Wilmington, Delaware—The YMCA of Delaware will participate in the Five Days of Action® from April 21 to 25, 2025. The Five Days of Action is a weeklong campaign to raise awareness and inspire adults to protect children from sexual abuse.
The YMCA of Delaware encourages adults and organizations to join in marking this special week as the First State comes together to make the community safer for children to live, learn, and play. Summer is 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.
“The children of Delaware 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 Georganne Buccine, YMCA of Delaware Vice President of Youth Development. “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.”
The Pledge
The Y invites members to sign a pledge to protect children from sexual abuse. Members who sign the pledge at a YMCA of Delaware location will receive a blue pinwheel to show their support. Members can sign the pledge and receive their pinwheels at
the front desk at all YMCA of Delaware locations. The pinwheel represents healthy, happy childhoods and is the official symbol of child abuse prevention.
The Know. See. Respond. campaign is back this year, and Praesidium, Saprea, and Lauren’s Kids have shared resources to support this campaign.
Know
When evaluating camps, sports, and other activities for your child, do you KNOW what questions to ask about abuse prevention? As parents, caregivers, and trusted adults, we play a vital role in protecting children and teens from abuse. Learn the ke
y questions to ask from Praesidium, the YMCA’s partner in child abuse prevention: praesidiuminc.com/6-key-questions-a-parent-should-ask-of-an-organization.
See
When we SEE grooming patterns—methodical, subtle, gradual, and escalating behaviors used to groom a child for sexual abuse—we can identify them, strengthen our intuition, and protect children. Learn the six grooming behaviors every parent or caregiver needs to know and what to do if you see them, from our partner, Saprea: saprea.org/blog/6-perpetrator-grooming-behaviors.
Respond
RESPONDing starts when a child or teen feels heard and is helped. How can you take action to prevent child sexual abuse? The Trusted Triangle (for younger children) and the Safety NETwork (for older youth) are strategies from Lauren’s Kids Safer, Smarter Families Family Safety Toolkit. These resources are designed to help families and caregivers teach personal and digital safety in a comfortable and accessible way.
- Grades K-2: org/grades-k-2
- Grades 3-5: org/grades-3-5
The YMCA of Delaware takes our commitment to child protection seriously. To learn more about how we keep kids safe in Delaware, see our protection policy at https://www.ymcade.org/policies/.
About the YMCA of Delaware
The YMCA of Delaware is Delaware’s largest nonprofit organization committed to empowering youth, fostering healthy living, and promoting strong communities. With seven branches statewide, a youth resource center, and an overnight camp and conference center in Worton, Maryland, the Y has developed longstanding relationships and a physical presence in Delaware so it can deliver lasting personal and social change. We are committed to serving everyone – regardless of age, income or background –nurturing the potential of every child and teen, improving Delaware’s health and wellbeing, and creating a healthy, inclusive community where all people reach their full potential. www.ymcade.org.
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