The Tuscarawas County YMCA is joining YMCA’s nationwide for a weeklong social media campaign to raise awareness about child abuse.
Local Associate Executive Director Kathleen Johnson says they will post resources and educational materials for parent during the campaign from April 13th through the 17th.
“Five Days of Action we use to raise awareness and take action to protect children from abuse both online and offline. Digital safety we definitely know is an issue and the Y is focusing on that this year, so everything we do on our social media platforms will be giving parents resources and tools to raise their awareness and education so they can protect their children.”
A report on the nation’s youth found that 1 in 5 children is solicited sexually on the Internet before the age of 18.
Johnson notes that the awareness will not stop after the weeklong campaign.
“We’ll share messages here in our programs. We’ll educate their parents and, in our programs, we’ll talk to the kids about staying safe. We will 365 days be looking at this as an involvement for us in our childcare summer camps, preschool programs, day camps and after school programs.”
The adult resources, for parents and Y staff, will go over red flags, how to start open conversations, how to access digital safety, and more.
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