Family Code of Conduct

A pre-determined set of values around bodies and boundaries can go a long way toward protecting your kids from sexual abuse. It can help kids understand what acceptable and unacceptable behavior is, help them make informed decisions, and ultimately avoid dangerous situations. We call this set of values a “Code of Conduct.”

But, how do you define your values and set expectation for them? Create a family code of conduct! How?

Find the Family Code of Conduct Worksheet here.

Topics to include:

  • How do you treat others?
  • Play dates and hangouts
  • Photos
  • Sleepovers
  • Babysitters
  • Internet & Social Media Safety

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Keep Kids Safe & Busy

With changes to your regular routines, are you looking for ways to keep your kids busy and safe at the same time? When thinking through activities, it’s important to think about the three main principles for minimizing the opportunity of abuse – preventing isolation, keeping situations interruptible, and setting expectations. Try to think about these principles as you make plans for your kids.

Check out a sample daily calendar you can adapt to for your family.  All kids are different, be flexible and let them be a part of the planning!

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Being the Safe Adult

Do you know what a safe adult is? Do your kids? Safe adults are the ones kids know they can trust if they need help.

But, it’s more than that.

Safe adult status matters more than just when it’s “crunch-time.” We know life can be stressful, and it is easy for kids and parents to get overwhelmed. This is why it’s important to have an open line of communication with your kids at all times, so no matter what is going on in your life, they know they can communicate their feelings with you. By being a safe adult in good times, you’ll automatically be a safe adult for them to turn to when things aren’t going right.

Do you know how to recognize the behaviors of safe adults? Download these two worksheets created by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children:

To find more tips and resources, check out www.fivedaysofaction.org.

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Keeping Kids Safe Online

There is a lot going on these days – and you may feel like you don’t have everything figured out. It’s ok – take it one day at a time.

Are your kids spending more time online or in front of a screen? How can you ensure they are staying safe when they’re in virtual environments?

It’s important to set some ground rules and be proactive, just like you would if your children were going to a friend’s house.

Here are some ideas to get you started

  • If possible, connect with your kids before, during, and after online use – know who they will be with virtually, where they are going virtually, and what they will be doing.
  • Discuss how any new scenarios, like virtual school, will affect your current rules around devices, apps, and the internet.

Click here for more internet safety tips.

 

 

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Welcome to the Five Days of Action

Join us THIS WEEK for Five Days of Action! This week-long campaign is designed to raise awareness and inspire all adults to take action to protect children from sexual abuse.

We know the world looks a little different right now. Our communities are continuing to press pause and social distance, schools may be virtual, you may be working from home, and your childcare options may have changed. We know that when our routines change, we may need to adapt our child protection strategies. Five Days of Action will help communities and parents/caregivers take it One Day at a Time. We will be offering tips, tools, activities, and resources that are relevant to the current environment throughout the next five days and beyond.

Start by having a conversation with your kids. The “What If?” Game is a great way to think about situations kids may face in life and would need to solve. Throughout the week, we will provide more information on our Facebook page.

Looking for resources or support?  Call 866.FOR.LIGHT or text LIGHT to 741741 to have questioned answered or chat with a trained crisis counselor, 24/7 at no charge. All conversations are confidential.

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ADULTS COMING TOGETHER TO PROTECT CHILDREN FROM SEXUAL ABUSE

Summerville, SC – The Summerville Family YMCA is participating in the Five Days of Action, October 26-30, 2020. The Five Days of Action is a week designed to raise awareness and inspire adults to take action to protect children from sexual abuse.

The Y encourages adults and organizations in the community to play a vital role in making Summerville a safer place for children, especially during this ever-changing environment. As our communities continue to press pause and participate in social distancing, we know that protecting kids looks different this year. Not only is our community dealing with a pandemic that is separating kids in need from the safe adults in their lives, but there are spikes in domestic violence, cries for social justice for Black lives and more concerns about the mental health of youth and adults.

Five Days of Action will help communities and parents/caregivers take it One Day at a Time and will offer tips, tools, activities, and resources that are relevant to the current environment.

When adults know how abuse happens, see the warning signs, and respond quickly to prevent abuse, they foster a culture of child abuse prevention. Together, we can bring awareness to the issue of child sexual abuse in our communities and have important conversations around how we can all work together to prevent it from happening.

“Protecting children from sexual abuse must be the number one goal of every person who cares about the health and well-being of kids,” said Erin Roach, YMCA Marketing Director. “Together, we can stand up to demand that children are protected and encourage adults to make it happen in our community. It takes all of us.”

The Y, with support from the YMCA Guardians for Child Protection, YMCA of the USA, Darkness to Light, the Redwoods Group Foundation, and Praesidium have made materials available to help adults learn more about preventing child sexual abuse.

For more information about preventing child sexual abuse visit www.fivedaysofaction.org.