Five Days of Action

Five Days of Action is a week-long campaign designed to raise awareness and inspire adults to take action to protect children from sexual abuse. See below for resources and how you can get involved.

Help Prevent Child Abuse

At the Y, we believe ALL children deserve the opportunity to discover who they are, and what they can achieve. Every day, we are proud and respectful of the trust parents and communities around the country place in the Y. From youth sports to day and overnight summer camp; from out-of-school time to preschool; our Ys work to ensure your children have a safe, fun filled experience.

At the Y, child protection is our number one priority year-round. During April–Child Abuse Prevention Month–we participate in a week-long campaign called Five Days of Action to increase awareness of child sexual abuse and empower and equip our communities to prevent it. By taking part in this important campaign and through implementing abuse prevention practices year-round, we can all commit to the safety of all children in our care.

Know. See. Respond.

The foundational habits of child sexual abuse prevention are Know, See, and Respond. 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?

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.

See

When we know the signs of abuse, we can intervene on behalf of children. 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.

Respond

If you suspect abuse, are you ready to respond? Do you know when and how to report suspected child abuse? Follow this link to find your state’s child protection agency.

Other Resources

Together, we can help prevent child sexual abuse. Take a look at some of these helpful resources from other organizations who share the Y’s commitment to the safety of children.