SEWICKLEY VALLEY YMCA EARNS HIGHEST HONOR FOR ABUSE PREVENTION PRACTICES
Sewickley, May 29, 2025 – Sewickley Valley YMCA has been awarded Praesidium Accreditation® by Praesidium, the leader in abuse risk management. Praesidium Accreditation® is a prestigious honor that publicly demonstrates the organization has worked to achieve the highest industry standards in abuse prevention.
To achieve Accreditation, Sewickley Valley YMCA underwent a rigorous process to implement Praesidium’s Accreditation Standards, focusing on eight primary operational areas within their business: policies, screening and selection, training, monitoring and supervision, consumer participation, internal feedback systems, responding, and administrative practices. Praesidium then verified Sewickley Valley YMCA’s successful implementation of these standards. The Sewickley Valley YMCA will be accredited for three years, and during this time will commit to uphold fundamental organizational values and stringent safety practices that demonstrate their commitment to protecting those in their care from abuse.
Praesidium Accreditation® provides solid proof of sound risk management practices and the honor distinguishes Sewickley Valley YMCA from others in their industry. “We are pleased to send the message that we will not compromise the safety of those in our care—for any reason,” said Trish Hooper, Sewickley Valley YMCA CEO. “As an entire organization, we are dedicated and committed to proactively keeping those in our care safe from sexual abuse.”
To get more resources or to submit a report, visit www.sewickleyymca.org/protectkids
About Praesidium
Praesidium specializes in preventing sexual abuse in organizations that serve youth and vulnerable adults. Over a period in excess of 30 years, the company has reviewed over 4,000 cases of abuse within organizations to determine the root causes of sexual abuse within organizational settings. Praesidium employs more than 50 staff, including licensed social workers, lawyers, health care researchers, and other experts. The company has served over 5,000 clients with a broad range of products and services to aid organizations in preventing abuse, including online and instructor–led trainings, organizational risk assessments, model policies, and background checks. Having trained more than one million people online and hundreds of thousands in person, Praesidium is the largest and most comprehensive sexual abuse risk management firm globally.