YMCA Five Days of Action Campaign to Help Prevent Child Sexual Abuse

April is Child Abuse Prevention Month. As part of our year round commitment to protecting the children in our community, we’re participating in Five Days of Action from April 24 - 28 to help prevent child sexual abuse.

Join us as we bring back the Know. See. Respond. campaign, which ties in three impact areas – preventing child sexual abuse at summer camp, in youth sports, and internet safety. Throughout the week, YMCA of Broome County will share information about recognizing the signs of child sexual abuse and provide resources that empower and equip us all to prevent it. 

Keep reading to learn more about each component of the Know. See. Respond. campaign. For more information, see resources from The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, U.S. Center for SafeSport, and Praesidium. 

Know: Summer Camp

KNOWing about child sexual abuse can help adults better understand what to look for and how to prevent it. 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 a commitment to continually learn and then ask questions about the safety of our loved ones.

The YMCA and other youth-serving organizations implement measures to ensure that the kids in their care are safe. The next time you enroll your loved one in a new program, ask the organization about their child protection practices. For this summer, you can use this list.

See: Youth Sports

When we SEE boundaries being crossed or suspect a child is being abused, we can and should act quickly. Sports should be safe places for children to grow, both as people and athletes. As a parent, caregiver, coach, or volunteer, it is up to you to make sure all environments under your supervision are free from abuse. 

Learn more about the signs and how you can help prevent child sexual abuse in youth sports here.

Respond: Internet Safety

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. 

As adults and children alike have turned to digital tools for school, work, and socialization, online safety matters now more than ever. Children are at risk of experiencing many online dangers, including cyber bullying, online enticement, and others. As an adult, it’s critical to keep an open line of communication with any children in your care who access online content and may be vulnerable to these dangers. Learn the facts, how you can keep kids safe, and how to respond to online victimization here. 

By taking part in this important campaign and through implementing abuse prevention practices year round, YMCA of Broome County remains wholly committed to the safety of all children in our community. We take this commitment seriously and we hope you do too. Check out our protection policy here to learn more about how we keep kids safe in Broome County.