Our Mission

Professional Staff

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Hours of Operation

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

Age Guidelines

Child Abuse Prevention

Financial Assistance

We Heard You Campaign

Our Commitment to Child Protection

  • As a youth-serving organization, our most important work is to create safe environments for all youth in our programs and community. Ensuring the safety and well-being of young people is at the foundation of everything we do at the West Morris Area YMCA.

How We Create Safe Spaces for Children and Teens:

  • As an organization, we have taken the following actions to keep kids safe in our Y facility and programs.
  • All Y’s in the U.S. are required to implement child sexual abuse protection practices and policies to remain a member in good standing with the National Council of YMCAs. 
  • These requirements include:
    • Screening: All new employees and volunteers undergo a background check prior to hiring and they must provide at least three references.
    • Training: All YMCA staff and volunteers undergo extensive child abuse prevention training through online and in-person courses, and are required to renew their training on an annual basis. The objective of this training is to impart knowledge on unacceptable behavior, as well as to educate on how to recognize indicators of abuse.
    • Reporting: In addition to requiring all staff and volunteers to report child abuse in accordance with applicable law, all allegations of sexual abuse or victimization of minors involving Y staff, volunteers, members, or participants must be reported to appropriate authorities.
    • Raptor Visitor Management System: This system instantly screens visitors against registered sex offender databases in all 50 states and alerts Y staff of a potential match found, allowing Y staff to prevent them from accessing our YMCA facilities.

YMCA Zero Tolerance Policy

The West Morris Area YMCA has as zero tolerance for abuse and will not tolerate the mistreatment or abuse of youth in its programs. Appropriate and respectful interactions with program participants and YMCA staff are essential to having a successful experience. If behavior becomes unmanageable or is threatening to the well-being of others, the YMCA reserves the right to dismiss any staff, volunteer, or participant.

There is an Anonymous Reporting Box for Inappropriate Behavior in our exit vestibule. All patrons of the Y have the right to report allegations or suspicions of abuse.

The Facts about Child Sexual Abuse

  • 1 in 10 children are sexually abused before their 18th birthday.
  • 60 million adult survivors of childhood sexual abuse are walking among us; 80 percent never reported their abuse
  • In 90% of cases, the child knows and trusts the abuser.
  • More than 70% of children who are sexually abused are abused by a peer.
  • Survivors of child sexual abuse have a higher likelihood of psychological disorders, excessive drug and alcohol use, eating disorders, suicidal tendencies, and violence.
  • Approximately 30% of children who are sexually abused are abused by family members.
  • False reports are rare. Research shows that less than 5% of child sexual abuse reports are fabricated.

Know. See. Repond

  • The Know. See. Respond. campaign are foundational habits of child sexual abuse prevention. When put into practice, they help us create safer environments for children to grow and learn.   
    • KNOW: Knowing about child sexual abuse can help us better understand what to look for and how to keep it from happening in the first place. For example, did you know that 1 in 10 children in the U.S will be sexually abused before their 18th birthday?
    • SEE: When we know the signs of abuse, we can intervene on behalf of children.
    • RESPOND: If you suspect abuse, are you ready to respond? Do you know when and how to report suspected child abuse? Follow the link below to find your state’s child protection agency.

How to Report Abuse

  • You do not need proof that abuse is occurring to make a report, only reasonable suspicion. Reporting child sexual abuse is key to preventing and intervening in abuse.
  • If you need to report an emergency situation involving child sexual abuse, please call 911.
  • Otherwise, please contact the appropriate local and state authorities to report suspected incidents of child sexual abuse.

The West Morris Area YMCA has a desginated Praesidium Guardian.  This allows our organization to publicly demonstrate their commitment to abuse prevention and assist situation.

  • To make an anonymous call to the Praesidium helpline for confidential expert consultation for your abuse prevention questions and issues, please call 866-607-7233.
  • Hotline 1-877-NJABUSE or 1-877-652-2873
  • DCF Website
  • See our reporting box in the exit vestibule of the YMCA

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