YMCA Child Safety
KNOW. SEE. RESPOND.

PROTECTING CHILDREN

CHILD ABUSE PREVENTION

Know. See. Respond.

Ensuring children are safe from abuse and able to learn, grow and thrive is the highest priority of the YMCA.  We are committed to creating programs that protect children from abuse, but we are also committed to providing our families and community with information to keep kids safe everywhere.  It is the power of our community knowing, seeing and responding which will make it more difficult for offenders to abuse.  

  • One in 10 children will experience contact sexual abuse in the U.S. before age 18[iii]

  • In as many as 93 percent of child sexual cases, the child knows the person that commits the abuse. [xiv]

  • 60% of children who are sexually abused do not disclose[xvi] [xvii] [xviii]

ABOUT KNOW SEE RESPOND

We as Y staff, members, community members and volunteers need to build on the work we’ve done and develop the three habits in child abuse prevention: KNOW. SEE. RESPOND.

Swim Lessons
PROTECTING CHILDREN AT THE Y

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.

PARENT RESOURCES

Stewards of Children® is a prevention training program that teaches adults how to prevent, recognize and react responsibly to child sexual abuse. The program is designed for individuals concerned about the safety of children, as well as organizations that serve youth.