How to Get Involved
1. Register your organization to participate in Five Days of Action.
2 Download the toolkit. Note: If you are NOT a YMCA and are taking part in the Five Days of Action, please email [email protected] for access to the toolkit.
3. We pledge to protect the children we serve, and hope you will too! Download a printable version of the 2025 Five Days of Action Pledge Card!
At the Y, we believe ALL children deserve the opportunity to discover who they are, and what they can achieve.
Help Prevent Child Abuse
At the Y, we believe ALL children deserve the opportunity to discover who they are, and what they can achieve. Every day, we are proud and respectful of the trust parents and communities around the country place in the Y. From youth sports to day and overnight summer camp; from out-of-school time to preschool; our Ys work to ensure your children have a safe, fun filled experience.
At the Y, child protection is our number one priority year-round. During April–Child Abuse Prevention Month–we participate in a week-long campaign called Five Days of Action to increase awareness of child sexual abuse and empower and equip our communities to prevent it. By taking part in this important campaign and through implementing abuse prevention practices year-round, we can all commit to the safety of all children in our care.
The Know. See. Respond. campaign continues and Praesidium, Saprea, and Lauren's Kids have shared resources to support this campaign.
We pledge to protect the children we serve, and hope you will too! Click the link below to download a printable version of the 2025 Five Days of Action Pledge Card!
Know. See. Respond.
During these Five Days of Action, we introduce the foundational habits of child sexual abuse prevention—Know. See. Respond. When put into practice, they help us create safer environments for children to grow and learn.
Know: Knowing about child sexual abuse can help us better understand what to look for and how to keep it from happening in the first place. For example, did you know that 1 in 10 children in the U.S will be sexually abused before their 18th birthday?
See: When we know the signs of abuse, we can intervene on behalf of children.
Respond: If you suspect abuse, are you ready to respond? Do you know when and how to report suspected child abuse? Follow the link below to find your state’s child protection agency.
KNOW
When evaluating camps, sports, and other activities for your child, do you KNOW what questions to ask about abuse prevention? As parents, caregivers, and trusted adults, we play a vital role in protecting children and teens from abuse. Learn the key questions to ask from Praesidium, the YMCA's partner in child abuse prevention.
SEE
When we SEE grooming patterns—methodical, subtle, gradual, and escalating behaviors used to groom a child for sexual abuse—we can identify them, strengthen our intuition, and protect children. Learn the 6 grooming behaviors every parent or caregiver needs to know and what to do if you see them, from our partner, Saprea.
RESPOND
RESPONDing starts when a child or teen feels heard and is helped. How can you take action to prevent child sexual abuse? The Trusted Triangle (for younger children) and the Safety NETwork (for older youth) are strategies from Lauren’s Kids Safer, Smarter Families Family Safety Toolkit. These resources are designed to help families and caregivers teach personal and digital safety in a comfortable and accessible way.
Other Resources
Together, we can help prevent child sexual abuse. Take a look at some of these helpful resources from other organizations who share the Y’s commitment to the safety of children.
Educational Videos and Information for Parents & Caregivers by Praesidium
- Abuse Prevention Introduction
- Recognize Abuse and it’s Warning Signs
- How to Talk to Youth About Abuse
- How to Respond to Child Abuse
- 6 Key Questions a Parent Should Ask of a Camp