The Merrimack Valley YMCA is marking Child Abuse Prevention Month with Five Days of Action, April 22-26, 2019. In addition to Healthy Kids Days®–a national initiative to improve the health and well-being of kids–Five Days of Action focuses on preventing child abuse by sharing tips on how adults can prevent child abuse.

During April and all year long, the Merrimack Valley YMCA encourages adults and organizations in the community to play a vital role in making the Merrimack Valley a safer place for children. This year’s Five Days of Action theme is “Know. See. Respond.” When adults know how abuse happens, see the warning signs, and respond quickly to prevent abuse, they foster a culture of child abuse prevention. Together, we can bring awareness to the issue of child sexual abuse in our communities and have important conversations around how we can all work together to prevent it from happening.

“Protecting children from sexual abuse must be the number one goal of every person who cares about the health and well-being of kids,” said Anne Whalen, Executive Director of Camping Services at the Merrimack Valley YMCA. “Together, we can stand up to demand that children are protected and encourage adults to make it happen in our community. It takes all of us.”

The Merrimack Valley YMCA will have information available on this important initiative during our Healthy Kids Day activities, which are scheduled to take place at the Andover/North Andover YMCA from April 14-20^th, at the Lawrence YMCA on April 20^th, and Methuen YMCA on April 27^th.

The Merrimack Valley YMCA and the YMCA Guardians for Child Protection, with support from YMCA of the USA, Darkness to Light, the Redwoods Group Foundation, and Praesidium have made materials available to help adults learn more about preventing child sexual abuse.

For more information about preventing child sexual abuse visit www.fivedaysofaction.org or the Child Protection and Resources page on our website. 

Materials are derived from YMCA of the USA’s “Know. See. Respond.” copyrighted in 2019.

• One in ten children will be sexually abused before their 18^th
• 90% of child sexual abuse victims know their abuser.
• Approximately 30% of children who are sexually abused are abused by family members.
• 60% of child sexual abuse victims never tell anyone.
• False reports are rare. Research shows that only 4 to 8% of child sexual abuse reports are fabricated.

• 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 towards 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.