Commitment to Youth and Child Safety

At the Madison Area YMCA, creating a safe, supportive environment is one of our highest responsibilities—and one we take seriously every day.

We are proud to share that the Madison Area YMCA has earned Praesidium Accreditation®. This accreditation publicly demonstrates that the Madison Area YMCA has achieved the highest industry standards in child safety and abuse prevention.  This accreditation applies to all Madison Area YMCA programs and operations, across all facilities and locations, both onsite and offsite. This includes our Family Center, the F.M. Kirby Children’s Center, and programs operating beyond our walls—such as camp sites and offsite aquatic facilities. It reinforces our unwavering commitment to safety and to protecting those in our care wherever YMCA programs are delivered. This recognition reflects a rigorous process and our organization-wide commitment to prevention-focused practices, staff training, accountability, and continuous improvement. Most importantly, it reinforces what we want every member and family to know: 

The Y is a safe space—and you belong here. 

Thank you for trusting the Madison Area YMCA. We are honored to serve your family and remain committed to keeping safety at the center of all we do. 

Child-Safe Environment

We are proud and respectful of the trust parents place in our YMCA. A safe environment for children combined with quality programming is part of our focus on youth development, healthy living, and social responsibility. Our Four Core Values of caring, honesty, respect, and responsibility are part of everything we do. We place great value on providing the most child-safe environment possible and creating an atmosphere where children thrive.

Know the Facts

We pledge to protect the children we serve—and we hope you will, too. 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...

One in ten children will be sexually abused before their 18th birthday. 90% of child sexual abuse victims know their abuser. 60% of child sexual abuse victims never tell anyone. These statistics (provided by Darkness to Light) are staggering and hard to read.

Let's prevent it together. Learn the facts and how you can keep kids safe at Child Sexual Abuse Statistics - Darkness to Light (d2l.org).

Working Together For Safety

TALK to your child about his or her experiences in school, in sports, in YMCA programs, and in any other activities.

DROP IN on your child’s programs.

TRUST your instincts. Don’t wait to tell us if something seems “strange.” Speak up!

WATCH for warning signs of abuse: • Unexplained bruising or other physical markings • Disturbed sleeping or eating patterns • Abrupt changes in behavior-anxiety, clinging, aggressiveness, withdrawal, depression • Fear of a certain person or place • Discomfort with physical contact • A child who abuses other children

LISTEN AND WATCH for signs of your child receiving special attention that other children or teens are not receiving. This may include favors, treats, gifts, rides, increasing affection or time alone, particularly outside the activities of school, childcare, or other activities.

ASK your child these questions: • Is anyone scaring or threatening you? • Is anyone asking you to keep secrets? • Has anyone said anything to you to make you feel bad? • Is anyone touching you in a way that you don’t like?

Care You Can Count On - Safety Child Protection Policies

Our YMCA’s first steps to safety focus on screening and hiring, training/education, supervision as well as performance management and feedback systems.

The Madison Area YMCA is proud to share that we have earned Praesidium Accreditation®, demonstrating the highest industry standards in child safety and abuse prevention. Thank you for trusting the Y as a safe space for children and families.