Posted on: Tuesday, April 7th, 2026
Learn how to protect children from sexual abuse
Join us for “Five Days of Action” – April 13-17, 2026, a national YMCA campaign designed to raise awareness, inspire and educate adults on how to take action and protect children, both online and offline, from sexual abuse. This year we’re focusing on digital safety, helping kids navigate the online world safely.
According to Praesidium and Darkness to Light, 1 in 20 boys and 1 in 4 girls in the United States experience sexual abuse—most often by someone they know and trust.
But these are not just numbers. Behind every number is a child, a child who has been robbed of their innocence. A child whose life will forever have been changed by the heinous act of an adult. We owe it to our children, and we owe it to their future, to do better.
We encourage all individuals and organizations to play an active role in making our local communities a safer place for children and families. Together we can prevent child sexual abuse by ensuring that adults have the knowledge, skills and resources needed to prevent, recognize, and react responsibly to child sexual abuse.
When adults know how abuse happens, see the warning signs, and respond quickly to prevent abuse, they foster a culture of child abuse prevention. Through Know. See. Respond., we can bring awareness to the issue of child sexual abuse in our communities and have important conversations on how we can all work together to prevent it from happening. Thank you for your help in keeping children safe in our community.
WHAT CAN YOU DO THIS WEEK?:
Pledge to protect children every day. Come to our Y and pledge to take action to protect kids during 5 Days of Action.
Join YMCAs & partner organizations across Massachusetts and Wear Blue on Wednesday April 15 to show solidarity & commitment to protecting all children from sexual abuse.
POSTPONED: Coffee & Conversation Teen Digital Safety Event originally scheduled on April 16 at our Invensys Foxboro Branch from 6:30pm – 8:00pm.
Make a commitment this week to follow along with our 5 Days of Action Campaign on Instagram, Facebook and X.
We will be offering tips, tools, activities, and resources to help families build safer digital spaces together throughout the next five days and beyond.
Preventing Child Sexual Abuse: What Parents Need to Know
We know cellphones, laptops and other devices have changed the way we communicate. Most kids and teens spend a lot of time online or in front of a screen. Here are some helpful resources to keep all youth safe:
Social Media Safety for Teens
Checklist to keep teens safe online
Smart Social Networking – Teens are building a digital footprint with every post, like, and comment. Encourage them to pause and ask, “Would I be okay if a teacher, coach, or future employer saw this?
English version Spanish version
Screen Balance Ideas:
for Older Teens; for Younger Teens.
Online Family Agreement – Setting clear expectations around technology doesn’t have to feel like a battle, it can be a team effort. Build trust, safety, and healthy habits that last.
Keeping Your Kids Safe on the Internet Worksheet:
English version, Spanish version, Arabic version, Portuguese version, Vietnamese version.
FOCUS: How do I recognize safe adults?
What do you see that looks different in your organization or community when it comes to protecting kids? It’s important to have open communication about the different stressors, especially with kids. Having honest, on-going conversations is a great protection from child sexual abuse. Check in daily with your kids to see how they are feeling and pay attention to what they say. But remember, silence is okay too. Allow them to have the space they need to open up. Here are some helpful resources:
Stop It Now’s Prevention Tools
Who is a Trusted Adult Worksheet
Being a Trusted Adult Worksheet
Here is a fun video for young children to teach them about boundaries for their bodies. The video is called Talk PANTS with Pantosaurus and his PANTS song
FOCUS: Organizational Resources
It’s important to know how to respond if someone needs help or support. Please remember you’re not alone.
Hockomock Area YMCA Child Protection Trifold
If you are a member of an organization or community group that would like to learn more about our comprehensive trainings on Child Abuse Prevention, please email Patrick Murphy at patrickm@hockymca.org.
