A Culture of Safety
Providing a safe environment and creating a culture of safety for every person the Y connects with is essential to our mission, cause and viability as an organization. Since 2013, staff representatives from each of our Y locations have worked together to help minimize risks related to child safety. With support from Y-USA and resource partner Praesidium Inc., the YMCA of the Fox Cities continues to strengthen policies, staff training, program practices and facility procedures. The resources on this page are designed to help staff, volunteers and families understand our child safety practices and Child Abuse Prevention Policies.
Team-Based Prevention
Child safety is a shared responsibility across the YMCA of the Fox Cities. Corporate Leadership, supervisors, branch leaders, the Child Safety Committee members, staff and volunteers work together to maintain practices that protect children, families and everyone served by the Y. The Y encourages feedback and suggestions related to child safety practices and policies. Concerns or recommendations may be shared with a supervisor, Branch Executive Director, Leadership Team member, Human Resources, one of the Child Safety Committee members or using the Urgent Concern form.
Prevention Policies
Our Child Abuse Prevention Policies and Procedures outline expectations for supervision, appropriate interactions, monitoring and reporting. These documents include guidance for staff and volunteers related to physical contact, verbal interaction, one-on-one interaction, off-site contact, electronic communication and responding to suspected abuse. Staff and volunteers are expected to understand and follow these policies as part of their responsibility to protect children in Y programs. The full policy documents are linked below for review.
Child Safety Committee
The Child Safety Committee helps support safety practices and policies across YMCA of the Fox Cities programs and branches. Contact your supervisor, Branch Executive Director or one of the committee members below with suggestions or questions related to child safety.
Erin Brennan, Aquatics Director, HVY
Maureen Hatchell, Association Membership Director
Kevin Jakubek, Sports & Recreation Director, FWY
Meaghan Johnson, Arts & Humanities Director, NMY
Allison McGinnis, Early Childhood Program Partner
Ross Mortensen, School Age Director, APY
Danielle Pickering-Polzin, Director, Camp Nan A Bo Sho
Michelle Sorenson, Human Resources Generalist, Corp
Tom Wendt, Executive Director, APY
Safety Resource Library
Volunteer & Youth Sports Policies
Includes Volunteer Child Abuse Prevention Code of Conduct and Youth Sports, Volunteer Child Abuse Prevention Code of Conduct.
Unsanctioned Off-Site Contact Activity Waiver
The YMCA of the Fox Cities policy is that staff/volunteers may not be with children they meet or become acquainted with as a result of their employment/volunteering with the YMCA of the Fox Cities outside of the YMCA. This includes, but is not limited to babysitting, sleepovers, driving or riding in cars, and inviting children to their homes. Exceptions require advanced administrative approval using the Unsanctioned Off Site Contact Activity Waiver. If approved, employees/volunteers may not represent themselves as employees/volunteers of the Y or as working for the Y when engaging in this type of activities.
Child Safety FAQs
Child safety is essential to the YMCA of the Fox Cities mission and to every program, facility and community relationship. These resources help staff and volunteers understand expectations and comply with Child Abuse Prevention Policies.
Child safety is supported through a team approach involving corporate leadership, supervisors, branch leaders, Child Safety Committee members and all staff and volunteers. The Y works with Y-USA and Praesidium Inc. to strengthen safety practices.
Staff and volunteers can review the policy documents linked on this page, including Child Abuse Prevention Policies, staff and volunteer codes of conduct, youth sports volunteer policies and reporting procedures.
Staff are mandated reporters and must follow YMCA procedures and applicable state reporting requirements. If a child is in immediate danger, call 911; otherwise, follow the Reporting Suspected Child Abuse procedures and notify the appropriate supervisor or leader.
Suggestions or questions related to child safety may be shared with a supervisor, Branch Executive Director, the Child Safety Committee member, or by using the Urgent Concern form.
