YMCA of Northern Colorado & Southern Wyoming

For the well-being of our community.

At the YMCA, we value the safety of all children and vulnerable populations. That’s why we’ve partnered with Praesidium and dedicated extensive resources to promoting awareness within our community. 

Our priority is to provide a safe and welcoming environment for everyone who enters our facilities. 

Reporting Child Abuse:

*All reports are made to the state/county where the abused resides.

We have a multi-tiered approach to protecting vulnerable populations. This includes: 

  • Regular background checks, screenings and reference checks of all YMCA and Inspire Preschool staff.

  • Policies across programs and facilities that prioritize monitoring and supervision of vulnerable individuals. 

  • A zero-tolerance policy for registered sex offenders, with regular checks against the National Sex Offender Public Website (NSOPW). Individuals listed on this registry are subject to restrictions or termination of their membership, program participation, and/or access to YMCA facilities.

  • Staff training on abuse prevention, recognition, intervention, and legal reporting responsibilities.

  • All YMCA staff are mandated reporters. We provide comprehensive training on recognizing signs of abuse, understanding legal obligations, and fulfilling mandated reporting responsibilities. This training ensures our staff are equipped to act swiftly and appropriately to protect children.

  • Age-appropriate education for children about safe and unsafe situations, and guidance for adults on creating safe environments. We provide adults with the knowledge and resources to create safe environments for children and to take appropriate action if they have concerns.

  • Policies and processes designed to reduce the risk of abuse in our YMCA communities.

  • Inclusive environments with safeguards in place when making accommodations for participants with unique needs. It is a priority to maintain abuse prevention protections for those vulnerable populations. 

  • Local and national partnerships that expand our network of abuse prevention resources. 

Our commitment to abuse prevention is aligned with our core values: caring, honesty, respect, responsibility and inclusion. These values are embedded in our work, programs, and business practices, and serve as guiding principles. You can learn more about our core values and how we impact our community here.

Together

Together, we can make a difference.

By empowering adults and youth with the tools to recognize and address potential risks, we can work together to build a community where every child feels safe. We ask all parents and guardians to join us in this collective effort. Together, we can support every child having a safe environment that nurtures their potential and protects their mental, physical, and emotional health.

As an organization ingrained in community development and youth programs, we have a responsibility to educate the community to increase awareness of child abuse, equip adults with the knowledge to recognize and respond appropriately, and foster a culture where children are safe and supported. When adults collectively recognize the risks and warning signs of child abuse, they can take meaningful steps to protect children. Through proactive efforts, abuse can be prevented.

National Statistics

  • 1 in 4 girls and 1 in 13 boys in the U.S. are estimated to experience child abuse.
  • An estimated 633,000 children in the U.S. were victims of child maltreatment in 2022.
  • For every instance of child abuse that’s reported, an estimated two incidents go unreported.
  • In 90% of cases, the child knows and trusts the abuser.

Colorado Statistics

  • 8 children in every 1,000 in Colorado experience abuse (2022).
  • Colorado had nearly 110,000 referrals for child abuse in 2022.
  • The Colorado Child Abuse Hotline has received more than one million calls since 2015.

Wyoming Statistics

  • 6.3 children in every 1,000 in Wyoming experience abuse.
  • 87% of child maltreatment perpetrators are parents of the child
  • In 2023, over 2000 reports of abuse met the Wyoming criteria for investigation and required additional assessment by the State. 

About Praesidium inc.

Praesidium is a national leader in sexual abuse prevention, with over 30 years of dedicated experience. They empower organizations with the knowledge and resources needed to create and maintain safe environments for children and vulnerable adults. Visit www.praesidiuminc.com to learn more.

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