Kids & Family
Adults Step Up & Speak Out To Protect Children From Sexual Abuse
YMCAs promoting child protection during National Child Abuse Prevention Month
April 16-20, 2018
The Five Days of Action is a week in April designed to raise awareness and inspire adults to take action to protect children from sexual abuse.
During April and all year long, the YMCA of Western Monmouth County encourages adults and organizations in the community to play a vital role in making our communities a safer place for children. By encouraging adults to step up and speak out, we can bring awareness to the issue of child sexual abuse in our communities and foster conversations around how we can all work together to prevent it from happening.
Together, we can stand up to demand that children are protected and speak out to encourage adults to make it happen in our community. It takes all of us.
DAY 1
The YMCA of Western Monmouth County and the YMCA Guardians for Child Protection, with support from the YMCA of the USA, Darkness to Light, the Redwoods Group Foundation, and Praesidium have made materials available to help adults learn more about preventing sexual abuse.
Start today by downloading your printable commitment card here, then share it with two friends!
Find out what's happening in Freeholdfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
DAY 2
Decide to be present in the moment by putting aside distractions and observing interactions between your child and others. When overseeing your child’s activities, take notice of anything that makes you uncomfortable and be brave enough to speak up. You must take risks to protect children and speak up if boundaries are being crossed.
↓ Information for Parents of Young Children
DAY 3
Take time to tell your child it’s okay to say “no”, even it it’s to an adult. Tell them they can tell you anything and that you believe them. Make sure your child understands that no matter what has happened, they can share with you without fear of being blamed.
Find out what's happening in Freeholdfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
↓ Tips for Hiring Caregivers
DAY 4
Organizations should have a clear Code of Conduct for staff, volunteers, and older youth who work with children. Starting with your child’s school, ask for a copy of the Code of Conduct and mark rules that apply to child safety. See rules missing? Suggest them. Is the Code of Conduct tailored to the environment? Does it cover appropriate touch and one-on-one interactions? What happens if an individual violates the code?
↓ Tips for Protecting Youth
DAY 5
Talking openly about personal safety creates a protective bond between parent and child. You become the “go-to-parent” and lines of communication are opened. Teach your child proper names for body parts. Children who are educated about their bodies are better protected from sexual abuse. Find out how to have a talk about body safety and a checklist of how to start this conversation at www.fivedaysofaction.org
↓ Talking to Kids about Events in the News
By bringing awareness to the issue of child sexual abuse to your community, you are making a difference. By stepping up and speaking out against child sexual abuse, you are not only saving childhoods, but improving the lives of all of us.
