know, see, respond

The Burbank Community YMCA is committed to the development, health and well-being of children and youth in our care.  Any form of physical, emotional, mental or sexual abuse will not be tolerated.  We have instituted policies, procedures, training and supervision requirements to create an organizational culture focused on the protection of all children and youth involved in YMCA programs and activities.  For more information about our Child Abuse Prevention Policy, please contact your Program Director.

What Children Can Do*

• I KNOW my name, address, telephone number, and my parents’ names.
• I always CHECK FIRST with my parents or the person in charge. I tell them before I go anywhere or get into a car, even with someone I know.
• I always CHECK FIRST with my parents or a trusted adult before I accept anything from anyone, even from someone I know.
• I always TAKE A FRIEND with me when I go places or play outside.
• I SAY NO if someone tries to touch me or treat me in a way that makes me feel scared, uncomfortable, or confused.
• It’s OK to SAY NO, and I KNOW that there will always be someone who can help me.
• I KNOW that I can TELL my parents or a trusted adult if I feel scared, uncomfortable, or confused.

I am STRONG, SMART, and have the RIGHT TO BE SAFE.

What Teens Can Do*

• Caution - Don’t go out alone.
  • There is safety in numbers. This rule isn’t just for little kids; it applies to teens, too.
• Communication - Always tell an adult where you’re going.
  • Letting someone know where you’ll be at all times is smart. If you are faced with a risky situation or get into trouble, your family and friends will know where to find you.
• Confidence - Say no if you feel threatened.
  • If someone—anyone—touches you in a way that makes you feel uncomfortable, you have the right to say no. Whether it is pressure about sex, drugs, or doing something that you know is wrong, be strong and stand your ground.

What’s Appropriate at the Y Between Staff and Children?

• Pat on the shoulder
• Side hugs
• High fives
• Handshakes
• Helping to put on sunscreen (with parent’s permission)
• Positive reinforcement
• Appropriate jokes
• Encouragement
• Praise

What’s Not Appropriate at the Y Between Staff and Children?

• Kissing
• Back rubs
• Piggyback rides
• Wrestling/roughhousing
• Shoulder rides
• Touching areas where swimsuits cover
• Name-calling
• Secrets
• Cursing
• Inappropriate jokes
• Shaming/belittling
• Mean comments
• Inappropriate conversations
• Harsh language

What Do You Do If You See Someone Break the Rules?

There are several things you can do if a YMCA staff member or volunteer breaks the rules or violates your boundaries:

1. Tell your parent or guardian.
2. Talk privately with any staff member who you feel comfortable talking to.
3. Contact either Bryan Snodgrass (Chief Operating Officer), Rob Rodriguez (Director of Marketing & Social responsibility), or Angela Barlow (Senior Director of Child & Youth Development) at 818-845-8551—you can remain anonymous if you wish.

For more information about the Burbank Community YMCA’s efforts to prevent child abuse, please contact member support at 818-845-8551

*Adapted by,

The Burbank Community YMCA

Source: Adapted, by permission, from National Center for Missing & Exploited Children, Personal safety for children: a guide for parents. (Online) Available: http://www.missingkids.com/

The Burbank Community YMCA is committed to the development, health and well-being of children and youth in our care.  Any form of physical, emotional, mental or sexual abuse will not be tolerated.  We have instituted policies, procedures, training and supervision requirements to create an organizational culture focused on the protection of all children and youth involved in YMCA programs and activities.  For more information about our Child Abuse Prevention Policy, please contact your Program Director.

How to Talk to Your Child-Tips for Discussing Child Safety*

Who?   A parent is the best person to teach a child about personal safety.

What? Effective personal safety skills:

• Smart thinking
• Strong character
• Sticking together

When? Now; Age and maturity matter:

• There is no perfect age when parents should begin teaching children about personal safety.
• A child’s ability to comprehend and practice safety skills is affected by age, educational, and developmental levels.

How?

• LISTEN to your children.
  • Know your children’s daily activities and habits.
  • Listen to what they like and what they don’t like.
  • Encourage open communication. Let your children know they can talk to you about any situation.
  • Reassure your children that their safety is your number one concern.
  • TEACH your children.
    • Set boundaries about places they may go, people they may see, & things they may do.
    • Reinforce the importance of the buddy system.
    • It’s OK to say no—tell your children to trust their instincts.
  • GET INVOLVED
    • Know where your children are at all times.
    • Your children should check in with you if there is a change in plans.
    • There is no substitute for your attention and supervision.
  • PRACTICE safety skills with your children.
    • Rehearse safety skills so that they become second nature.

What You Can Do to Help Your Child-Tips for Parents to Help Their Children Stay Safe*

Safety at Home

• Children should know their full names, home phone numbers, and how to use the telephone. Post your contact information where your children will see it—office phone number, cell phone number, pager number, and so on.
• Children should have a trusted adult to call if they are scared or have an emergency.
• Choose babysitters with care. Obtain references from family, friends, and neighbors. Once you have chosen the caregiver, drop in unexpectedly to see how your children are doing. Ask your children how the experience with the caregiver was and listen carefully to their responses.

Safety in the Neighborhood

• Make a list with your children of their neighborhood boundaries, choosing significant landmarks.
• Interact regularly with your neighbors. Tell your children whose homes they are allowed to visit.
• Don’t drop your children off alone at malls, movie theaters, video arcades, or parks.
• Teach your children that adults should not approach children for help or directions. Tell your children that if an adult approaches them, they should stay alert because the adult may try to trick them
• Never leave children unattended in a vehicle. Children should never hitchhike or approach a car when they don’t know and trust the driver.
• Children should never go anywhere with anyone without getting your permission first.

