The YMCA of Metuchen, Edison, Woodbridge and South Amboy (MEWSA) is participating in the Five Days of Action, April 18-22, a weeklong campaign to raise awareness and inspire adults to take action to protect children from sexual abuse.
The week will include educational emails, social media posts and more to raise awareness and help families learn ways to identify, address and protect themselves from sexual abuse.
During the Five Days of Action, YMCA of MEWSA will be engaging critical steps of prevention – Know, See, Respond – that will help adults better protect children. When adults know how abuse happens, see the warning signs, and respond quickly to prevent abuse, they foster a culture of child abuse prevention, according to a statement provided by the Y.
“The children in our communities 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,” Rose Cushing, president and CEO of the YMCA of MEWSA, said in the statement. “By joining in the Five Days of Action’s KNOW. SEE. RESPOND. campaign, we hope to inspire other organizations and members of our community to create safe spaces that protect children from sexual abuse.”
For reporting suspected child abuse or neglect in New Jersey, call the Department of Children and Families at 1-877-NJ-ABUSE (877-652-2873) 24 hours a day, 7 days a week; or any law enforcement agency at 911. Anyone who makes a good faith report based on reasonable grounds is immune from prosecution.
YMCA of MEWSA, with support from the YMCA Champions for Child Protection, YMCA of the USA, Darkness to Light, Redwoods Group Foundation, Monique Burr Foundation for Children, and American Camp Association, has 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.
