Announcement comes as the association heads into its annual “Safety September” emergency response drills.
The YMCA of Metro North, a regional leader in youth development and healthy living, has been awarded Praesidium Accreditation® by Praesidium, the leader in abuse risk management. Praesidium Accreditation® is a prestigious honor that publicly demonstrates the organization has worked to achieve the highest industry standards in abuse prevention.
To achieve Accreditation, YMCA of Metro North underwent a rigorous process to implement Praesidium’s Accreditation Standards, focusing on eight primary operational areas within their business: policies, screening and selection, training, monitoring and supervision, consumer participation, internal feedback systems, responding, and administrative practices. Praesidium then verified YMCA of Metro North’s successful implementation of these standards. YMCA of Metro North will be accredited for three years, and during this time will commit to uphold fundamental organizational values and stringent safety practices that demonstrate their commitment to protecting those in their care from abuse.
Praesidium Accreditation® provides solid proof of sound risk management practices, and the honor distinguishes YMCA of Metro North from others in their industry.
“At the YMCA, there is nothing more important than the safety and well-being of every child, teen, and adult who comes through our doors,” said Kathleen Walsh, President and CEO of the YMCA of Metro North. “We will never compromise on that responsibility. This accreditation is not just an honor—it is a promise. A promise to parents, families, and our community that we will continue to uphold the highest standards of safety, vigilance, and care. Protecting children is at the very core of who we are as a YMCA, and it guides every decision we make.”
About the YMCA of Metro North
The YMCA of Metro North is a leading nonprofit organization in Massachusetts. It serves nearly 69,000 community members annually through health, fitness, and youth development programs and more than 25,000 youth and teens. The Y provides more than $2.4 million in financial assistance to ensure access to summer camps, Y Academy, youth programs, and medical intervention services. The YMCA operates facilities in Lynn, Melrose, Peabody, Saugus, and Stoneham.
About Praesidium
Praesidium specializes in preventing sexual abuse in organizations that serve youth and vulnerable adults. Over a period in excess of 30 years, the company has reviewed over 4,000 cases of abuse within organizations to determine the root causes of sexual abuse within organizational settings. Praesidium employs more than 50 staff, including licensed social workers, lawyers, health care researchers, and other experts. The company has served over 5,000 clients with a broad range of products and services to aid organizations in preventing abuse, including online and instructor–led trainings, organizational risk assessments, model policies, and background checks. Having trained more than one million people online and hundreds of thousands in person, Praesidium is the largest and most comprehensive sexual abuse risk management firm globally.