Safety Away From Home

• Be careful when you put your child’s name on clothing, backpacks, lunch boxes, or bicycle license plates. If a child’s name is visible, it may put them on a first-name basis with an abductor.
• Walk the route to and from your child’s favorite places (school, neighborhood friends, YMCA, and so on), pointing out landmarks and safe places to go if someone is following them or they need help. Make a map with your children showing acceptable routes (to school, to the YMCA), using main roads and avoiding shortcuts or isolated areas. If your children take a bus, visit the bus stop with them and make sure they know which bus to take.

Safety at School

• Be careful when you put your child’s name on clothing, backpacks, lunch boxes or bicycle license plates. If a child’s name is visible, it may put them on a “first name” basis with an abductor.
• Walk the route to and from school with your children, pointing out landmarks and safe places to go if they’re being followed or need help. Make a map with your children showing acceptable routes to school, using main roads and avoiding shortcuts or isolated areas. If your children take a bus, visit the bus stop with them and make sure they know which bus to take.

Signs of Abuse

The first step in helping abused or neglected children is learning to recognize the signs of child abuse and neglect. The presence of a single sign does not prove child abuse is occurring, but a closer look at the situation may be warranted when these signs appear repeatedly or in combination.

The following signs may signal the presence of child abuse or neglect.

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

The Child:

• Shows sudden changes in behavior or school performance
• Has not received help for physical or medical problems brought to the parents' attention
• Has learning problems (or difficulty concentrating) that cannot be attributed to specific physical or psychological causes
• Is always watchful, as though preparing for something bad to happen
• Lacks adult supervision
• Is overly compliant, passive, or withdrawn
• Comes to school or other activities early, stays late, and does not want to go home

At the Burbank Community YMCA, we take every suspicion or allegation of abuse seriously, and we will fully cooperate with authorities.  This policy requires that all YMCA staff and volunteers report any reasonable suspicion of child abuse to their direct supervisor. Moreover, all mandated reporters are additionally required to report reasonable suspicion to a reporting agency. The reporting agency will determine the accuracy of the report. YMCA volunteers will receive training in Child Abuse Prevention and are encouraged to report any reasonable suspicion.

All YMCA staff and volunteers are required to complete abuse prevention training annually.

Youth to youth abuse is also not tolerated at our YMCA.  This also includes any bullying behavior: aggressive behavior that is intentional, repeated over time, and involves an imbalance of power and strength.  Like adult to child abuse, youth to youth abuse can occur in many forms:

A. Physical bullying—hitting kicking, punching, restraint, etc.

B. Verbal bullying—belittling or calling hurtful names

C. Nonverbal or relational bullying—social exclusion, friendship manipulation, gossip or intimidation

D. Cyberbullying—sending threatening or inappropriate messages or images, pretending to be someone else to make another youth look bad, hazing, sexualized messages or images, etc.

Anyone who sees bullying and encourages it or does not report it is engaging in bullying.  This policy applies to all youth, staff members, and volunteers.

What Do You Do If You Suspect Abuse?

There are several things you can do if a YMCA staff member or volunteer breaks the rules or violates your boundaries:

1. Tell your parent or guardian.
2. Talk privately with any staff member who you feel comfortable talking to.
3. Contact either Bryan Snodgrass (Chief Operating Officer), Rob Rodriguez (Director of Marketing & Social responsibility), or Angela Barlow (Senior Director of Child & Youth Development) at 818-845-8551—you can remain anonymous if you wish.

We encourage all of our parents to observe any program where your child is enrolled! 

For more information about the Burbank Community YMCA’s efforts to prevent child abuse, please contact member support at 818-845-8551

*Adapted by,

The Burbank Community YMCA

Source: Adapted, by permission, from National Center for Missing & Exploited Children, Personal safety for children: a guide for parents. (Online) Available: http://www.missingkids.com/

Protecting children in our programs is our top priority. Burbank Community YMCA provides a safe and nurturing environment for children and teens who participate in our programs throughout Burbank. We maintain rigorous procedures and policies related to hiring, training and supervising staff, and caring for children of all ages.

Screening and Hiring – All new hires go through a comprehensive interview process, three reference checks, fingerprinting, a criminal background check, and a sex offender record check.

Training – All staff members complete extensive child abuse prevention training programs and receive education on creating a child-safe environment. Staff members renew training every year.

Volunteers – Volunteers who will have ongoing interactions with children or young adults also complete thorough background checks and receive abuse prevention training.

Policies and Procedures – We maintain rigorous policies and procedures which are enforced at all locations to ensure that children are supervised at all times and no single staff person is every alone with a child. 

Prevention – Burbank Community YMCA engages with Praesidium, a team of experts in child abuse prevention, to assess all aspects of our programs and implement best practices.  In addition, our YMCA has regular board oversight of our child protection practices per our Y-USA Charter for Child Protection and Aquatic Safety.

Reporting – If any staff member or volunteer suspects, or becomes aware of, any inappropriate behavior toward a minor, they are to report the incident immediately.

Parents as Partners – We consider parents/guardians as our partners in protecting children. As an ongoing practice, we invite parents to review our written standards and to engage with us in the care and development of their children.