Child Abuse Prevention

Child Abuse Prevention at the YMCA of Frederick County

At the YMCA of Frederick County, the safety and well-being of children in our care is our top priority. We are committed to providing a safe, nurturing environment where children can learn, grow, and thrive. Our child protection policies are designed to prevent abuse and ensure that all staff, volunteers, and program participants adhere to the highest standards of safety and accountability.

Our Commitment to Child Safety

Comprehensive Staff Training: All YMCA staff and volunteers undergo annual training on child abuse prevention, appropriate behavior, and recognizing signs of abuse or neglect.
Thorough Background Checks: Every staff member and volunteer working with children is required to pass a criminal background check before beginning employment or service.
No Babysitting Policy: To maintain clear professional boundaries and prevent conflicts of interest, YMCA staff and volunteers are strictly prohibited from babysitting or engaging in one-on-one interactions with program participants outside of YMCA programs.
Safe Interaction Guidelines: We enforce policies that limit one-on-one interactions between adults and children, including requiring activities to take place in observable spaces.
Mandatory Reporting: All YMCA employees are mandatory reporters and are required by law to report any suspicion or knowledge of child abuse to the appropriate authorities.

1. KNOW

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. Teaching children about their bodies, recognizing warning signs, and responding to any concerns are important first steps. Even very young children can learn some skills to help keep themselves safe from sexual abuse, but it’s up to parents to help them learn what they need to know. Here are some important things you can teach that will help you help your child stay safe.

Teach Your Child Rules About Touching Their Body

Preschoolers understand the idea of rules, such as rules about playing nicely with others and rules about being safe, like wearing seat belts. So as you teach these rules, just add rules about touching their bodies.

First, talk to your child about body parts, including private parts. This will give your child words to use when he/she needs to tell you anything about his/her body, like an injury or rash or other problem in that area.

Then add rules about private parts, like “Never let other people touch your private parts unless Mommy or Daddy knows about it.” Children also need to know what to do when someone breaks the rules about touching. Teach them:

What to say to someone who breaks the rules about touching
To move away from someone who is breaking the rules about touching
To tell you or another adult if someone breaks the rules about touching
Phrases so he/she can tell others to stop and practice saying them with your child
Teach your child to say this anyone who invades their privacy (other children as well as to adults)
To move away from anyone who is breaking the rules about touching
Tell your child that it’s ok to get out of someone’s lap or pull away from a hug, even if an adult asks them not to
To tell you or another adult, like a teacher or caregiver, if someone breaks the rules about touching them

2. SEE

Keep your eyes and ears open for signs of abuse and talk with your child, asking them about your concerns. If something is wrong, you may see a sudden change in your child’s behavior, or you may hear unusual comments. If you see or hear these things, follow up. Find a relaxed time to talk with them.

Child Abuse Warning Signs

Frequent or unexplained bruises or injury
Excessive talk about or knowledge of sexual topics
Unkempt or malnourished appearance
Bathing frequently; obsessive cleanliness
Disturbed sleeping or eating patterns
Inability to stay awake or concentrate for extended periods
Abrupt changes in behavior, anxiety, clinging, aggressiveness or withdrawal
Sudden, dramatic changes in activities or personality
Sexually transmitted diseases and infections
Fear of a certain person (this can include other minors) or place
Discomfort with physical contact
Keeping secrets / Not talking as much as usual
Not wanting to be left alone with certain people or being afraid to be away from primary caregivers, especially if this is a new behavior
Fearfulness or depression
Aggression toward adults or other children
Regressive behaviors or resuming behaviors they had grown out of, such as thumbsucking or bedwetting
Overly compliant behavior
Self-harming behaviors
Loss or decrease in interest in school, activities, and friends
Sexual behavior that is inappropriate for the child’s age
Spending an unusual amount of time alone
Change in eating habits
Nightmares or fear of being alone at night
Trying to avoid removing clothing to change or bathe
Abuse of other children
Nervousness around adults
Low self esteem

Watch for these things in adults that may signify potential abuse. Remember, offenders seek access, privacy & control.

Emotional Boundary Violations

Making them feel important, cared about and understood
Spending too much time with them
Choosing favorites
Giving gifts
Acting possessive
Sending excessive or inappropriate text messages
Pretending to be the child’s friend on social networking sites like Facebook
Sharing personal information to make the child feel like they have a special relationship
Promising extra coaching time, a college scholarship, a place on a national team or even an Olympic Team spot!

Physical Boundary Violations

Tickling
Horseplay
Hugging
Massaging
Wrestling
Going overboard with affection

Behavioral Boundary Violations

Offenders manipulate kids into doing things they wouldn’t otherwise do, such as:

Sneaking around by saying they will be in one place when actually they are in another
Keep secrets with the offender
Look at pornography
Use drugs or alcohol

3. RESPOND

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 he/she recovers.

Stay calm.
Comfort your child.
Listen carefully.
Ask for examples.
Do not threaten or criticize the person your child is accusing.

If what you learn from your child or if what you’ve observed or overheard at practice sounds like abuse, call Child Protective Services or the police. If what you learn from your child, or if what you’ve observed or overheard at practice, sounds like a boundary violation, suspicious or inappropriate behavior, or a policy violation, then:

Share your concerns with the 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.
If you are unable to do this, you can share your concerns with the Board President, you can make a report to the organization by making a call to (855)347-0751.

YMCA of Frederick County

YMCA of Frederick County

Child Abuse Prevention