other hand, reporting might be the one thing that saves a child – or children – from abuse. It is our responsibility to RESPOND to any and all disclosure, discovery or suspicion of child sexual abuse. If suspect abuse, call the CT DCF Careline, 1-800-842-2288 or the police.
Summer Camp
The Y—and other youth serving organizations—implement a series of measures to keep the kids in their care safe. Next time you enroll your loved one in a new program, ask them about their child protection practices.
Youth Sports
Sports should be safe places for children to grow, both as individuals and athletes. As a parent, caregiver, coach or volunteer, it is up to you to make sure any environment in which children in your care interact is free from abuse. Learn more about the signs and how you can help prevent child sexual abuse in youth sports at US Center for Safe Sport.
Internet Safety
As adults and children alike have turned to digital tools for school, work and socialization, online safety matters now more than ever. Many online dangers put children at risk, such as cyber bullying, online enticement and more. As an adult, keeping an open line of communication with any children in your care who may access online content can be key to helping prevent sexual abuse. Learn the facts, how you can keep kids safe, and how to respond to online victimization at the Netsmartz.
The internet can place a child in danger. Set up rules before letting your child go online:
- Talk about who your child can communicate with and what sites they are allowed to visit.
- Do not allow your child to download anything without permission.
- Tell your child to never share personal information such as their name, address, phone number, parent’s work address or phone number, or the name or location of their school without a parent’s permission.
- Encourage your child to tell a trusted adult if they receive any message or come across anything that makes them feel uncomfortable, scared, or confused.
- Tell your child they must never meet in person with anyone they meet online.
Teaching children about sexual abuse is the best way to help keep them safe. Talking with your child
regularly about their activities, people in their life and how they are feeling helps lay the groundwork for open, non-threatening conversations to be your norm. Learn more about talking to your child about abuse at Our Kids Center & Early, Open, Often
Together, we can help prevent child sexual abuse. Take a look at some of these helpful resources from other organizations who share the Y’s commitment to the safety of children.
Educational Videos and Information for Parents & Caregivers by our abuse prevention consultant and partner Praesidium
- Abuse Prevention Introduction
- Recognize Abuse and it’s Warning Signs
- How to Talk to Youth About Abuse
- How to Respond to Child Abuse
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.
