ZERO TOLERANCE STATEMENT 

The Lake County YMCA has Zero Tolerance for abuse and will not tolerate the mistreatment or abuse of youth in its programs. Any mistreatment or abuse by a staff member or volunteer will result in disciplinary action, up to and including termination of employment or volunteer service. Further, the YMCA will cooperate with law enforcement and child protective services throughout the investigation and resolution of mistreatment or abuse incidents. 

Additionally, the Lake County YMCA has zero tolerance for abuse, mistreatment, or sexual activity among youth within the YMCA. The YMCA is committed to providing all youth with a safe environment and will not tolerate the mistreatment or abuse of one youth by another youth. Conduct by youth that rises to the level of abuse, mistreatment, or sexual activity will result in intervention or disciplinary action, up to and including, dismissal from the program. 

Furthermore, the YMCA will not tolerate any behavior that is classified under the definition of bullying, and to the extent that such actions are disruptive, the YMCA will take the necessary steps to eliminate such behavior. 

VERBAL/ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATION 

• Staff/Volunteers will respond to children with respect and consideration and treat all children equally, regardless of sex, sexual orientation, race, religion, culture, economic level of the family, or disability.
• Profanity, inappropriate jokes, sharing intimate details of one’s personal life, and any kind of harassment in the presence of children, parents, volunteers, or other staff is prohibited.
• The YMCA prohibits access, display, production, possession, or distribution of pornography on the organization's property or equipment or during any organization-associated activity.
• Using the YMCA computers to access pornographic sites, send e-mails with sexual overtones or otherwise inappropriate messages, or develop online relationships is strictly prohibited.
• At NO TIME will staff/volunteer show pornographic material, either physically or electronically to a child or involve a child in pornographic/inappropriate activities.
• Staff/Volunteers will not initiate personal calls/text messages with or receive personal phone calls/text messages from youth. A call/text message is considered personal if it does not involve both a Y phone and/or a Y-specific subject matter. When staff/volunteers receive calls/text messages from youth on non-Y phones and/or regarding a non-Y subject, this must be immediately reported to a supervisor.
• Staff/Volunteers must not share any personal e-mail addresses or instant message names or nicknames with youth. Staff/ Volunteers should not initiate or respond to email or instant messages from youth while using any personal (non-Y) connection to the internet.
• Use of social networking sites to communicate with youth is only permitted if done through a Y-sponsored or approved site. No personal blog or social networking site should be used. Any website or blog maintained by staff/volunteers should not have pictures of or refer to any youth, and staff/volunteers should not request or accept to be linked as ―friends or connections with youth via social networking sites.
• Communication between staff/volunteers and youth should only be through Y e-mail accounts and phones.

PHYSICAL CONTACT

Staff/Volunteers should not abuse children in any way, including:

• Physical abuse – striking, spanking, shaking, slapping and so on;
• Verbal abuse – humiliating, degrading, threatening, and so on;
• Sexual abuse – touching or speaking inappropriately;
• Mental abuse – shaming, withholding kindness, being cruel, and so on;
• Neglect – withholding food, water, or basic care.

No type of abuse will be tolerated and may be cause for immediate dismissal.

• Staff/Volunteers must use positive techniques of guidance, including competition, comparison, and criticism.
• Staff/Volunteers will have appropriate age expectations and set up guidelines and environments that minimize the need for discipline. Physical restraint is used only in predetermined situations (when necessary to protect the child or other children from harm), administered only in a prescribed manner, and must be documented in writing.
• Staff/Volunteers will respect children’s rights not to be touched or looked at in ways that make them feel uncomfortable, and their right to say ”NO”. Other than diapering, children are not to be touched in areas of their bodies that would be covered by a bathing suit.
• Staff/Volunteers will refrain from intimate displays of affection toward others in the presence of children, parents, and staff.
• Staff /Volunteers may not be alone with children they meet in YMCA programs outside the YMCA. This includes babysitting, sleepovers, driving or riding in cars, and inviting children to their homes. Any exceptions, e.g., previous relationship established, require a written explanation prior to and are subject to Director approval. 

DAILY HEALTH MONITORING

• Staff/Volunteers will conduct a health check of each child upon his or her arrival each time the program meets, noting any fever, bumps, bruises, burns, and so on. Questions or comments will be addressed to the parent or child in a nonthreatening way. Staff/Volunteers will document any questionable marks or responses. 

APPEARANCE/HEALTH

• Staff/Volunteers must appear clean, neat, and appropriately attired.
• Staff/Volunteers must be free of physical and psychological conditions that might adversely affect children’s physical or mental health. If in doubt, an expert should be consulted.

