Praesidium is the leading innovator of scientifically based solutions designed to transform the way organizations approach the prevention of sexual abuse.
Praesidium’s expertise, consulting, and solutions help to foster safer environments for children, vulnerable adults, staff, volunteers, and all parties involved. For over 30 years, Praesidium has trained more than one million people online and hundreds of thousands in person. As the largest and most comprehensive sexual abuse risk management firm globally, Praesidium knows how sexual abuse happens and, more importantly, how to prevent it.
Chealsea Sias, YMCA of the Sandhills’ Association Youth Director overseeing the Y’s youth programs, is a Certified Praesidium Guardian™ (CPG), a designation earned through a rigorous certification process focused on preventing abuse and strengthening safety practices within youth-serving organizations.
The training includes extensive coursework on abuse prevention principles, an intensive multi-day workshop covering topics such as identifying risk factors, recognizing warning signs, and responding appropriately to concerns, and a final assessment demonstrating mastery of these best practices. As a CPG, Chealsea is equipped to ensure Praesidium’s gold standards in abuse prevention are being followed.
CHILD ABUSE PREVENTION AT THE Y
The Y does not tolerate the mistreatment or abuse of children in its program by an adult or the mistreatment or abuse of one child by another child, including any behavior that is classified under the definition of bullying. Staff, volunteers, and the children in our programs are expected to act in a caring, honest, respectful and responsible manner.
CHILD ABUSE PREVENTION POLICIES
Screening & Hiring – All new hires go through an interview process, three reference checks, a criminal background check and sex offender check.
Training – All staff members complete child abuse prevention training and receive education on creating a child-safe environment. Staff members renew training every year.
Volunteers – Volunteers who will have ongoing interactions with children or young adults also complete thorough background checks and receive abuse prevention training annually.
Policies & Procedures – We maintain rigorous policies and procedures which are enforced at all locations to ensure that children are supervised at all times and our environment remains safe for all.
Prevention – The YMCA of the Sandhills partners with Praesidium, a team of experts in child abuse prevention, to assess all aspects of our programs and implement best practices.
Reporting – If any staff member or volunteer suspects or becomes aware of any inappropriate behavior toward a minor, they are to report the incident immediately.
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MAKE AN ANONYMOUS REPORT
If you suspect abuse or have seen something suspicious at our YMCAs, it is critical to take action. Click here to make a report. You can remain anonymous.
The YMCA is dedicated to maintaining a safe, respectful, and nurturing environment for all. This Code of Conduct applies to staff, volunteers, members and guests, and outlines the expectations for behavior, interactions, and accountability to ensure the protection and well-being of everyone.
Commitment to Child Safety
The YMCA upholds a zero-tolerance policy for any form of child abuse, neglect, or exploitation. All staff, volunteers, members and guests share responsibility for ensuring that children are treated with dignity and respect at all times. Any behavior that jeopardizes a child’s safety or well-being is strictly prohibited.
Appropriate Interactions and Boundaries
Everyone associated with the YMCA is expected to maintain appropriate boundaries and conduct themselves in a professional, respectful, and caring manner.
- Physical Boundaries: Physical contact with children should be appropriate, public, and limited to positive forms such as high-fives or handshakes.
- Verbal Boundaries: Language used with children must be encouraging, respectful, and free from sarcasm, ridicule, or suggestive content.
- Social Boundaries: Personal relationships with minors outside of YMCA programs are strongly discouraged unless the relationship is pre-existing and has been disclosed to YMCA leadership.
To protect children and adults alike, all interactions between staff, volunteers, members, guests and children must be observable and interruptible at all times.
- The “Rule of Three” applies: there should always be at least three people present during any interaction involving a child.
- Staff, members, guests and volunteers should avoid being alone with a child in private settings.
- Everyone is encouraged to report any situation that appears unsafe or violates this policy.
All YMCA staff, members, guests and volunteers are mandated reporters and are legally required to report any suspicion, disclosure, or evidence of child abuse or neglect.
Members, volunteers and guests are asked to report promptly to YMCA leadership by contacting Chealsea Sias at Chealsea.Sias@ymcaofthesandhills.org, and, when required, to the appropriate authorities. For anonymous reporting, please complete this form.
Reports will be followed up within 24 hours by the Executive Leadership team, CEO, HR, or Youth Development Director.
The following behaviors are strictly forbidden for all staff, volunteers, members and guests:
- Giving personal gifts to children without prior approval.
- Using profanity, inappropriate, offensive, discriminatory speech, or sexually suggestive language.
- Engaging in physical contact that could be misinterpreted or cause discomfort.
- Allowing, encouraging, or ignoring unsafe behavior by children or adults.
- Participating in or allowing any form of bullying, teasing, or intimidation.
- Use, possess, or be under the influence of alcohol or illegal drugs while on YMCA property.
