The Sheridan County YMCA has updated its Youth Policy 

Sheridan County YMCA Executive Director Liz Cassiday announced on Sheridan Media’s Public Pulse the youth policies that have recently been implemented meet with strict criteria needed to become certified in Child Abuse Prevention with Praesidium.

Praesidium is an abuse risk management firm that evaluates comprehensive child abuse prevention self-assessments. For over two years, staff at the Y have been updating approximately 60 to 70 various policies to meet Praesidium’s strict assessment standards. 

According to Cassiday, many of these changes will not be felt by the visitors or members on a day-to-day basis. But one policy change needed to meet standards will be felt by the Y’s youngest members. 

L. Cassiday

Historically, the minimum age was 8 years to use the YMCA without a guardian. Cassiday said this change has been put in place as another safeguard against the abuse of children. Approximately 10 children in the community under the age of 12 had memberships but their families did not. The YMCA offered those families a special rate to join the Y to ensure the children did not have to lose their membership due to lack of guardian supervision. A special program has also been developed to meet the needs of children in the sixth grade. This new program will take place at the Outpost facility this coming Fall season. 

Another additional layer of protection has also been updated regarding new members and day visitors to the facility. 

L. Cassiday

The new policies went into effect June 1. In July, a Praesidium team will arrive in Sheridan to begin a two day evaluation of the facility and staff. At the conclusion of the evaluation, the YMCA will then be certified to the strict standards of the abuse risk management firm.

For questions, or to learn more, click here and learn how to contact the Sheridan County YMCA.