The Duluth Area Family YMCA has received national accreditation from Praesidium, an organization specializing in preventing sexual abuse in organizations that serve youth and vulnerable adults.

The YMCA received the accreditation for meeting dozens of safety standards set by Praesidium.

“There’s things just in how we monitor our spaces and our building for things— for different activities,” explained Cheryl Podtburg, the Risk and Safety Manager for the Duluth Area Family YMCA.
“There’s how we screen and train our employees and our volunteers, there’s measures about what our buildings look like and what safety measures that we’re taking to make sure that we have safe facilities, and then there’s, of course, our policies.”

The Duluth Area Family YMCA is one of the first 40 Y’s in the nation to receive the accreditation and the first in Minnesota.

“I think of it as almost a good housekeeping seal of approval,” said Sara Cole, President and CEO of the Duluth Area Family YMCA. “It really is a signal to, I hope, our whole community that the YMCA, in addition to being a space where all folks are welcome, is the safest place you can be.”

More information on YMCA can be found here.