Our Commitment to Safeguarding Children and Youth
Our Commitment to You
At the YMCA of Greater Toronto, keeping children and youth safe is our top priority. We are dedicated to creating a welcoming, secure, and supportive space where kids can learn, grow, and thrive. We do not tolerate any form of harm or abuse, and we take active steps to protect every child and youth in our care.
Who This Applies To
Our commitment to safety applies to everyone who works or volunteers with us — YMCA staff, volunteers, and even third-party contractors. Every person involved has a role to play in ensuring children and youth are safe and supported.
How We Keep Kids Safe
- Creating an inclusive, respectful, and protective environment for all children and youth.
- Training our staff and volunteers to recognize and respond to concerns about child safety.
- Requiring all staff and volunteers to report any suspected child abuse, disclosure of abuse, or neglect immediately.
- Acting quickly and appropriately when concerns arise, following legal guidelines and best practices.
What Families Need To Know
- All YMCA staff and volunteers follow clear safeguarding guidelines to protect children and youth at all times.
- If a staff member or a volunteer suspects abuse or concern for a child’s welfare, they are required to report it right away to a child protection agency.
- Our programs ensure that staff never work alone with children unless necessary and follow approved procedures.
- To keep children safe, we have strict supervision policies, clear rules for appropriate behaviour, and a culture of transparency.
- We partner with families and communities to make safety a shared responsibility.
When To Speak Up
Under the Child, Youth, and Family Services Act (CYFSA), 2017, every YMCA staff member and volunteer is legally required to directly report any disclosure/suspicion of child abuse or neglect to a child protection agency immediately.
How We Create a Safe Environment
- Ensuring the correct ratio of staff supervision to children.
- Never leaving Volunteers alone with children or youth.
- Regular safety training to stay informed.
- Following strict hiring and screening processes to select the best people to work with children and youth.
Always Improving
We constantly work to improve our approach to child and youth safety. By listening to families, staff, volunteers and experts, we keep our policies and practices strong. We provide regular training, risk assessments, and updates to support the best protection for children and youth.
Have Questions?
For more information and details, please contact us.