ALCOHOL, TOBACCO, AND FIREARMS

• Using, possessing, or being under the influence of alcohol or illegal drugs during working hours is prohibited and smoking or use of tobacco in the presence of children or parents during working hours is prohibited.
• Possession or use of any kind of weapon or explosive device is prohibited. 

GIFT GIVING AND GIFT ACCEPTANCE 

• Staff/Volunteers are prohibited from giving excessive or high-value gifts (e.g., televisions, video games, jewelry) to youth participants. If an employee wishes to express appreciation through a gift, the value of the gift must not exceed $10 per individual. Additionally, any such gift must be distributed equally to all youth participants within the program. 
• Program participants, volunteers, and other adults shall not give excessive or high-value gifts (e.g., cash, electronics, jewelry) to youth program participants. While small tokens of appreciation are permitted, the value of each gift must not exceed $10. Additionally, any such gift must be distributed equally to all youth participants within the program to ensure fairness and consistency. 
• At times, it may be challenging to decline gifts from participants or their families. In recognition of this, the association permits the acceptance of small tokens of gratitude from participants and/or their families, provided the monetary or in-kind value does not exceed $50. To ensure transparency and consistency, all such gifts must be reported to the staffs’/volunteer’s immediate supervisor or a designated administrator. Under no circumstances may staff/volunteers accept cash or monetary gifts. 
• This gift policy should be clearly communicated in materials provided to participants and their families. If a participant or family member offers a gift that exceeds the allowable value of $50, the staff/volunteer must kindly decline the gift and refer to this policy. They may also encourage the individual to speak directly with a supervisor or designated administrator for clarification. 
• Artwork or letters of appreciation created by participants may only be accepted if they are to be displayed in a shared, public area within the organization. These items may not be removed from the premises or taken to staff/volunteers’ homes or other personal locations. 

OTHER

• Staff/Volunteer will portray a positive role model for youth by maintaining an attitude of loyalty, patience, courtesy, tact, and maturity.
• Staff/Volunteer will act in a caring, honest, respectful, and responsible manner consistent with the mission of the YMCA. • Staff/Volunteer should not give excessive gifts (e.g., TV, video games, jewelry) to youth.
• Staff/Volunteer may not date program participants, staff or volunteers who are under the age of 18.
• Under no circumstances should staff volunteers release children to anyone other than the authorized parent, guardian, or other adult authorized by the parent or guardian (written parental authorization on file with the YMCA).

MONITORING/SUPERVISION 

To protect YMCA employees and program participants, employees are not permitted to be alone with a child during YMCA programs in any setting where they cannot be observed by others. Staff must maintain appropriate spacing and positioning to ensure visibility at all times. One-on-one interactions are permitted only under authorized and approved circumstances.

• Staff/Volunteer shall never leave a child unsupervised.
• Staff/Volunteer will make sure that the restroom is not occupied by suspicious or unknown individuals before allowing children to use the facilities.
• Staff/Volunteer will stand outside the doorway of the single rest room while the child is using the rest room. This policy allows privacy for the children and protection for the staff (not being alone with a child). Children may not enter a public restroom with multiple stalls alone. Staff/Volunteers may enter with the children, using the rule of threes. Staff must not enter the stall with a child.
• If staff/volunteer assists younger children, doors to the restrooms must remain open.
• No child, regardless of age, should ever enter a bathroom alone on a field trip or any other off-site location.
• Always send children in groups of three (known as the rule of threes) and, whenever possible, with an employee. Any circumstances that require one-on-one interactions must be authorized and approved.
• Staff/Volunteers should conduct or supervise private activities in pairs – diapering, putting on bathing suits, taking showers, and so on. When this is not feasible, staff/volunteers should be positioned so that they are visible to others.
• Staff/Volunteers are not to transport children in their own vehicles or allow youth participants old enough to drive to transport younger children in the program. 

REPORTING 

• Staff/Volunteers must follow the Ohio Mandated Reporter Law as outlined in Ohio Revised Code 2151.421.
• When there is suspicion of child abuse, report it immediately to your supervisor. Your supervisor will assist you in making any necessary reports to the authorities.
• If your supervisor is unavailable (or inappropriate) you should report to the Branch Executive, Human Resources, the CEO or any other member of management.
• A member of YMCA management will confirm the facts reported as well as talk with the child. When the suspicion is for sexual abuse, no one should interview the child. Child protective services should be called immediately by the YMCA staff member with the assistance of a member of YMCA management.
• In the event the reported incident involves an employed YMCA staff person or program volunteer, the responsible YMCA executive should, without exception, suspend the person from all activities involving supervision of children.
• Regardless of where or under what circumstances the alleged incident takes place, if an employed staff person is involved, it will be considered as job related and could affect job performance.
• Reinstatement of a staff person or program volunteer will occur only after all allegations have been cleared to the satisfaction of the YMCA executive responsible and the investigating agency.
• All staff/volunteers will be sensitive to the need for confidentiality in handling information in this area and will be instructed to discuss matters pertaining to the abuse or suspected abuse only with the appropriate YMCA director.
• Staff/Volunteers may not contact children or parents involved in alleged child abuse incidents. Any contacts/questions from the media should be referred to the YMCA Director of Marketing & Communications. Staff must not be involved in this area.
• Staff/Volunteers must report to a supervisor any other staff or volunteer who violates any of the policies listed in this Code of Conduct.

