Taken from Y-USA Child Abuse Prevention Newsletter
Meet Samie McCullough, Certified Praesidium Guardian.
Samie is the Associate Executive Director at the Osage Prairie YMCA. Read the Q&A below to learn more about Samie and her Y’s approach to abuse prevention.
Tell us about one of your favorite youth programs at your Y. When it comes to supervising youth in that program, what’s one practical strategy, routine, or reminder that helps staff stay engaged and attentive, even when things get busy?
One of my favorite programs is our Child and Adult Care Food Program dinners. We serve dinner to any children participating in our programs, as well as any child age 3–18 who comes to the YMCA for a meal.
One simple way to stay engaged is to talk with them while they are eating. It gives the children an opportunity to talk with an adult about what is going on in their lives, while also helping our staff build strong connections with the youth we serve.
Who are some of the people involved in child protection efforts at your YMCA that others might not immediately think to include? How have they contributed to the work?
Staff members outside of our traditional youth and childcare programs. Our Welcome Center and membership staff play an important role because they are often the first people to see who is entering and leaving the facility. They help ensure only authorized individuals have access to the YMCA and can identify concerns or unusual situations. They also ensure no registered sex offenders are active in our system.
Maintenance and custodial staff are also an important part of child protection because they are throughout the facility and may observe areas or situations that program staff do not. Their awareness of our policies and reporting procedures helps ensure that concerns are recognized and reported.
Our lifeguards and aquatic staff play an especially important role in child protection because youth can be particularly vulnerable in the aquatic environment. Lifeguards and aquatic staff must remain aware of appropriate boundaries and interactions.
Our food program staff can interact with children in a more relaxed setting. These interactions allow staff to build relationships with youth, engage in conversations about their day, and create opportunities for children to connect with trusted adults.
Child protection is not the responsibility of one department or one group of employees—it is a shared responsibility across our entire YMCA.
