The Redwoods Group Insurance Program for YMCAs
Risk Management Alert
Topic: Breaking News, Child Abuse
A man who was a staff member of a local YMCA and a clergyman in a local Catholic Church has been prominent in the national news for sexually molesting a group of young men. Many indictments have been filed against him, and the possible number of victims may be as high as 200. Because of the national media coverage this series of events has generated, it is likely that you or your staff will receive questions from concerned parents regarding the precautions your YMCA uses to ensure that similar misdeeds will not be perpetrated upon their children when they are in your care. It is important for you and your staff to be prepared to address these concerns and reinforce the adequacy of your YMCA's policies and procedures, without commenting on the specifics of this event. Here are a few areas in which most YMCAs excel which would be reassuring to parents:
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Hiring/Screening Practices for staff and volunteers
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Reinforce the extent to which backgrounds and references are checked
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Discuss the ratios of children to workers your YMCA and/or the state requires
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Discuss your institutional protocols for the oversight of childcare workers
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The YMCA of the USA Code of Conduct speaks well to issues like not allowing one-on-one contact, off-site contact (i.e., babysitting), etc.
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Your use of the control desk for access/exit and your sign in and sign out procedures are key protections. |
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Constant diligence by parents, volunteers, and staff coupled with an active, easy feedback mechanism are crucial to enable early intervention when there are suspicious activities.
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The past does not guarantee the future, but most YMCAs can point to their long history of child-care safety with great pride.
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It is always appropriate to reexamine the precautions you have for these kinds of threats. We are always ready to help you assess the adequacy of your current approach. Some prudent procedures include:
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All volunteers should complete a volunteer application form, have documented references checked, and be thoroughly interviewed by the person(s) operating the program.
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Do not allow any person to solicit for any programs on the YMCA property without prior approval from the YMCA.
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Make certain that your parents know that they should check with the YMCA prior to enrolling their child in any program at the YMCA.
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Please call us at 800-463-8546 if you would like to discuss any Risk Management safety tips, or visit our web site at www.redwoodsgroup.com to learn more about YMCA risk management related issues. We would appreciate any feedback you might have to offer concerning this article. Please click here to send your feedback.
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