At the Y, the safety of the children and families in our care is always our top priority, whether at summer camp, at preschool, in before and after school programs, or at either of our branches.
Throughout the course of a year, we employ nearly 1,000 qualified and talented full and part-time staff. Each person is carefully screened and a thorough background check is completed. All Y staff are trained in the identification and prevention of child abuse.
Additionally, the Hamilton Area YMCA integrates a commitment to child safety in its program offerings to the Y community. This includes child abuse prevention and water safety — all designed to help each and every child fulfill their potential.
Child sex abuse remains a widespread problem impacting millions of children globally. Experts estimate that 1 in 10 children faces sexual abuse before reaching 18. Child Abuse Prevention aims to safeguard the well-being and future of our most vulnerable and youngest community members. The CAP Task Force collaborates to raise awareness and provide education on various issues, ensuring that parents and families can access trusted resources within our community.
Ensuring children are safe from abuse and able to learn, grow, and thrive is the highest priority of the YMCA. We are committed to creating programs that protect children from abuse, but we are also committed to providing our families and community with information to keep kids safe everywhere. It is the power of our community knowing, seeing, and responding that will make it more difficult for offenders to abuse.
The Hamilton Area YMCA is currently seeking a nationally recognized Praesidium Accreditation. Praesidium Accreditation is a standardized, consistent, and objective process that enables organizations to publicly demonstrate their commitment to preventing abuse.
Pursuing this Accreditation gives our YMCA access to best practices, written resources to strengthen prevention efforts, and consultation with experts.
Swim LessonsThe Y encourage a lifelong enjoyment of swimming - teaching more than one million kids per year swimming and water safety skills.The latest evolution of Y Swim Lessons accommodates varying abilities to help foster a sense of achievement as swimmers’ progress between levels. Through this approach, advanced swimmers flow more easily to higher levels while swimmers who need more instruction can learn at their own pace. This results in more confident swimmers who stick with lessons and develop a love for swimming that can last a lifetime.Safety Around Water ProgramLearning to be safe around water is a life skill. Today, fewer than half of all Americans say they know how to swim. The Safety Around Water program is designed to help change this reality. Learning to be safe around water builds a sense of achievement. Overcoming a fear of water and mastering skills in the pool build confidence and competence. Safety Around Water, like all Y programs, helps individuals reach their full potential.Safety Around Water is an independent program designed to reach children at risk of drowning and teach them basic water safety skills, but the skills it develops overlap with those taught in the Swim Basics stage of YMCA Swim Lessons. Students who complete Safety Around Water are prepared to transition directly into swim lessons to continue the learning.For more information about swim lessons or Safety Around Water at the Hamilton Area YMCA, please click here.
