Youth Protection Training

YOUTH PROTECTION TRAINING FOR VOLUNTEERS

Review the Youth Protection Training and then you will complete an assessment.

FACTS ABOUT CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE

WHO ABUSES CHILDREN?

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s study on Adverse Childhood Experiences, one in four females and one in six males will be sexually abused by the time they are 18 years of age.

Most children know their molesters. They meet them at camp, school, or day care; through sports programs; on the Internet; and in religious and community organizations.

Of all molestations that are committed:

  • 29% are by family members
  • 11% are by strangers
  • 60% are by someone else the child knows

EFFECTS OF ABUSE ON CHILDREN

Sexual abuse profoundly affects children. It affects how they think, how they feel, and how they act. And the effects can last a lifetime.

Adults who were molested as children often suffer from serious depression and have difficulty forming relationships. They are at higher risk to:

  • Have serious emotional problems
  • Be aggressive
  • Develop eating disorders
  • Abuse drugs and alcohol
  • Attempt suicide

EFFECTS ON THE VOLUNTEER IN AN ORGANIZATION

When abuse happens at a YMCA, everyone is affected. The volunteer may feel guilty or somewhat responsible that he or she may have let it happen, that he or she should have noticed, or that there were warning signs. When the story appears in the news, their friends and family will ask them about it. If it goes to trial, they may have to testify.

STEPS TO KEEP KIDS SAFE

  1. Understand How Molesters Operate

Offenders need three things in order to harm a child:

  1. Access
  2. Privacy
  3. Control
  4. Watch for the Warning Signs

Although not every adult who does these things is a molester, there are warning signs to watch for in adults:

  • Adults who are too physical with kids, such as they can’t keep their hands off of them.
  • Adults who play favorites, single out one or two children for special attention or give them gifts.
  • Adults who break the rules, such as spending time alone with a child, giving a child cigarettes or alcohol, or using inappropriate language.
  • Adults who let kids do things that parents would not permit.

There are also warning signs for children who might commit abuse:

  • Children who bully others.
  • Children who make sexual remarks or gestures.

PROTECT YOURSELF FROM FALSE ALLEGATIONS

WHAT IS A FALSE ALLEGATION?

A false allegation is when someone is accused of something he or she didn’t do.

Volunteers can do three things to protect themselves from false allegations:

  1. Follow the Youth Protection policies of the YMCA.
  2. Keep their boundaries with kids clear.
  3. Avoid situations where they are alone with a child.

IMPORTANT POLICY REMINDERS

  1. Volunteers should never do the following:
  • physical abuse – strike, spank, shake, slap
  • verbal abuse – humiliate, degrade, threaten
  • sexual abuse – inappropriate touch or verbal exchange
  • mental abuse – shaming, cruelty, etc.
  • neglect – withholding food, water, basic care, etc.
  1. Appropriate physical interactions include side hugs, high fives, pats on shoulder or back, handshakes, etc.
  2. Children over the age of five should not sit in a volunteer’s lap.
  3. Never leave a child unsupervised.
  4. Under no circumstance should a volunteer be alone with a single child where they cannot be observed by others.
  5. Volunteers should avoid private interactions with youth. This includes Facebook, Twitter, Snapchat, Instagram, chat rooms, blogs, online gaming, vlogs, etc. If a text message to a youth is necessary, try to include another adult figure in the text and make sure that the messages are not deleted.

** Please make sure that you review The Prattville YMCA Code of Conduct and the Youth Protection Manual as it has more in depth information on our policies and procedures.

RESPONDING

  1. In the event of a visual observation of abuse or another volunteer or staff member violating a Youth Protection Policy, immediately interrupt the behavior (if possible) and report the observation.
  2. In the event a child discloses abuse to you by another person, assure the child that disclosing the information that he or she was correct to tell you. Immediately report the information.
  3. Report the behavior to a supervisor or director immediately. If the report is about a supervisor or director, contact the next level of management. Reports and grievances can be made to the HR Director or CEO by contacting 365-8852. The Prattville YMCA is required to make reports to the appropriate authorities within 24 hours.
  4. Document the report but do not conduct an investigation.
  5. Keep reporting until the appropriate action is taken.