- Taking, attempting to take, or sharing photographs or videos of minors without parental/guardian consent, or of adult members or staff without their explicit permission.
- Possessing or bringing firearms or weapons onto YMCA property or to YMCA programs.
- Theft or destruction of YMCA property or the property of others.
- Wearing clothing with profanity, offensive or hateful language, suggestive or violent imagery, pornographic graphics, excessive skin exposure, or see-through materials.
Violations of this policy will result in disciplinary action, which may include suspension, termination, or revocation of membership.
The YMCA provides ongoing education and training to ensure that staff, volunteers, and members understand this Code of Conduct. Supervisors and program directors are responsible for monitoring compliance, addressing concerns promptly, and modeling appropriate behavior.
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES FOR REPORTING AN INCIDENT
If you suspect abuse or neglect, it is critical to take action. Below are 24-hour hotlines where you can report concerns and seek help.
If you suspect a child is being abused or neglected in Cumberland County:
- Call 910-677-2450 at any time, or
- Report in person at Cumberland County Department of Social Services, 1225 Ramsey St. in Fayetteville.
If you suspect a child is being abused or neglected in Harnett County:
- Call 910-814-6662: 8 am-5 pm, Monday - Friday or call 910-893-9111: at any other time (non-emergency number for the Harnett County Sheriff’s Office;) ask to speak to the on-call social worker, who will take your report. Do not leave a voicemail.
- Report in person: Child Protective Services at 311 W. Cornelius Harnett Blvd in Lillington.
Anyone who suspects a YMCA of the Sandhills child is being abused or neglected or who thinks a YMCA of the Sandhills child may have died from being mistreated is required by North Carolina law to report this to our Social Services division. By law, the identity of the person making the report is kept private. The person who makes the report cannot be criminally or legally liable if the report was made in good faith.
Read more about signs of child abuse and neglect and reporting suspected abuse or neglect at the NC Division of Social Services website.
If you think the situation you are concerned about is an emergency, immediately call 911.
If you suspect an adult is being abused, exploited, or is no longer able to take care of himself or herself in Cumberland County, please call: 910-677-2389 or 919-677-2388 at any time.
If you suspect an adult is being abused, exploited, or is no longer able to take care of himself or herself in Harnett County, please call:
- 910-814-6640 8 am -5 pm Monday through Friday or
- 910-893-9111 at all other times and ask for a social worker.
Anyone who suspects a Cumberland or Harnett County adult is being abused or neglected or who thinks a Cumberland or Harnett County adult may have died from being mistreated is required by North Carolina law to report this to Social Services. You may remain anonymous if you choose.
If you think the situation you are concerned about is an emergency, immediately call 911.
SAFE of Harnett County
Crisis Line: 910-893-7233
SAFE of Harnett County is a nonprofit in Harnett County offering services to all person affectved by domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking, elder abuse, human trafficking, child abuse, dating violencen and unhealthy relationships.
We Screen Every Employee — No Exceptions
Did You Know...
Before any staff member or volunteer joins our YMCA team or works with our programs, they undergo a comprehensive background screening. This includes checking the national sex offender registry to ensure that every individual who represents our YMCA meets our safety standards. We take these steps because your trust matters—and creating a secure environment for families, members, and participants is our top priority.
Background Screening and Sex Offender Registry Policy
The YMCA of the Sandhills is committed to providing a safe and secure environment for all members, participants, volunteers, and staff. As part of this commitment, the YMCA conducts comprehensive background screenings on all employees, volunteers, and individuals engaged in YMCA programs.
Employee and Volunteer Background Screening
- All prospective employees and volunteers must successfully complete a national criminal background check prior to beginning work or volunteer service.
- Background checks include, but are not limited to, searches of national, state, and county criminal records, and may include fingerprinting when required by law or program standards.
- Background checks are repeated at regular intervals as determined by YMCA policy or legal requirements.
- Any individual found to have been convicted of, pleaded guilty to, or no contest to crimes involving violence, sexual misconduct, child abuse, or other offenses inconsistent with YMCA values will not be eligible for employment or volunteer service.
Sex Offender Registry Screening
- The YMCA conducts regular screenings of all employees, volunteers, and members against the National Sex Offender Registry (NSOR) and applicable state databases.
- Individuals identified on any sex offender registry are prohibited from obtaining or maintaining YMCA membership, participating in YMCA programs, or entering YMCA facilities.
- Members’ information is routinely checked to ensure ongoing compliance with this policy.
Membership Access and Code of Conduct
The YMCA reserves the right to deny access or membership to any person who has been accused or convicted of any crime involving sexual abuse, is, or has been, a registered sex offender, has been arrested for or convicted of any crime involving weapons, violence, sexual abuse, or the sale, possession and/or transportation of illegal drugs. While an incident is being investigated, the membership of the person(s) accused of violating this Code of Conduct may be temporarily suspended pending a final decision.