Hardyston YMCA urges adults to intervene to prevent child sex abuse

The Sussex County YMCA is marking National Child Abuse Prevention Month with Five Days of Action, April 22-26, highlighting how adults can spot warning signs of child sexual abuse and step in to help. The awareness week is the lead-up to Healthy Kids Day — a celebration for improving the health and well-being of children — on April 27.
The theme of this year’s Five Days of Action is ‘Know. See. Respond.’ — steps adults can take to advocate for children. “When caring adults learn how abuse happens and are on the lookout for warning signs, they can intervene and prevent it,” Sussex County YMCA Associate Executive Director Corey Brown said.
The Sussex County YMCA and the other six branches of the Metropolitan YMCA of the Oranges are participating in Five Days of Action. Adults can sign the Pledge to Protect Children at the Y’s welcome center or Early Childhood Learning Center, or online at https://goo.gl/forms/eeSItnZwLEilxbuT2. Metro YMCA President and CEO Richard K. Gorab belongs to YMCA Guardians for Child Protection, a group of Y leaders spearheading the awareness movement.
Information on how to prevent child sexual abuse is at www.fivedaysofaction.org. The YMCA of the USA, Darkness to Light, the Redwoods Group Foundation and Praesidium helped make the materials available.