At the Summit Area YMCA, safety is not just a priority, it is a promise we make to every child, teen, and family who walks through our doors. Creating a safe, supportive environment is foundational to who we are, and we hold ourselves to the highest standards so young people can grow, learn, and thrive without fear.
Families trust us with their children, and we honor that trust with steadfast commitment. By partnering with parents, maintaining transparent policies, and fostering a culture of vigilance and care, we help ensure the well-being of every child in our programs.
At the Summit Area YMCA, safety isn’t an initiative. It’s a promise that we uphold every day so that all children can discover their strengths, build confidence, and reach their fullest potential.
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 SAY 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 the SAY’s successful implementation of these standards. The SAY 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.
We treat safety as a responsibility shared from the top down and across every program, branch, and team. All YMCA staff and volunteers undergo extensive screening including background checks and sex-offender registry searches, along with annual training that reinforces best practices, prevention strategies, and clear boundaries. Our culture is built on transparency, accountability, and mandatory reporting so that no concern ever goes unanswered.
We embrace third-party assessments, accreditation, and continuous improvement to ensure that our practices remain strong, current, and effective. Every staff member, whether they teach swim lessons, coach youth sports, lead after-school programs, or greet families at the front desk, has a role in keeping kids safe.
Safety is our Promise
Protecting children is the heart of our mission. We believe every child deserves to feel supported, encouraged, and safe as they discover their full potential.
Prevention is Proactive
We work every day to prevent harm before it happens through well-defined policies, ongoing training, and open communication with families. We set firm boundaries across all programs so no young person is ever left unprotected.
High Standards for Every Y
As part of YMCA of the USA, we follow rigorous national requirements, including regular audits, third-party oversight, background checks, and robust abuse-prevention procedures that exceed common standards in youth-serving fields.
Accountability at Every Level
Safety is everyone’s job. From leadership to frontline staff, we respond to all allegations or concerns swiftly, transparently, and with zero tolerance for abuse.
Below are some with practical tools for parents and caregivers to strengthen awareness, build trust, and empower children to speak up.
Offenders rely on access, privacy, and control to harm children. Understanding how these dynamics show up in everyday life helps parents stay aware and proactive.
Who interacts with your child at school, sports, camp, or activities?
Are staff and volunteers screened? Are visitors supervised?
During sleepovers or playdates, who else will be in the home?
Are coaches or leaders ever allowed alone time with your child?
Do program staff communicate directly with children outside of scheduled activities?
After an event, is any adult ever one-on-one with a child?
These behaviors may indicate grooming or inappropriate relationships:
Physical: excessive touching, hugging, tickling, lap-sitting, massages.
Emotional: favoritism, gift-giving, secrecy, over-sharing personal information, or possessiveness.
Behavioral: encouraging rule-breaking, secrecy, sneaking around, exposure to inappropriate media, or introducing drugs/alcohol.
When something feels “off,” trust your instincts. Boundary violations are often the earliest warning signs.
Open, consistent conversation is one of the strongest tools for prevention. These discussions don’t need to be scary, just honest, age-appropriate, and woven naturally into everyday life.
Teach correct names for body parts so they can communicate clearly.
Explain that some parts of the body are private and only parents/caregivers should see them.
Clarify that doctors may examine them only when a trusted adult is present.
Reinforce boundaries:
If a child says “stop,” adults must listen.
They never need to hug or touch someone if they don’t want to.
Make it clear that secrets about bodies or touching are never okay and they should tell you right away.
Keep communication open—even about uncomfortable topics.
Discuss online safety:
Don’t accept requests from strangers.
Never send or share inappropriate photos.
Understand that digital conversations are not private.
Talk about relationships, friendships, and power dynamics.
Reinforce what boundary violations look and feel like.
Make sure they know you’re a safe, supportive adult they can talk to anytime.
If a child tells you something, hints at discomfort, or shows red flags, your response matters. Staying calm, supportive, and focused on their safety can make all the difference.
Keep your eyes and ears open.
Notice changes in behavior, new fears, secrecy, or unusual interactions between your child and an adult or older youth.
Talk with your child.
Ask open questions. Let them know you’re there to listen, not judge.
Ask about specific concerns.
“You seemed upset after practice today—can you tell me what happened?”
“Has anyone made you feel uncomfortable or confused?”
If you suspect abuse, call Child Protective Services or the police immediately.
It is always better to over-report than to stay silent with uncertainty.
If you observe boundary violations or inappropriate behavior:
Share your concerns with the supervisor, program leader, school administrator, or organization in charge.
If you cannot speak directly, report via email, phone, or an online reporting form.
Your willingness to speak up can prevent harm.
Praesidium Inc.
At Praesidium, their mission is to prevent the sexual abuse of children and vulnerable adults and to preserve trust in respected organizations. For more than 30 years, Praesidium’s experts have worked to prevent sexual abuse. For more information, visit www.praesidiuminc.com.
