Child Protection
Our Commitment to Child Safety and Protection
Safeguarding children and young people is our highest priority at the YMCA. We want them to feel safe and be safe at the YMCA, in their families, and in their communities.
YMCAs in Canada have collectively committed to the safety and protection of all children and young people participating in all aspects of our programs. The National Child Safety and Protection Initiative is the YMCA’s coordinated effort for ensuring safety standards in our programs through ongoing policy, training, supervision requirements, reporting protocols, and facility controls.
EDIB Commitment
Commitment to equity, diversity, inclusion and belonging:
We are committed to promoting equity, diversity, inclusion and belonging in all aspects of our Child Safety and Protection Policy to ensure that every child is treated with respect and dignity.
We recognize that children come from diverse families, including single-parent households, blended families, same-sex parents, adoptive families, foster families, and families with different cultural, linguistic, and religious backgrounds. We acknowledge that family diversity is a strength and enriches children’s lives. Therefore, we strive to create a safe and inclusive environment that celebrates family diversity and promotes positive relationships among children, families, and staff.
We recognize that children come from diverse backgrounds, with different experiences, cultures, beliefs, and abilities. We also acknowledge that some children may be at higher risk of harm due to various factors, such as socio-economic status, gender, race, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity and disability. Therefore, we strive to provide a safe and inclusive environment for all children, regardless of their background.
We also recognize that our staff, volunteers, and partners play a critical role in ensuring the safety and well-being of children. Therefore, we are committed to providing ongoing training and support to our staff and volunteers to ensure that they have the necessary knowledge, skills, and attitudes to recognize and respond to child safeguarding concerns in an equitable, diverse, and inclusive manner.