The Y 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.
Our staff and volunteers will exhibit the highest ethical best practices and personal integrity and provide a professional work environment that is free from physical, psychological, written, or verbal intimidation or harassment.
Our staff and volunteers will not physically, sexually, or emotionally abuse or neglect a youth or adult.
Our staff and volunteers will share concerns about suspicious or inappropriate behavior with their supervisor or administrator and also report any suspected abuse or neglect of a youth to the state authorities.
Our staff and volunteers will accept their personal responsibility to protect youth and adults from all forms of abuse. The following policies are intended to assist staff and volunteers in making decisions about interactions with youth. For clarification of any guideline, or to inquire about behaviors not addressed here, contact your supervisor or volunteer coordinator.
In addition, the Y will not tolerate the mistreatment or abuse of one child by another child, including any behavior that is classified under the definition of bullying (definition below), and to the extent that such actions are disruptive, we will take the necessary steps to eliminate such behavior. Anyone who sees an act of bullying, and who then encourages it, is engaging in bullying. This prohibition applies to all children, staff, and volunteers.
The Y empowers parents. We desire that, if a parent/guardian observes violations of these procedures or any other red flags, that the parent/guardian bring their concerns to the site leadership. If they feel their concerns are not addressed appropriately, we ask them to bring their concern to the attention of the branch Executive Director. Staff shall respond to parents, children and each other with respect and consideration and treat all children equally regardless of sex, race, religion, disability, color, national origin, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law.
Abuse of any kind will not be tolerated, and confirmed abuse will result in immediate dismissal from this Y. The organization will fully cooperate with authorities if allegations of abuse are made that require an investigation.
The Conduct with Youth outlines specific expectations of staff and volunteers as we strive to accomplish our mission together.
Appropriate Physical Interactions, Verbal Interactions, and Communication
The Y’s physical contact procedures promote a positive, nurturing environment while protecting children and staff. The Y encourages appropriate physical contact with children, including between children, and prohibits inappropriate displays of physical contact. Any inappropriate physical contact by staff towards children in the YMCA’s programs will result in disciplinary action, up to and including termination of employment. Appropriate and inappropriate physical interactions at the Y are:
Appropriate Physical interactions
- Side hugs
- Shoulder-to-shoulder or “temple” hugs
- Pats on the shoulder or back
- Handshakes
- High-fives and hand slapping
- Verbal praise
- Pats on the head when culturally appropriate
- Touching hands, shoulders, and arms
- Arms around shoulders
- Holding hands (with young children in escorting situations)
Inappropriate Physical Interactions
- Full-frontal hugs
- Kisses
- Showing affection in isolated area
- Lap sitting
- Wrestling
- Piggyback rides
- Tickling
- Allowing a child to cling to an employee’s or volunteer’s leg
- Any type of massage given by or to a child
- Any form of affection that is unwanted by the child or the staff or volunteer
- Compliments relating to physique or body development
- Touching bottom, chest, or genital areas, i.e. any area covered by a bathing suit
Staff shall also refrain from intimate displays of affection towards others in the presence of children, parents, and staff.
Child-to-child sexual behaviors can include inappropriate touching, exposing body parts, using sexualized language, making threats of sexual activity, engaging in sexual activity, and similar types of interactions. All of these activities are prohibited at the Y.
Furthermore, staff and volunteers are prohibited from speaking to a child in a way that is, or could be construed by any observer, as harsh, coercive, threatening, intimidating, shaming, derogatory, demeaning, or humiliating. Staff and volunteers shall not initiate sexually oriented conversations with children. Staff and volunteers are not permitted to discuss their own sexual activities with children. Appropriate and inappropriate verbal interactions at the Y are:
Appropriate Verbal Interactions
- Positive reinforcement
- Appropriate jokes
- Encouragement
- Praise
Inappropriate Verbal Interactions
- Name-calling
- Discussing sexual encounters or in any way involving child in the personal problems or issues of staff and volunteers
- Secrets
- Cursing
- Off-color or sexual jokes
- Shaming
- Belittling
- Derogatory remark
- Harsh language that may frighten, threaten or humiliate child
- Derogatory remarks about the child or his/her family
Expectations of Staff and Volunteers
- Youth will be treated with respect at all times.
- Youth will be treated fairly regardless of race, sex, sexual orientation, age, gender, gender identity, religious preference, or any other dimension of diversity.
- Staff and volunteers will adhere to uniform best practices of displaying affection as outlined by the organization.
- Staff and volunteers will avoid affection with youth that cannot be observed by others.