Staff/Volunteers are required to read and sign all policies related to identifying, documenting, and reporting child abuse and attend training on the subject.

At the Lake County YMCA, we believe everyone has a role to play in protecting children. That’s why we encourage our community to embrace the three key habits of child abuse prevention:

KNOW

Know how to recognize boundary violations and how offenders operate. It’s up to us as adults to do all we can to prevent child sexual abuse and create safe environments for children. Teaching children about their bodies, recognizing warning signs, and responding to any concerns are important first steps. Even very young children can learn some skills to help keep themselves safe from sexual abuse, but it’s up to parents to help them learn what they need to know. 

SEE

Keep your eyes and ears open for signs of abuse and talk with your child, asking them about your concerns. If something is wrong, you may see a sudden change in your child’s behavior, or you may hear unusual comments. If you see or hear these things, follow up. Find a relaxed time to talk with them.

RESPOND

If you see warning signs from your child or you hear about something that sounds like abuse, report it immediately.

If your child tells you about sexual abuse or inappropriate behavior, your response plays a big role in how your child understands abuse and how he/she recovers.

1. Stay calm.
2. Comfort your child.
3. Listen carefully.
4. Ask for examples.
5. Do not threaten or criticize the person your child is accusing.
6. REPORT CONCERNS OR RULE VIOLATIONS

Child predators break rules to gain privacy, access, and a relationship with children. People who do not follow child safety rules put all children at risk.

WHAT ARE “RED FLAG BEHAVIORS?

• Violations of Code of Conduct
• Allowing children to sit on his/her lap
• Tickling, wrestling, or touching that seems odd
• Giving participants gifts
• Being one-to-one with a child where they are not visible and interruptible by others
• Violations of rules/boundaries in general with children
• Neglecting or leaving children unsupervised
• Touching participants in their bathing suit area
• Contacting minors via phone, online or in person outside of the Y
• Accessing/referencing child pornography
• Taking pictures of minors on his/her personal devices
• Making excuses as to why the rule violation is okay
• ANY GUT FEELING REGARDING THE WAY AN ADULT IS INTERACTING WITH MINORS.

When we commit to these habits every day, we create a strong, proactive culture of safety—one where children are empowered, adults are vigilant, and every space becomes safer for youth to grow, thrive, and reach their full potential.

Let’s work together to make protection part of our daily practice.

Facts about Child Sexual Abuse

• 1 in 4 girls and 1 in 6 boys will be sexually abused before they turn 18.
• 90% of offenders are known by their victim or their victim’s family.
• 1 in 10 public school children, accounting for 4.5 million students, have experienced sexual misconduct by an educator.
• There are more than 60 million survivors of child sexual abuse in America; 80% never reported their abuse.
• Child abuse costs the United States approximately $103 billion per year.

Victims of sexual abuse are:

• 3x more likely to suffer from depression.
• 4x more likely to contemplate suicide.
• 13x more likely to abuse alcohol and 26x more likely to abuse drugs.
• 40x more likely to experience marital problems.
• More likely to suffer physically, with an increased risk of heart disease and obesity.

Source: Praesidium

Online Resources for Parents & Caregivers

Videos 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

Education and Training

• Darkness to Light
• U.S. Center for SafeSport
• U.S. Department for Justice - Online Safety for Youth

Other Resources

• CDC Child Abuse & Neglect Prevention
• Child Help Hotline
• Committee for Children
• Common Sense Media
• Create a Family Safety Plan
• Hot Chocolate Talk: Child Abuse Prevention
• ODJFS: What is Abuse & Neglect Factsheet
• Tips for Protecting Youth
• Tips for Talking with Youth

At the Lake County YMCA, we are committed to protecting children and ensuring their safety. If you suspect abuse, it’s your responsibility to take action. You do not need proof of abuse, only reasonable suspicion, to make a report.

Emergency Situations

If a child is in immediate danger, please call 911 right away.

Report Suspected Child Abuse

• Call the Child Abuse Hotline at 855-O-H-CHILD (855-642-4453)

• Contact local or state police authorities

• Share your concern with a YMCA employee, supervisor, or person in charge

• Anonymous Reporting: Call the Praesidium Helpline at (855)-347-0751