The Associated Press published an article over the weekend about the child protection efforts by national youth serving organizations including the YMCA. The article specifically mentions the work local YMCAs are doing to increase awareness and educate adults in the community.
Like Big Brothers Big Sisters, the YMCA of the USA relies on its locally run affiliates to implement and enforce child-protection policies, although the national office provides support and guidance.
“Our Y’s have to be diligent on this issue every second of every day,” said Kent Johnson, the national Y’s chief operating officer.
Johnson said about 40 YMCA affiliates are expanding their efforts by working with the Charleston, S.C.-based nonprofit Darkness to Light on programs aimed at raising awareness about sex abuse among adults with no direct connection to the Y. In Delaware, the program has gone statewide, with a goal of training 35,000 people.
“If we’re going to protect kids, we have to engage everyone in their community,” said Cindy McElhinney, director of programs at Darkness to Light.
Read the full article is available here.
With 40 Ys and growing, D2L and The Redwoods Group Foundation, the charitable arm of a progressive risk management provider and social enterprise, are providing tools, resources and funding assistance to help YMCAs operationalize wide spread community awareness and education. Click here for more information about this unique collaboration.
