© Copyright The Sheridan County YMCA 2026. All Rights Reserved. The Y is a 501c3 nonprofit.
Keeping Kids Safe is Our Top Priority
The safety and well-being of children in the care of Ys across the U.S. is, and always will be, our priority. Serving the youth in our community is a vital part of our mission, and we are committed to creating a safe environment for the thousands of children and teens we serve every year.
As the nation’s largest youth-serving organization, our most important work includes ensuring their safety and well-being — it is foundational to everything we do at the Y to help them learn, grow, and thrive.
Report Child Abuse
“The Sheridan County YMCA’s top priority is the safety of our staff, volunteers, participants, and members. This is especially important for the youth in our programs and services. We are committed to working tirelessly to provide the safest environment possible for our children.”
— Sheridan County YMCA Leadership Team
Age Policy Update
Making sure the Y is safe for kids and families is fundamental to all that we do. We are committed to the well-being and safety of children. However, the Y facility is not designed or licensed to provide basic childcare needs. Any public place may be unsafe for a child whom is left unattended for long periods of time.
Throughout our programs, in our facility and with trained staff, we implement strict policies to ensure safety.
Parents are responsible for the behavior of their children while at the Y. If a child is disruptive, staff will follow current Y policies. Parents will be contacted if the disruptive behavior either continues and/or warrants further action.
In our facility, youth under the age of 12 will need to:
- Have an adult supervising them while using our facilities; or
- Be registered for and attend a YMCA program; or
- Be in a designated, authorized area with staff tasked with supervising.
- September through May are the Y’s peak program times for youth and adults.
- Unless they are registered and participating in a Y program, Youth will be allowed access to the facility Monday thru Friday after 6:00 pm.
- Youth will be allowed access to the facility during weekend operating hours.
- During school breaks, youth will only be allowed access to the facility after 1:00 pm.
- June through August are non-peak program times for youth and adults.
- Youth will be allowed access to the facility during operating hours.
- Due to adult and camp programming, there may be limited access to specific areas of the Y.
- Specific areas are not accessible for members ages 8-13. These areas include the entire upstairs (including racquetball observation area), Weight Room, Activity and Support Center, and Playland. Youth that have completed Parent/Youth Orientation may have access to the specified Health and Wellness areas while under direct supervision within eye sight of their parent/guardian.
Full access to the Y facility throughout the year. Due to youth and adult programming, there may be limited access to specific areas of the Y at various times throughout the year.
Our Commitment at the Y
At the Y, we take the following actions to help keeps kids safe in our facilities and programs:
All Ys in the U.S. are required to implement child sexual abuse prevention practices and policies to remain a member in good standing with the National Council of YMCAs. These requirements include:
- Completing a child abuse prevention self-assessment, administered by a Y-USA–approved vendor, at least every two (2) years
- Having a policy that requires criminal background checks for staff and volunteers
- Providing and requiring training for staff and volunteers on preventing and responding to child abuse
- Requiring staff and volunteers to report child abuse in accordance with applicable laws
- Having a policy that requires screening all adults against a national sex offender registry and written protocol for how to respond when adults are identified as registered sex offenders
- Reporting the following events to Y-USA:
- Allegations and/or criminal charges of child abuse, child sexual exploitation, or child sexual misconduct involving a current or former YMCA staff, volunteer, or member (including incidents related to the YMCA and outside of the YMCA)
- Allegations of sexual abuse, sexual exploitation, or sexual misconduct between youth participants in attendance at a YMCA and/or enrolled in YMCA activities.
YMCAs have access to resources to assist them in meeting these requirements. Provided by and facilitated by Y-USA, these resources are accessible through our internal knowledge-sharing platform for YMCA staff.
We engage external experts (Praesidium) in abuse prevention to work with all 2,600 Ys across the country and provide access to a comprehensive self-assessment as well as best practices in screening, training, supervision and reporting practices.
This association does not discriminate in hiring or employment on the basis of race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, non-job-related medical condition or disability, veteran, or marital status. No question in the employment application form is intended to secure information to be used for such discrimination. Please contact the Human Resources Department if you require an accommodation to complete the application or interview process.
We partner with passionate local Y leaders who facilitate peer-to-peer learning and continuously improve and strengthen Y abuse-prevention efforts. Specifically, we work alongside the YMCA Champions of Child Protection, a collective of Y CEOs committed to activating the power of the Y and other youth-serving organizations to engage communities, improve internal operations and advance policy and environmental change to protect children from sexual abuse.
Actionable Safety Measures We Take
To remain in good standing with the National Council of YMCAs and ensure a culture of safety, the Sheridan County YMCA strictly implements the following practices:
- Background Checks: Requiring comprehensive criminal background checks for all staff and volunteers.
- Abuse Prevention Training: Mandating regular training for all staff and volunteers on preventing, recognizing, and responding to child abuse.
- Mandated Reporting: Requiring immediate reporting of any suspected child abuse in accordance with applicable state laws.
- Member Screening: Screening all adult members and visitors in our facilities against the national sex offender registry.
- Expert Standards: Maintaining operational safety practices aligned with certified abuse prevention guidelines.
Parent/Guardian Resources: KNOW, SEE, RESPOND
- Talk Early and Often: Teach preschoolers the correct names for their body parts (including private parts). This gives them the vocabulary to speak up if an injury, rash, or boundary violation occurs.
- Set Clear Body Rules: Teach children that no one is allowed to touch their private parts unless a parent/guardian knows about it (or a doctor during an exam with a parent present).
- Understand Grooming: Recognize that offenders often use a deliberate, gradual process called “grooming” to build trust and secrecy with a child and their caregivers over time.
- Behavioral Shifts: Watch for sudden changes in your child’s behavior, such as extreme anxiety, clinging, withdrawal, regression, or sudden reluctance to be around a specific person.
- Boundary Crossing: Pay attention to adults who display “overboard” affection (excessive horseplay, tickling, boundary violations) or those who try to establish secrets or private, unmonitored relationships with minors.
- Listen and Validate: If a child discloses inappropriate behavior, stay calm. Say, “I believe you,” and “What happened is not your fault.”
- Reasonable Suspicion: Remember, you do not need absolute proof to make a report—only reasonable suspicion based on observed behaviors, boundary violations, or a child’s disclosure.
What to do if you believe a child is being abused
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.
FILE A REPORT
If you see warning signs or suspect a child is in danger, respond by reporting it immediately to law enforcement or state child protective services.
- Wyoming Department of Family Services / Local Police: Call 911 for immediate emergencies, or reach out to local law enforcement to file an official report.
- National Helpline Support: Contact the Darkness to Light helpline at 1-866-FOR-LIGHT (1-866-367-5444) or text LIGHT to 741741 to speak with a trained counselor for free guidance.
SEEK ASSISTANCE
Contact the Darkness to Light helpline at 1.866.FOR.LIGHT (1.866.367.54448) or text LIGHT to 741741 to have questions answered by trained counselors at no charge.
CONTACT THE Y
For administrative questions regarding our safety protocols, policy clarifications, or youth programming guidelines, please feel free to reach out to our leadership team directly: