Fanwood-Scotch Plains Y Joins Five Days of Action

The Fanwood-Scotch Plains YMCA is participating in the Five Days of Action from April 24-28, 2023. The Five Days of Action is a weeklong campaign to raise awareness and inspire adults to take action to protect children from sexual abuse. This week, the Y is asking individuals to take the pledge to protect, which can be found on their website, as well as launching an educational campaign on social media.

The Y encourages adults and organizations to join in marking this special week as we come together to make the community a safer place for children to live, learn, and play. With summer right around the corner—when children gather for activities and camps, it is a wonderful time to bring attention to the simple ways we can all make the children in our community safer.

“Our children have the right to a happy and safe childhood, and it's our responsibility as adults and organizations to stand up to protect that right,” said Diane Romond, Child Care Director at the Fanwood-Scotch Plains YMCA. “By joining in the Five Days of Action campaign, we hope to inspire other organizations and members of our community to create safe spaces that protect children from sexual abuse.”

The Know. See. Respond. campaign is back this year, tying in three impact areas – preventing child sexual abuse at both summer camp and in youth sports, and internet safety.

• KNOWing about child sexual abuse can help adults better understand what to look for and how to prevent it. As parents, caregivers, and trusted adults to the young people in our lives, we play an important role in protecting them from abuse. This requires our commitment to continually learn and then ask questions about the safety of our loved ones.
• When we SEE boundaries being crossed or suspect a child is being abused, we can and should act quickly. As a parent, caregiver, coach, or volunteer, it is up to you to make sure any environment in which children in your care interact is free from abuse.
• Did you know that you don’t need evidence to report abuse—only reasonable suspicion? But even for adults, reporting abuse is hard. We don’t want to falsely accuse someone or get someone in trouble. On the other hand, reporting might be the one thing that saves a child – or children – from abuse. It is our responsibility to RESPOND to any and all disclosure, discovery or suspicion of child sexual abuse.

For more information, visit ymca.org/fivedaysofaction.

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The Fanwood-Scotch Plains YMCA is dedicated to improving the quality of life of the individuals, families and communities it serves through programs and services that build wholeness of spirit, mind and body. The YMCA is a not-for-profit organization founded on Christian principles, serving people of all ages, races, faith, cultures and socio-economic conditions. For information please call the Fanwood-Scotch Plains YMCA at (908) 889-8880 or visit https://fspymca.org. Financial assistance is available for those who qualify.

The Fanwood-Scotch Plains YMCA is 501(c)3 organization with a GuideStar 2022 Platinum Seal of Transparency and a Four-Star Rating from Charity Navigator.