Greater Somerset County YMCA Joins Five Days of Action to Protect Children from Sexual Abuse
Basking Ridge, New Jersey, April 21, 2025 – Greater Somerset County YMCA is participating in the Five Days of Action, April 21-25, 2025. The Five Days of Action is a weeklong campaign to raise awareness and inspire adults to take action to protect children from sexual abuse.
The Y encourages adults and organizations to join in marking this special week as the communities we serve come together to make safer places for children to live, learn, and play. With summer right around the corner—when children gather for activities and camps, it is a wonderful time to bring attention to the simple ways we can all make the children in our community safer.
“All children have the right to a happy and safe childhood, and it’s our responsibility as adults and organizations to stand up to protect that right,” said David M. Carcieri, President and Chief Executive Officer. “By joining in the Five Days of Action campaign, we hope to inspire other organizations and members in our communities to create safe spaces that protect children from sexual abuse.”
The Know. See. Respond. campaign is back this year, and Praesidium, Saprea, and Lauren’s Kids have shared resources to support this campaign.
When evaluating camps, sports, and other activities for your child, do you KNOW what questions to ask about abuse prevention? As parents, caregivers, and trusted adults, we play a vital role in protecting children and teens from abuse. Learn the key questions to ask from Praesidium, the YMCA’s partner in child abuse prevention.
When we SEE grooming patterns—methodical, subtle, gradual, and escalating behaviors used to groom a child for sexual abuse—we can identify them, strengthen our intuition, and protect children. Learn the 6 grooming behaviors every parent or caregiver needs to know and what to do if you see them, from our partner, Saprea.
RESPONDing starts when a child or teen feels heard and is helped. How can you take action to prevent child sexual abuse? The Trusted Triangle (for younger children) and the Safety Network (for older youth) are strategies from Lauren’s Kids Safer, Smarter Families Family Safety Toolkit. These resources are designed to help families and caregivers teach personal and digital safety in a comfortable and accessible way.
- Grades K-2: safersmarterfamilies.org/
grades-k-2 - Grades 3-5: safersmarterfamilies.org/
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We take our commitment to child protection seriously and we hope you do too. Check out our protection policy here https://www.gscymca.org/who-
About Greater Somerset County YMCA
Greater Somerset County YMCA is a leading nonprofit committed to strengthening community by connecting all people to their potential, purpose, and each other. The Y empowers everyone-no matter who they are or where they’re from-by ensuring access to resources, relationships and opportunities for all to learn, grow and thrive. For information about Greater Somerset County YMCA and financial assistance, visit www.gscymca.org.