April is Child Abuse Prevention Month. As part of the Greater Joliet Area YMCA’s commitment to protecting the children in our community, we’re participating in Five Days of Action® – a week-long campaign to increase awareness of child sexual abuse and empower and equip us all to prevent it. By taking part in this important campaign, and implementing abuse prevention practices year-round, we are committing to the safety of all children in our community.
The Know. See. Respond. campaign is back this year, and Praesidium, Saprea, and Lauren’s Kids have shared resources to support this campaign.
Know
When evaluating camps, sports, and other activities for your child, do you KNOW what questions to ask about abuse prevention? As parents, caregivers, and trusted adults, we play a vital role in protecting children and teens from abuse. Learn the key questions to ask from Praesidium, the YMCA’s partner in child abuse prevention, by clicking here.
See
When we SEE grooming patterns—methodical, subtle, gradual, and escalating behaviors used to groom a child for sexual abuse—we can identify them, strengthen our intuition, and protect children. Our partners from Saprea have put together a list of 6 grooming behaviors every parent or caregiver needs to know and what to do if you see them.
Respond
RESPONDing starts when a child or teen feels heard and is helped. How can you take action to prevent child sexual abuse? The Trusted Triangle (for younger children) and the Safety NETwork (for older youth) are strategies from Lauren’s Kids Safer, Smarter Families Family Safety Toolkit. These resources are designed to help families and caregivers teach personal and digital safety in a comfortable and accessible way.
We take our commitment to child protection seriously and we hope you do too.
The Greater Joliet Area YMCA is excited to announce a Winter Swim Lesson Sale!
Dive into a world of possibilities with the Y’s Adaptive Water Fitness program, where every splash counts and every stroke is a step towards confidence, independence, and a healthier lifestyle. This new water fitness program is designed for individuals of all abilities, ages 13 and up, who may benefit from an alternative form of movement.
Join the YMCA for a morning of joy, support, and celebration as we create a welcoming space for swimmers of all abilities. Designed to be inclusive and accommodating for kids with diverse sensory needs and their families, YMCA Sensory-Friendly Swims will feature a quiet environment with no music and little-to-no whistle use by our lifeguards. The water features in the Family Pool will also be turned off during this time.