- Staff and volunteers will adhere to uniform best practices of appropriate and inappropriate verbal interactions as outlined by our Y.
- Staff and volunteers will not stare at or comment on youths’ bodies.
- Staff and volunteers will not date or become romantically involved with youth.
- Staff and volunteers will not use or be under the influence of alcohol or illegal drugs in the presence of youth.
- Staff and volunteers will not have sexually oriented materials, including printed or online pornography, on our Y’s property.
- Staff and volunteers will not have secrets with youth and will only give gifts in accordance with Y policies.
- Staff and volunteers will comply with our Y’s policies regarding interactions with youth outside of our programs.
- Staff and volunteers will adhere to Y policies regarding electronic communication and social media with youth.
- Staff and volunteers will adhere to Y policies regarding working one-on-one with youth in a private setting.
- Staff and volunteers will not abuse youth in anyway including (but not limited to) the following:
- Physical abuse: hitting, spanking, shaking, slapping, unnecessary restraints
- Verbal abuse: degrading, threatening, cursing
- Sexual abuse: inappropriate touch, exposing oneself, sexually oriented conversations
- Mental abuse: shaming, humiliation, cruelty
- Neglect: withholding food, water, shelter
- Our Y will not tolerate the mistreatment or abuse of one youth by another youth. In addition, our Y will not tolerate any behavior that is classified under the definition of bullying, and to the extent that such actions are disruptive, we will take steps needed to eliminate such behavior. Anyone who sees an act of bullying, and who then encourages it, is engaging in bullying. This policy applies to all youth, employees, and volunteers.
Reporting
Visit Our Abuse Prevention Page for Direct Reporting Links
The YMCA of Metropolitan Detroit has zero tolerance for abuse and will not tolerate the mistreatment or abuse of youth in its programs. Any mistreatment or abuse by an employee or volunteer will result in disciplinary action, up to and including termination of employment or volunteer service and cooperation with law enforcement.
Allegation of Abuse means a grievance submitted by a YMCA member and/or program participant or someone on their behalf stating that the member and/or program participant has been abused or neglected in any setting of the individual’s life.
In the event that there is an accusation of child abuse, even if it occurred off Y property, the Y will take prompt and immediate action.
If staff or volunteers witness child on child abuse, they shall:
- Immediately separate them and calmly explain that the behavior is not allowed.
- Notify their supervisor immediately. In some cases, depending on the severity or frequency of this behavior, discipline shall follow. And, depending on the situation, the supervisor and their staff may need to also report this to CPS or the police.
If staff witness staff-on-child abuse, staff shall:
- Interrupt the wrong behavior.
- Redirect those involved, showing the staff and child the right behavior or recommending a new, appropriate activity.
- Report the incident to your supervisor. Staff also have the option of reporting misconduct on the Y’s confidential site Syntrio Lighthouse, or through the confidential reporting portal on the internal Child Protection Landing Page.
At first report or probable cause to believe that child abuse has occurred, even outside the YMCA by a child’s caregiver or others, the staff or volunteer shall report the incident to the program director. The program director shall notify their Executive Director, Human Resources, and Risk Management via email within 24 hours of notification by staff or volunteer.
Staff shall complete an online YMCA incident report via Origami in detail within 24 hours of first report or suspicion of abuse. In addition to an internal report, staff are also expected to report this to the appropriate authorities at Child Protective Services, also within 24 hours, and cooperate to the extent of the law with any legal authority involved.
The parents or guardian of the child(ren) involved in the alleged incident shall be promptly notified by program leadership unless the allegation is directed at the parent or guardian.
If the suspected or reported child abuse allegation involves a staff or volunteer, the Y may take action even when the alleged incident takes place away from the Y. Reinstatement of the staff person or volunteer will occur only after all allegations have been cleared to the satisfaction of Association leadership staff.
All reports of suspicious or inappropriate behavior with children or allegations of abuse shall be taken seriously. The Y will fully cooperate with authorities if allegations of abuse are made and investigated. Any staff or volunteer is expected to cooperate to the fullest extent possible in any external investigation by outside authorities or internal investigation conducted by the Y or persons given investigative authority by the Y. All Y staff shall be sensitive to the need for confidentiality in handling of this information. Failure to cooperate fully may be grounds for termination.
Staff Training on Child Abuse Prevention
The YMCA is committed to preventing child abuse at the YMCA!
All YMCA staff and volunteers are assigned training on child abuse prevention upon hire and again annually. In addition, programs that serve children regularly receive more frequent re-training on child abuse prevention.