Ed Hurley: Five Days of Action for Child Abuse Prevention

Once again, our Y, along with YMCAs throughout Massachusetts and across the country will be sponsoring Five Days of Action for Child Abuse Prevention. From April 22nd to April 26th the Hockomock Area YMCA will share information and resources on how to prevent, recognize and respond to situations that adults may encounter.

Statistics from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention reveal that 1 in 10 children in the United States are sexually abused before their 18th birthday. Sadly, in over 90% of the cases reported, this abuse happens by someone the child knows and trusts.

While we are placing a special emphasis on this topic during the month of April, child safety and child protection are our Y’s number one priority every single day of the year.

Think of how many children each one of us sees in a day, and contrast that with the knowledge that 1 in 10 of these young people are being robbed of their innocence. Children are supposed to be the hope for a brighter future. As a society we are all faced with the long-term consequences. Child abuse is happening regardless of age, gender, race, religion or socio-economic class. I ask all of you to join with our YMCA in spreading important awareness around this devastating epidemic.

The national theme for this year’s Five Days of Action is Know. See. Respond. As adults we need to Know more, See better and Respond appropriately to protect kids from sexual abuse.

For the past five years our YMCA is proud to have partnered and collaborated with school systems, municipalities and other human service organizations throughout our service area to help bring awareness, education and training regarding this issue to the forefront. We remain committed to this collaborative cause and our effort to be part of a community based prevention movement. Please join us.

For more information, please contact me at the Hockomock Area YMCA or visit our website www.hockymca.org/child-protection for resources, training and how you can be involved. I encourage you to watch a brief video featuring community leaders and advocates for Know. See. Respond., an initiative adopted at our YMCA.

As responsible adults, we all have the opportunity to create a different path for children and to protect their only childhood. We are on this path together, let’s take a step to clear the way for a child.

Ed Hurley
President and CEO
Hockomock Area YMCA