NASHVILLE, TN — YMCA of Middle Tennessee will observe Five Days of Action April 24-28 to raise awareness and inspire adults to act to protect children from sexual abuse.
The Y will kick off the week-long campaign by joining the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children for a free webinar on Friday, April 21, 11 a.m. CST. Topics will include resources and safety trends to better protect children in-person and online. Registration for this webinar can be found at https://www.ymca.org/fivedaysofaction.
“At the Y, child protection is our number one priority year-round. During April – Child Abuse Prevention Month – we participate in a week-long campaign – “Five Days of Action” – to increase awareness of child sexual abuse and empower and equip our communities to prevent it,” said John Mikos, president and CEO, YMCA of Middle Tennessee, Inc.
According to the Centers for Disease Control, child abuse and neglect are serious public health problems. About one in seven children experienced child abuse and neglect in the last year. These traumas can have long-term impacts on health, opportunity, and well-being. This issue includes all types of abuse and neglect of a child under the age of 18 by a parent, caregiver, or another person in a custodial role (such as a religious leader, a coach, a teacher) that results in harm, the potential for harm, or threat of harm to a child.
“The children of Middle Tennessee have the right to a happy and safe childhood, and it’s our responsibility as adults and organizations to stand up to protect that right,” said Jill Tramel, senior vice president of youth development, YMCA of Middle Tennessee. “By joining in the Five Days of Action campaign, we hope to inspire other organizations and members of our community to create safe spaces that protect children from sexual abuse.”
As a youth-serving organization that reaches 98,000+ children and teens every year, the Y’s most important work is creating safe environments for young people. The YMCA of Middle Tennessee encourages adults and organizations to join in marking this special week as Middle Tennessee comes together to make the community a safer place for children to live, learn, and play. With summer right around the corner—when children gather for activities and camps, it is a wonderful time to bring attention to the simple ways we can all make the children in our community safer.
Learn more about the Y’s national efforts by visiting the YMCA Champions for Child Protection page.
The YMCA of Middle Tennessee is the region’s leading nonprofit dedicated to strengthening community through youth development, healthy living and social responsibility. Inspired by its mission as a worldwide charitable fellowship united by a common loyalty to Jesus Christ for the purpose of helping people grow in spirit, mind and body, for more than 147 years, the YMCA of Middle Tennessee has been giving people of all ages the tools they need to belong and be well. Last year, the Y reached 171,485 people, improving the region’s health and well-being, nurturing the potential of children and teens and providing opportunities to serve others and support our neighbors.
