Commitment to Youth and Child Safety

To keep children in our programs safe we take the following steps in our intensive screening of staff and volunteers:

• Detailed application forms
• Comprehensive interview process 
• Detailed reference checks
• Criminal background and sex offender record checks
• Internet searches 
• Social Security traces

All staff members complete a child abuse prevention training program within their first 30 days of employment. All staff members and volunteers are mandatory reporters of any suspicion of child abuse in accordance with NJ State Law*. All staff members and volunteers receive and sign an actionable code of conduct.

Comprehensive Child Protection policies are in place and enforced to ensure staff & volunteers are never alone with a child. In addition, we ensure that staff & volunteers do not develop relationships with children outside of our facilities and programs. Staff & volunteers are prohibited from being one-on-one with a child outside of the YMCA (i.e. babysitting). Parents are encouraged to express concerns to staff members in charge or a Program Director. All interactions with adults and children at our Y are designed to be observable and interruptible.

If you have any concerns about how your child is being treated in any Madison Area YMCA program, please contact: 

Kathy Martini, VP, Human Resources/Risk Management: 973-437-9560

Kim Buccheri, VP, Programs: 973-822-9622, x2268

Joe Gonsalves, VP Member & Support Services: 973-822-9622, x2242

Kare Matrisciano, Executive Director, F.M. Kirby Children’s Center: 973-377-4945, x3227

• One in ten children will be sexually abused before their 18th birthday.
• 90% of child sexual abuse victims know their abuser.
• Approximately 30% of children who are sexually abused are abused by family members.
• 60% of child sexual abuse victims never tell anyone.
• False reports are rare. Research shows that only 4 to 8% of child sexual abuse reports are fabricated.

 Statistics provide by Darkness to Light.

• You do not need to have proof that abuse is occurring to make a report, only reasonable suspicion. Reasonable suspicion means that you have witnessed maltreatment or boundary violations, either in the child or adult, or both. Or, you have received a disclosure from a child about abuse, neglect, or boundary violations towards them.
• Child sexual abuse reports should be made to the police and/or state child protective services.
• Contact the Darkness to Light Helpline at 866-FOR-LIGHT or text LIGHT to 741741 to have questions answered by trained counselors at no charge.

Provided by Darkness to Light.

Darkness to Light is a nonprofit organization with the mission to empower adults to prevent child sexual abuse through awareness, education, and stigma reduction. Darkness to Light’s flagship program, Stewards of Children®, is an evidence-informed, award-winning training that teaches adults to prevent, recognize, and react responsibly to child sexual abuse. More than 1.9 million adults have been trained using Darkness to Light trainings. For more information, visit www.D2L.org.