April is Child Abuse Prevention Month. Throughout the month, we will be providing tips and advice for parents and caregivers to help prevent and spot child abuse.
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Recognizing Boundaries & Warning Signs
At the Y, creating safe spaces for youth to learn, grow and thrive is our top priority. Kids need a safe space now more than ever, and we take pride in the measures we’ve taken to help keep your kids safe. Here are some important tips for parents to know as we work together to keep kids safe from abuse.
Offenders seek three things in order to abuse: access, privacy and control. What does this mean for a parent?
Know who has access to your children. For example,
- When your children are at school, what are the school’s procedures for screening staff, volunteers, parents, etc.?
- When your children attend a sleepover, who will be in the home?
Know what type of privacy is allowed. For example,
- When your children play sports, can the coach be alone with a player?
- When camp is over, can the counselor text your child?
- When the program ends, is one adult ever alone with one child?
Know how offenders gain control through boundary violations. For example,
- Physical boundaries violations - Excessive tickling, hugging, massaging, etc.
- Emotional boundaries violations - Spending too much time with them; acting possessive; sharing personal information to make a child feel they have a special relationship, sending excessive or inappropriate texts or messages
- Behavioral boundaries - Offenders manipulate kids into doing things they wouldn't otherwise do, such as: - Sneaking around - Keeping secrets - Looking at pornography - Use of drugs or alcohol
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Our YMCA Employee Code of Conduct
The development of children is the core of which the Y’s values were built. This is why the safety of all children in our care is our number one priority. Staff and volunteers at YMCA of Central New York follow our Code of Conduct to ensure the safety of all children who come through our doors, whether they’re regular program participants or only visit once a year.
During Child Abuse Prevention Month, the Y wants to make sure that all members understand this Code of Conduct. A key tool in abuse prevention is knowledge, so it’s important that parents and caregivers are informed of the Y’s policies around children. Together, we can work to ensure all children in the community reach their full potential.
Read Our Child Abuse Prevention Policy
In addition to our Code of Conduct, the Y has several safety measures to keep kids safe. This includes criminal background checks on staff and volunteers, required staff training on recognizing and preventing abuse, prohibiting staff/volunteers from being alone with a child where others cannot observe them, limiting staff contact with children outside of Y programs, and reporting any allegations or suspicions of abuse.