Child Protection

Child Protection

Our core values – caring, honesty, respect and responsibility – are part of everything we do. At the Y, children develop a community of friends and have fun in a safe, nurturing environment.

The Y understands that children today are faced with situations that may affect their safety and well-being. It is our job as a community organization to educate ourselves, our children and their parents and guardians, and the community about these potential dangers and to protect them from these dangers:

• About one in 10 children will be sexually abused before their 18th birthday.
• About 90% of children who are victims of abuse know their abuser.
• 86% of child sexual abuse victims never tell anyone.
• About one in eight youth experience online sexual exploitation.

Statistics provided by Darkness to Light

The YMCA OF GREATER RICHMOND has been awarded Praesidium Accreditation® by Praesidium, the leader in abuse risk management. Praesidium Accreditation® is a prestigious honor that publicly demonstrates the organization has worked to achieve the highest industry standards in abuse prevention.

To achieve Accreditation, The YMCA of Greater Richmond underwent a rigorous process to implement Praesidium’s Accreditation Standards focusing on eight primary operational areas within their business: policies, screening and selection, training, monitoring and supervision, consumer participation, internal feedback systems, responding, and administrative practices. Praesidium then verified YMCA of Greater Richmond’s successful implementation of these standards.

YMCA of Greater Richmond will be accredited for three years, and during this time will commit to uphold fundamental organizational values and stringent safety practices that demonstrate their commitment to protecting those in their care from abuse.