Child Safety & Protection

FAMILY TRAINING & RESOURCES
PRAESIDIUM RESOURCES
Y's FIVE DAYS OF ACTION

The safety and well-being of every child and teen in our care is our highest priority. As a youth-serving organization, we believe that creating a safe, secure, and nurturing environment is foundational to helping young people learn, grow, and thrive.

Incident Reporting

If you see something, say something. Reporting concerns is critical to maintaining a safe environment. We encourage all participants, parents, and staff to immediately report any incident or suspicion of inappropriate conduct.

Reports involving child abuse:

  • Call 911 to report immediate danger.
  • To report suspected abuse or neglect of a child or vulnerable adult, call SC DSS 24 Hotline at 1-888-227-3487 or submit it online.

Questions or concerns about staff, volunteers, or other program participants:

  • Reporting Phone Number for the Foothills Area YMCA: 864-280-7658
  • Reporting Email for the Foothills Area YMCA: [email protected]
  • Praesidium 24/7 Helpline: 855-347-0751

Your submission is confidential. Every report is taken seriously and investigated promptly, thoroughly, and objectively.

Child Safety Protocols

Our commitment to safety is grounded in rigorous, non-negotiable standards. Every staff member and all long-term volunteers undergo comprehensive background checks that meet or exceed state requirements. In addition, they participate in mandatory, ongoing training in child abuse prevention, recognizing signs of distress, and effective supervision techniques. We also maintain appropriate staff-to-child ratios across all programming areas to ensure active supervision and accountability at all times.

We are currently taking steps to achieve Praesidium Accreditation, a national recognition of excellence in abuse prevention and child safety. This process reflects our deep, ongoing commitment to providing a safe, nurturing environment for all children, youth, and vulnerable individuals we serve. Achieving accreditation will also give us access to best-practice guidance, written resources to strengthen our prevention efforts, and consultation with leading experts in the field.

Child Protection Policies

Parents: Your Role in Safety

We view parents as our essential partners in safety. Your involvement plays a powerful role in helping us create a secure, positive environment for every child. We encourage you to review our Facility Code of Conduct with your children and talk with them about the importance of respecting personal boundaries, treating others with kindness, and speaking up if they ever feel unsafe or uncomfortable.

Additional Safety Resources

We are committed to providing educational resources beyond our walls. Please refer to the following organizations for further information, support, and resources on child safety, prevention, and well-being: