Five Days of Action – Protecting our Children From Abuse – Always

Know. See. Respond. The three tenets of Five Days of Action, which run from April 21-25, 2025, is a year-round reminder and responsibility to protect our children. Geared at raising awareness and motivating adults to take proactive steps in safeguarding children from sexual abuse, Five Days of Action focuses on education, providing resources and encouraging community involvement to create a safer environment for children.

Know, see, respond - when applied, help us create safer environments for children to grow and learn. Knowing about child sexual abuse makes us aware of seeing signs of child abuse and responding. 

The Tampa YMCA prioritizes the safety and well-being of the children and families we serve by requiring all prospective employees in child programming to undergo a Level II criminal background check as part of their hiring process. This includes staff working in various programs such as BASE (Before and After School Enrichment), Camp, Stay & Play, Gymnastics, Preschool, Youth Sports and First Tee, after a conditional offer of employment is extended. High Access Volunteers, those working directly with children and youth, are also required to complete and pass a criminal background check to ensure their suitability for these roles.

“We also have a comprehensive Child Abuse Prevention Plan that emphasizes safeguarding personal space and ensuring appropriate touch. This plan includes clear guidelines for bathroom supervision, monitoring interactions and setting rules for external contact with children, further ensuring the safety of those in our care,” explains Tampa YMCA’s Dacia Oglesby, Director of Quality Assurance and Risk Management.

Five Days of Action is spearheaded by YMCA Champions for Child Protection, with support from YMCA of the USA. By participating, we pledge to protect the children we serve, and we reaffirm our unwavering commitment to the safety of every child in our care—not just during this campaign, but throughout the entire year. This year, we will join over 600 organizations nationwide in this vital and ongoing effort.

Hillsborough and Pinellas counties have some of the highest rates of child abuse and neglect in the state. On average, there are 88 reported cases of child abuse and neglect each day in these counties, with half of those involving children aged 5 and younger.