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PREPARE FOR YOUR COHORT
BENEFITS OF ACCREDITATION
GET STARTED
As a leading youth-serving organization with a presence in more than 10,000 communities, the Y’s greatest responsibility is to protect the 6.5 million young people in our care from sexual abuse. We prevent abuse when we create a culture of safety in our facilities and programs. Our most effective tool for creating and maintaining that culture of safety is Praesidium Accreditation®.
Nearly one hundred YMCAs have achieved Praesidium Accreditation and 200+ are pursuing it! Hear from leaders at accredited Ys about the benefits of Accreditation and their tips for navigating the process.
Request SDP support
A variety of resources are available to help your Y prepare for Accreditation. You can mix and match tools to create a plan that fits your needs.
Your Y can prepare for Accreditation on your own, with other YMCAs, or with partners.
WITH OUR PARTNERS:
Engage your Youth Protection team
ON YOUR OWN:
Connect with a YMCA Champion who has achieved Accreditation
WITH FELLOW YMCAs:
After registering, explore the ‘Prepare for Your Cohort’ resources below.
REGISTER FOR AN ACCREDITATION COHORT!
TAKE THE QUESTIONNAIRE!
NO
YES
If yes, when are your pivotal events? Consider when your YMCA will have capacity to prepare for and complete Accreditation.
Does your YMCA have pivotal events planned in the near future (next 18 months), such as leadership transitions, capital campaigns, facility projects, mergers, etc.?
QUESTION 1 OF 8
PRAESIDIUM ACCREDITATION®
Y leaders can use this questionnaire to assess a Y’s readiness and timeline for engagement in Praesidium Accreditation®.
As part of our commitment to a culture of safety, it is anticipated that all YMCAs will be engaged in Accreditation by 2028.
ACCREDITATION READINESS QUESTIONNAIRE
NO
YES
PRAESIDIUM ACCREDITATION®
Y leaders can use this questionnaire to assess a Y’s readiness and timeline for engagement in Praesidium Accreditation®.
As part of our commitment to a culture of safety, it is anticipated that all YMCAs will be engaged in Accreditation by 2028.
ACCREDITATION READINESS QUESTIONNAIRE
If you are unsure, login to the Praesidium Assessment Tool and click on “View Results” from a previous assessment. Then, click on “2 Questionnaire” to see your responses to the Standards Questionnaire where you indicated your programs. For more information or technical assistance, contact capinfo@praesidiuminc.com.
Every two years YMCAs complete a Child Protection Self-Assessment. In your YMCA’s most recent self-assessment, did you assess all programs, including youth sports, aquatics, facilities, childcare, teen programs, etc.?
QUESTION 2 OF 8
NO
YES
Y leaders can use this questionnaire to assess a Y’s readiness and timeline for engagement in Praesidium Accreditation®.
As part of our commitment to a culture of safety, it is anticipated that all YMCAs will be engaged in Accreditation by 2028.
ACCREDITATION READINESS QUESTIONNAIRE
PRAESIDIUM ACCREDITATION®
QUESTION 3 OF 8
In your YMCA’s most recent self-assessment, did you get more than one person’s perspective (meaning multiple people/teams were involved in completing the self-assessment)?
NO
YES
Y leaders can use this questionnaire to assess a Y’s readiness and timeline for engagement in Praesidium Accreditation®.
As part of our commitment to a culture of safety, it is anticipated that all YMCAs will be engaged in Accreditation by 2028.
ACCREDITATION READINESS QUESTIONNAIRE
PRAESIDIUM ACCREDITATION®
Since your YMCA’s most recent self-assessment, have you added new youth-serving programs?
QUESTION 4 OF 8
NO
YES
Y leaders can use this questionnaire to assess a Y’s readiness and timeline for engagement in Praesidium Accreditation®.
As part of our commitment to a culture of safety, it is anticipated that all YMCAs will be engaged in Accreditation by 2028.
ACCREDITATION READINESS QUESTIONNAIRE
PRAESIDIUM ACCREDITATION®
Login to the Praesidium Assessment Tool to view your Action Plan. For additional consultation or support in working on your Action Plan, contact Praesidium at capinfo@praesidiuminc.com.
Has your association been working to close the gaps identified through the child protection self-assessment and in your Action Plan?
QUESTION 5 OF 8
NO
YES
Y leaders can use this questionnaire to assess a Y’s readiness and timeline for engagement in Praesidium Accreditation®.
As part of our commitment to a culture of safety, it is anticipated that all YMCAs will be engaged in Accreditation by 2028.
ACCREDITATION READINESS QUESTIONNAIRE
PRAESIDIUM ACCREDITATION®
Do you have an active and engaged youth protection committee?
QUESTION 6 OF 8
NO
YES
Y leaders can use this questionnaire to assess a Y’s readiness and timeline for engagement in Praesidium Accreditation®.
As part of our commitment to a culture of safety, it is anticipated that all YMCAs will be engaged in Accreditation by 2028.
ACCREDITATION READINESS QUESTIONNAIRE
PRAESIDIUM ACCREDITATION®
Do you have a strong staff lead—preferably a Certified Praesidium Guardian—who can lead your association through Accreditation?
QUESTION 7 OF 8
(or) our Y has someone signed up to attend a Certified Praesidium Guardian session in the future.
NO
YES
Y leaders can use this questionnaire to assess a Y’s readiness and timeline for engagement in Praesidium Accreditation®.
As part of our commitment to a culture of safety, it is anticipated that all YMCAs will be engaged in Accreditation by 2028.
ACCREDITATION READINESS QUESTIONNAIRE
PRAESIDIUM ACCREDITATION®
Has your YMCA participated in a Readiness Cohort?
QUESTION 8 OF 8
Send a staff member to Certified Praesidium Guardian training
Request YESS Support
Request SDP support
WITH OUR PARTNERS:
Join a Y-USA-led Readiness Cohort
Get ready with your Alliance or a neighboring Y
Connect with a YMCA Champion who has achieved Accreditation
WITH FELLOW YMCAs:
Address outstanding Action Plan items
Update your Child Protection policies
Engage your Youth Protection team
ON YOUR OWN:
A variety of resources are available to help your Y prepare for Accreditation. You can mix and match tools to create a plan that fits your needs— ON YOUR OWN, WITH OTHER YMCAs, or WITH PARTNERS:
Address outstanding Action Plan items
Send a staff member to Certified Praesidium Guardian training
Engage your Youth Protection Team
We recommend the following preparation resources:
Explore what the preparation and Accreditation process would look like for this timeline.
Register Here
A 2027 COHORT MAY BE IDEAL FOR YOUR Y!
Based on your answers, consider pursuing Accreditation on an early timeline based on your Y’s capacity.
PRAESIDIUM ACCREDITATION®
PRAESIDIUM ACCREDITATION®
Send a staff member to Certified Praesidium Guardian training
Request YESS Support
Request SDP support
WITH OUR PARTNERS:
Join a Y-USA-led Readiness Cohort
Get ready with your Alliance or a neighboring Y
Connect with a YMCA Champion who has achieved Accreditation
WITH FELLOW YMCAs:
Address outstanding Action Plan items
Update your Child Protection policies
Engage your Youth Protection team
ON YOUR OWN:
A variety of resources are available to help your Y prepare for Accreditation. You can mix and match tools to create a plan that fits your needs— ON YOUR OWN, WITH OTHER YMCAs, or WITH PARTNERS:
Join a Y-USA-led Readiness Cohort
Send a staff member to Certified Praesidium Guardian training
Update your Child Protection policies
We recommend the following preparation resources:
Explore what the preparation and Accreditation process would look like for this timeline.
Register for a 2027 or 2028 Cohort Here
A 2028 COHORT MAY BE IDEAL FOR YOUR Y!
Based on your answers, consider allowing additional time for preparation before pursuing Accreditation.
(or) our Y is signed up for a future Readiness Cohort.
Update your Child Protection policies
Address outstanding Action Plan items
Get ready with your Alliance or a neighboring Y
Join a Y-USA-led Readiness Cohort
Request YESS Support
Send a staff member to Certified Praesidium Guardian training
See a timeline overview and sample roadmaps here.
Ready to pursue Praesidium Accreditation?
Y associations can pursue Accreditation by joining one of four cohorts facilitated by Praesidium each year. Cohorts are full through the first quarter of 2026, but spots are available for the remainder of 2026 and all of 2027 and 2028.
Not sure which cohort is best for your Y? No problem!
Take a quick, informal quiz to help assess your Y’s readiness.
Available at no additional fee through Y-USA, the process assists YMCAs with strengthening their abuse prevention practices and demonstrates a safety commitment to members, parents, and the community.
Praesidium Accreditation is an evidence-based process that helps organizations systematically measure the effectiveness of their prevention programs and then take steps to achieve the highest standards in abuse prevention.
WHAT IS ACCREDITATION?
Accreditation Process Overview
Accreditation FAQs
LEARN MORE ABOUT ACCREDITATION: