Safety, Respect & Reporting Concerns
At the Central Connecticut Coast YMCA, everyone deserves to feel safe, welcome, and respected. We work to create an environment where children, teens, adults, and families can participate in Y programs with confidence.
We want everyone who participates in our programs to understand what appropriate behavior looks like, recognize when something isn't right, and know how to speak up.
What you can expect at the y
Our employees and volunteers are expected to maintain appropriate boundaries and treat everyone with respect.
This includes:
- Respecting your personal space and physical boundaries.
- Keeping interactions with children and teens appropriate, observable, and within approved Y activities
- Using approved Y communication channels rather than private texts, social media messages, or personal communication with youth participants.
- Not asking participants to keep secrets about their interactions or behavior.
- Not giving personal gifts, money, or special favors to participants without appropriate approval.
- Never using threatening, humiliating, abusive, or inappropriate language or behavior.
If Something Makes You Uncomfortable
If someone says or does something that makes you feel unsafe or uncomfortable, it's important to speak up.
- Trust your feelings. If something doesn't seem right, you can say no or move away when it's safe to do so.
- Tell someone you trust. This could be a Y staff member, program director, parent, guardian, or another trusted adult.
- Don't keep unsafe secrets. No one should ask you to keep inappropriate touching, unsafe behavior, or boundary violations a secret.
- Keep speaking up. If the first person you tell doesn't help, tell someone else.
You can report a concern even if you're unsure whether a rule has been broken. We want to know about behavior that makes you or someone else feel unsafe.
How to Report a Concern
You can share a concern with a Y staff member, program director, or branch leadership.
You can also contact Praesidium's 24/7 Helpline at 855-347-0751 to report suspicious or inappropriate behavior, boundary violations, or policy concerns. Reports can be made anonymously.
The helpline is available to employees, volunteers, parents, and program participants.
If someone is in immediate danger, call 911. The helpline does not replace any required reporting of suspected abuse or neglect to state authorities.
Your safety matters. We encourage you to speak up whenever something doesn't feel right.
If you have any questions regarding our Safety & Reporting Policy, please contact us at info@cccymca.org