Our Commitment to Child Safety
What the YMCA of MEWSA Does to Protect Children
- Screening - All new employees undergo a background check prior to hiring, and they must provide at least four references. All staff must also go through new checks on a biannual basis, or if they're returning to the Y after a 6-month break or transferring into a new licensed program. Our members and guests are also screened daily through Daxko's Trusted Screening Program that is integrated with the National Sex Offender Registry.
- Training - Comprehensive online and in-person child abuse prevention training is mandatory for all YMCA employees. The goal is to educate on inappropriate conduct, while also teaching the warning signs of abuse.
- Reporting - Should any allegations arise, the YMCA will proactively work with the authorities and all parties involved to respond in a prompt, thorough and empathetic manner.
- Policy - The YMCA of MEWSA maintains a zero tolerance policy towards child abuse and child endangerment, and staff are to report any questionable behavior they see, or violations of their Employee Code of Conduct.
Click here to view our Commitment to Child Safety
Share Child Safety Concern
Reporting signs of child sexual abuse or your child safety concerns is key in preventing and intervening in abuse. You do not need 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 towards them.
To report child abuse or child safety concerns, complete our Child Safety Concern Form at the link below. You can respond anonymously or with your contact information.

Praesidium's Helpline Dedicated to YMCAs
24/7 | 855.347.0751
Praesidium's Y Helpline provides employees, volunteers, parents and participants with a way to report suspicious or inappropriate behaviors and policy violations. Anonymously, if desired.
Y staff and volunteers can also use the helpline to ask specific and topical questions about child sexual abuse prevention and seek advice and guidance about abuse prevention best practices.
Note: This helpline does not replace any applicable mandated abuse and neglect reporting to state authorities and does not include legal advice.

If you have any concerns regarding treatment of a child in any YMCA of MEWSA program, please contact:
Rose Cushing, President and CEO at rose.cushing@ymcaofmewsa.org
Kathy Minaeff, Director of Human Resources at kathy.minaeff@ymcaofmewsa.org
Jennice Webb, VP of Child Care Operations at jennice.webb@ymcaofmewsa.org
Kyle Strohman, VP of Operations at kyle.strohman@ymcaofmewsa.org