CHILD PROTECTION

OUR COMMITMENT

We are proud and respectful of the trust parents place in our YMCA. A safe environment for children combined with quality programming is an important part of our focus on youth development, healthy living, and social responsibility.

The YMCA of Auburn-Lewiston serves over 5,000 members, with many participants under the age of 18. We provide licensed childcare, after school enrichment, summer camp, and youth sports programs to those living in and around Oxford and Androscoggin counties. We place great value on providing the most child-safe environment possible and creating an atmosphere where children can grow and thrive.

CREATING A CHILD SAFE ENVIRONMENT

All YMCA staff members are trained in abuse prevention. Employees trained in abuse prevention are more likely to understand their role as a protector, to recognize the signs that abuse is occurring, and to report suspicious or inappropriate behaviors. Trained staff members are also less likely to place themselves in situations where they could be falsely accused.

Policies exist to ensure staff and volunteers are not alone with a child. All interactions between a staff member or volunteer and a child must be observable and interruptible. We take the following steps to keep children in our programs safe:

Detailed employment application forms.
Comprehensive reference checks that include standardized questions that assess risk for abuse.
Criminal Offender Record Information (CORI) and Sexual Offender Registry Information (SORI) check.
All staff complete an extensive Child Abuse Prevention Training Program.
Staff and volunteers are mandated to report any suspected child abuse.
Staff are prohibited from working 1-on-1 with or contacting youth outside the Y.

KNOW, SEE, AND RESPOND

➡️ KNOW:
Information About Abuse

Emotional: Threatening a child or using words that can hurt a child’s feelings and self-esteem, or withholding love and support.
Physical: Causing injuries to a child on purpose, such as bruises, burns, scars, broken bones, etc.
Sexual: Having sexual contact in any form with a child, including exposing, fondling, intercourse, pornography, or internet solicitation.
Negligent: Not providing children with enough food, clothing, shelter, medical care, hygiene, supervision, etc.

➡️ SEE:
Warning Signs of Child Abuse

Unkempt or malnourished appearance.
Unexplained bruises, welts, or burns.
Disrupted sleeping or eating patterns.
Abrupt changes in behavior, anxiety, clinging, aggressiveness, or withdrawal.
Sexually transmitted diseases and infections.
Discomfort with physical contact.
Fear of a certain person or place.
Fearfulness or depression.

➡️ RESPOND:
Take Action Against Abuse

Talk regularly to your child about his or her experiences in YMCA programs, school, sports, and other activities.
Drop in on your child’s programs.
Trust your instincts. Don’t wait to tell us if something seems strange. Speak up.
Listen & watch for signs of your child receiving special attention that other children or teens are not receiving.
Report instances of suspected child abuse using the links below.

📢 HOW TO REPORT

Report suspected child abuse in Maine:
1 (800) 452-1999
maine.gov

National Child Abuse Hotline:
1 (800) 422-4453
childhelp.org

Auburn Police Department:
60 Court St, Auburn, ME 04210
(207) 333-6650

Lewiston Police Department:
171 Park Street, Lewiston, ME 04240
(207) 513-3001

Suspected abuse can also be reported directly to our HR department by filling out an Anonymous Report:

KEEP TALKING WITH YOUR CHILD

Ask your child these questions periodically:

Is anyone scaring or threatening you?
Is anyone asking you to keep secrets?
Has anyone said anything to make you feel bad?
Is anyone touching you in a way you do not like?

EDUCATE your child about self-protection, including information about strangers, and good and bad touches.

LEARN to control the stress level of yourself and family members.

COMMUNICATE with your child and really listen to their concerns.

RECOGNIZE the fact that most abuse happens by people that children know and trust.

BECOME AWARE of your community resources.

KNOW where your children are and who their friends are.

TEACH your children it’s not okay to keep secrets from you, that they can always tell you the truth.

DOWNLOAD THE BROCHURE

Keep a copy of the information presented on this page – click here to download our Trifold Brochure PDF.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

Y USA Child Protection Website
https://www.ymca.org/what-we-do/youth-development/child-care/child-protection

6 Perpetrator Grooming Behaviors Every Parent Needs to Know
https://saprea.org/blog/6-perpetrator-grooming-behaviors/

Safeguarding Youth in Sports
https://www.praesidiuminc.com/safeguarding-youth-in-sports/

National Center for Missing and Exploited Children Cyber Tipline
https://www.missingkids.org/gethelpnow/cybertipline

U.S. Center for SafeSport Parents Page
https://uscenterforsafesport.org/parents/

YMCA of Auburn-Lewiston