At the Y, we believe ALL children deserve the opportunity to discover who they are, and what they can achieve.

For Happy, Healthy & Safe Kids

At the Westport Weston Family YMCA, we stand committed to providing a safe environment for everyone who enters our doors or participates in our programs, most importantly the safety and well-being of children entrusted to our care. Every day, we are proud and respectful of the trust parents and communities around the country place in the Y. From youth sports to summer camp; from out-of-school time to swim team; our Ys have a series of measures in place to keep kids safe and ensure your children have a safe, fun filled experience. The YMCA partners with numerous organizations to bring child abuse awareness and prevention to our communities. Through training sessions, community resources, and workshops, the Y educates its staff, volunteers and parents on how to recognize, prevent, and react responsibly to the reality of child abuse, emphasizing child safety and prevention is every adult’s responsibility. Our work is guided by the vision of a world where children can grow up happy, healthy, and safe.

WESTPORT WESTON FAMILY YMCA EARNS HIGHEST HONOR FOR ABUSE PREVENTION PRACTICES

The Westport Weston Family YMCA was recently awarded Praesidium Accreditation®, recognizing its adherence to the highest industry standards in abuse prevention. To achieve this accreditation, the Y underwent a comprehensive evaluation of its policies, staff screening and training, supervision practices, and overall safety protocols. Praesidium, a leader in abuse risk management, verified the Y’s successful implementation of these standards. This accreditation distinguishes the Westport Weston Family YMCA as an organization committed to maintaining a safe and secure environment for all members, particularly children and families. Keep reading to learn more about the WWFY’s child protection policies, prevention efforts and available resources. 

Five Days of Action

In today’s connected world, kids are spending more time in the digital space than ever – learning, playing, and communicating. With that comes the need for vigilance and awareness. That’s why the Westport Weston Family YMCA is taking part in the Five Days of Action®, a national movement to protect children from abuse and promote safety in all spaces where kids live, learn, and play. This year’s theme focuses on digital safety, empowering families with tools to help children navigate technology responsibly and safely.

Helping Kids Stay Safe in the Digital Space: WWFY Leads Five Days of Action®

In today’s connected world, kids are spending more time in the digital space than ever – learning, playing, and communicating. With that comes the need for vigilance and awareness. That’s why the Westport Weston Family YMCA is taking part in the Five Days of Action®, a national movement to protect children and promote safety in all spaces where kids live, learn, and play.

This year’s theme focuses on digital safety, empowering families with tools to help children navigate technology responsibly and safely. In 2026, the Y has partnered with Praesidium, National Center for Exploited and Missing Children, Lauren’s Kids, and National Children’s Alliance to offer additional resources for parents and caregivers. You’ll find all the partner resources below.

Recognizing Red Flags

Certain behaviors can signal risks and understanding them helps you act early to keep kids safe.

This infographic shows what to watch for—whether the behavior may be low, moderate, or high risk—and these behaviors can show up both in person and online situations. Visit nationalchildrensalliance.org/the-real-red-flags-of-grooming for more information on red flag behaviors from National Children’s Alliance.

Staying on Top of Digital Trends

From apps to gaming, staying on top of digital trends can be overwhelming. NCMEC offers free resources to help trusted adults understand online risks and talk with kids about staying safe.

Check out the tip sheets below and be sure to explore the other NCMEC resources at ncmec.org/netsmartz/resources.

Monitoring Digital Use

Technology changes fast, and kids can be at risk on the apps, games, and sites they love. Having a Cyber P.L.A.N., monitoring device use, and teaching online safety rules can help keep your child safe. Lauren’s Kids has provided the following resources by age group to help you learn how to set boundaries, teach good cyber habits, and protect your family online.

Parental controls guides

Find step-by-step guides by Internet Matters, to help you layer up parental controls across networks, devices and apps, so children can have safer online experiences as they grow.

Other Child Protection Resources

When we all take action, abuse is preventable. We take our commitment to child protection seriously and we hope you do too. With your help, we strive to decrease these statistics and create a safer community and future for all, especially our children. If you have children, work with children or care about children, we encourage you to view these helpful resources from other organizations who share the Y’s commitment to the safety of children!

Educational Videos and Information for Parents & Caregivers by Praesidium

These videos review how abuse occurs, warning signs to be aware of, and how to respond.

At Praesidium, their mission is to prevent the sexual abuse of children and vulnerable adults and to preserve trust in respected organizations. For more than 30 years, Praesidium’s experts have worked to prevent sexual abuse. For more information, visit www.praesidiuminc.com.

Respond & Teach with the “Hot Chocolate Talk” by Committee for Children

How to Talk with Kids About Personal Safety and Sexual Abuse – A Conversation Guide for Parents and Caregivers

  • Talk openly and often with your child, from an early age, about personal safety​
  • Child sexual abuse is scary, but talking about ways to prevent it doesn’t have to be​
  • Establish simple, personal safety tips with your children that are easy to understand and remember​
  • Know the facts about and signs of abuse—and what to do and say if it happens​
  • Ask open-ended questions, practice active listening, and believe your child​
  • Normalize conversations about personal safety and sexual abuse prevention​
DOWNLOAD THE GUIDE

For more information and resources from Committee for Children, visit www.cfchildren.org.

Child Sexual Abuse Prevention Online Training by Darkness to Light

Darkness to Light is a nonprofit organization with the mission to empower adults to prevent child sexual abuse through awareness, education, and stigma reduction. Darkness to Light’s flagship program, Stewards of Children®, is an evidence-informed, award-winning training that teaches adults to prevent, recognize, and react responsibly to child sexual abuse. More than 1.9 million adults have been trained using Darkness to Light trainings. For more information, visit www.D2L.org and for access to online training materials.

Key Child Protection Measures at the Westport Weston Family YMCA include:

  • Daily screenings of members and guests through the National Sex Offender Registry 
  • Biannual state and county criminal record checks for all staff 
  • Comprehensive background checks, interviews, and references for all hires and volunteers 
  • Extensive ongoing training in child abuse prevention for staff and youth-facing roles 
  • Visual health checks for children entering programs 
  • Zero-tolerance policy for alcohol, drugs, or tobacco around children 
  • Ongoing community advocacy for child safety and awareness 

HAVE QUESTIONS?

We’re here to help. Contact us to learn more on how the Y keeps our children in the Westport, Weston and greater Fairfield County area safeguarded against abuse through staff training, policies, protocols, and ongoing knowledge of awareness and prevention.

Contact:

Christina Scherwin
Chief Operations Officer
203-226-8981 Ext. 125
cscherwin@westporty.org