The Redwoods Group Foundation Inc

THE YMCA CHAMPIONS AGAINST CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE IS A NETWORK OF LOCAL YMCA LEADERS, AND PARTNERS FROM THE REDWOODS GROUP FOUNDATION, DARKNESS TO LIGHT AND PRAESIDIUM, FOCUSED ON ACTIVATING THE YMCA MOVEMENT'S POWER TO PREVENT CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE. INITIAL SEED FUNDING WAS PROVIDED TO YMCAS TO HELP THEM START COMMUNITY PREVENTION INITIATIVES & THE FOUNDATION NOW OFFERS BACKBONE STAFFING AND STRATEGIC SUPPORT TO HELP THEIR EFFORTS SCALE. THE YMCA CHAMPIONS FOCUS ON STRENGTHENING INTERNAL CULTURES OF PREVENTION AT YMCAS, AND ALSO ON CREATING EXTERNAL IMPACT IN THEIR COMMUNITIES BY TRAINING ADULTS ON PREVENTION AND REACHING THEM THROUGH AWARENESS CAMPAIGNS. TO DATE THE NETWORK HAS TRAINED OVER 100,000 ADULTS ON PREVENTION, LEADS A NATIONAL YMCA AWARENESS BUILDING CAMPAIGN DURING CHILD ABUSE PREVENTION MONTH AND PARTNERS WITH YMCA OF THE USA TO ENCOURAGE AND SUPPORT ALL YMCAS IN ASSESSING AND STRENGTHENING THEIR INTERNAL CHILD PROTECTION PRACTICES AS WELL.

THE NATIONAL YOUTH SERVING ORGANIZATIONS FOR CHILD PROTECTION IS A NEW NETWORK CONVENED AND SUPPORTED BY THE REDWOODS GROUP FOUNDATION IN 2017. THE NETWORK IS MADE UP OF 8 OF THE LARGEST YOUTH SERVING NON PROFIT NETWORKS IN THE COUNTRY, AND PROVIDES A SPACE FOR THEM TO COLLABORATE ON PREVENTING CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE. PARTICIPATING ORGANIZATIONS INCLUDE AMERICAN CAMP ASSOCIATION, JCC ASSOCIATION, NATIONAL CHILDREN'S ALLIANCE, SALVATION ARMY OF THE USA, YMCA OF THE USA, YWCA USA, BOYS & GIRLS CLUBS OF AMERICA AND MENTOR. THE FOUNDATION PROVIDES BACKBONE SUPPORT TO THE NETWORK, WHICH HAS SO FAR FOCUSED ON PARTNERING WITH THE CDC TO REVIEW THEIR 2007 RECOMMENDATIONS ON BEST PRACTICES FOR PREVENTION IN YOUTH SERVING PROGRAMS, AND COLLABORATING WITH PREVENTCONNECT.ORG TO LAUNCH A DATABASE OF TOOLS AND RESOURCES FOR CHILD PROTECTION IN YOUTH SERVING SETTINGS, ALONG WITH AN E-LEARNING GUIDE ON HOW TO DETERMINE THE BEST POLICIES FOR AN INDIVIDUAL ORGANIZATION.