5 Days of Action

Join Five Days of Action® to Help Prevent Child Sexual Abuse, April 21-25

April is Child Abuse Prevention Month, and as part of our commitment to protecting the children in our community, we are participating in Five Days of Action® from April 21–25. This week-long campaign raises awareness of child sexual abuse and empowers individuals to prevent it. By engaging in this initiative and prioritizing abuse prevention year-round, we reaffirm our dedication to the safety and well-being of all children in our community.

This year, the Know. See. Respond. campaign returns with valuable resources from Praesidium, Saprea, and Lauren’s Kids to help educate and equip parents, caregivers, and trusted adults.     

Know

Do you know what questions to ask when evaluating camps, sports teams, or other youth activities? As a parent, caregiver, or trusted adult, you play a crucial role in protecting children from abuse. Understanding what to ask can make all the difference. Learn the key questions to ensure child safety from our partners at Praesidium: praesidiuminc.com/6-key-questions-a-parent-should-ask-of-an-organization.

See

Recognizing the signs of grooming behaviors is essential. Grooming is a methodical, subtle, and escalating process used by offenders to gain a child’s trust. By understanding these behaviors, we can strengthen our intuition and intervene when necessary. Learn about the six key grooming behaviors and how to take action from Saprea: saprea.org/blog/6-perpetrator-grooming-behaviors.      

Respond

Taking action starts when a child or teen feels heard and supported. How can you help prevent child sexual abuse? Lauren’s Kids provides family-friendly resources like the Trusted Triangle (for younger children) and the Safety NETwork (for older youth) to teach personal and digital safety in an accessible way. Explore their Safer, Smarter Families Family Safety Toolkit:      

• Grades K-2: safersmarterfamilies.org/grades-k-2
• Grades 3-5: safersmarterfamilies.org/grades-3-5      

At the Y, we take our commitment to child protection seriously. Learn more about our protection policies here.      

How the YMCA of South Hampton Roads Helps Protect Children

• Mandated Reporting: All of our child care staff are designated as mandated reporters. If a child discloses an incident or concerning behaviors, our staff are trained to notify Child Protective Services and make a report.       
• Training: All YMCA of South Hampton Roads staff undergo Child Abuse Reporting training as part of their onboarding to ensure they are equipped to recognize and respond to potential abuse.    
• The Rule of Three: Approximately 40% of sexual offenses against children are committed by other children. To enhance safety, we ensure that no staff member is ever alone with a child and that children are never left unsupervised in restrooms.    
• Partnerships: We partner with Praesidium, a leading expert in child abuse prevention, to provide training and best practices for our staff and community.     

Get Involved: Support Child Abuse Survivors

We are proud to partner with CHKD’s Child Advocacy Center to create friendship bracelets for children who have survived abuse. From April 22-25, stop by your local YMCA lobby to make a bracelet, take the pledge to protect children, and learn more about the vital work of CHKD’s Child Advocacy Center. Additionally, a representative from CHKD’s Child Advocacy Center will be available at the Blocker Family YMCA on Tuesday, April 22, from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m.

Together, we can take meaningful steps to prevent child sexual abuse and create a safer future for all children. Join us in this important movement.