The Metropolitan YMCA of the Oranges is participating in the Five Days of Action, a week-long campaign April 24-28 to raise awareness and inspire adults to take action to protect children from sexual abuse.
The Y, with branches in Hardyston and Stillwater, will share statistics and resources throughout the week and invite members to take the pledge to protect children from sexual abuse.
It encourages adults and organizations to join in marking this special week and 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.
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.
“The children in our communities 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 Richard Gorab, president and chief executive of the Metropolitan YMCA of the Oranges. “By joining in the Five Days of Action’s ‘Know. See. Respond.’ campaign, we hope to inspire other organizations and members of our communities to create safe spaces that protect children from sexual abuse.”
The Metro YMCA of the Oranges, with support from the YMCA Champions for Child Protection, YMCA of the USA, Darkness to Light, Redwoods Group Foundation, Monique Burr Foundation for Children and American Camp Association, have made materials available to help adults learn more about preventing child sexual abuse.
For information about preventing child sexual abuse, go online to ymca.org/fivedaysofaction
Child Sexual Abuse Statistics, provided by Darkness to Light:
• One in 10 children will be sexually abused before their 18th birthday.
• 90 percent of child sexual abuse victims know their abuser.
• About a third of children who are sexually abused are abused by family members.
• 86 percent of child sexual abuse and assault is unreported.
• False reports are rare. Research shows that less than 5 percent of child sexual abuse reports are fabricated.
What to do if you believe that a child is being abused:
• You do not need to have proof that abuse is occurring to make a report, only reasonable suspicion. Reasonable suspicion means that you have witnessed maltreatment or boundary violations, either in the child or adult or both. Or you have received a disclosure from a child about abuse, neglect or boundary violations toward them.
• Child sexual abuse reports should be made to the police and/or state child protective services.
• Contact the Darkness to Light Helpline at 866-FOR-LIGHT or text LIGHT to 741741 to have questions answered by trained counselors at no charge.