Metrowest Earns Praesidium Accreditation
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Renee Henrich │ Henrich Communications
renee@henrichcommunications.com │ 617-631-0337
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
MetroWest YMCA Reinforces Commitment to Safety with Praesidium Accreditation in Child Abuse Prevention
FRAMINGHAM, MA – April 14, 2026 – Demonstrating a sustained commitment to the highest standards in child sexual abuse prevention, the MetroWest YMCA launched the Five Days of Action campaign this week by announcing the nonprofit has earned the rigorous Praesidium Accreditation.
The Praesidium Accreditation represents the leading credential in sexual abuse prevention, guided by a process that evaluates operational areas such as policies, screening and selection, training, monitoring and supervision, internal feedback systems, consumer participation, responding, and administrative practices. Praesidium Accreditation lasts for three years and represents a sustained commitment to safety.
"Praesidium Accreditation reflects what the MetroWest YMCA has always stood for—a place where every person who walks through our doors can feel safe, supported, and valued," said Rick MacPherson, President & CEO of the MetroWest YMCA. "April is Child Abuse Prevention Month, yet this recognition is a reaffirmation of the standard we hold ourselves to every single day. Our families and our community deserve nothing less."
The MetroWest YMCA’s announcement comes at the start of the national Y’s annual Five Days of Action, a weeklong campaign designed to raise awareness and inspire adults to take action to protect children from sexual abuse. In addition to providing resources to help parents and caregivers identify red flags, the MetroWest Y will share information specific to the campaign theme: Keeping Kids Safe in the Digital Space.
The MetroWest YMCA will offer three Keeping Kids Safe at the Y information sessions at its Framingham Branch, where parents and caregivers can learn how to help keep kids safe, and what the YMCA team is doing to protect kids, families, and communities.
- Tuesday, April 14 – Studio B – 5:00-6:00 PM
- Wednesday, April 15 – Studio C – 9:30-10:30 AM
- Thursday, April 16 – Studio C – 12:00-1:00 PM
Additionally, staff will review training, provide information in the lobby, and will be wearing blue on April 15 in recognition of Child Abuse Prevention Month.
With locations in Framingham, the Outdoor Center in Hopkinton, and soon the Team Hoyt Community YMCA Early Learning Center in Ashland, the MetroWest YMCA has been a trusted partner in creating healthier, connected communities for generations of Massachusetts families since 1960. The MetroWest YMCA provides inclusive programming for more than 25,000 community members annually at every stage of life—including early learning and childcare, before- and after-school programs, summer camps, fitness and wellness classes, aquatics, sports, enrichment activities, nutrition education and food security, and health intervention programs.
"Praesidium Accreditation means that an independent, rigorous process examined how we operate—our training, our policies, our culture—and confirmed what we hold ourselves to every single day," said Jeanne Sherlock, COO of MetroWest YMCA. "Safety isn't something we built for this process; it is the foundation our team operates from. That confirmation gives our families and community the assurance that the trust they place in us is well-founded."
To learn more about the MetroWest YMCA’s Praesidium Accreditation, the Five Days of Action in Child Abuse Prevention Month, or any of the nonprofit’s impactful programs and services supporting community members of all ages, visit metrowestymca.org.
About the MetroWest YMCA
The MetroWest YMCA is a cause-driven nonprofit dedicated to creating healthier, connected communities through youth development, healthy living, and social responsibility. The MetroWest YMCA provides inclusive programming that strengthens the body, mind, and spirit of more than 25,000 community members annually at every stage of life—including early learning and childcare, before- and after-school programs, summer camps, fitness and wellness classes, aquatics, sports, enrichment activities, and health intervention programs. Eliminating financial barriers to engagement, the MetroWest YMCA (EIN 04-2281530) ensures everyone in the community has the opportunity to grow, learn, and thrive. Visit metrowestymca.org for more information.
About Praesidium Accreditation®
Praesidium® is the leading innovator of scientifically based solutions designed to transform the way organizations approach the prevention of sexual abuse. Praesidium’s expertise, consulting, and solutions help to foster safer environments for children, vulnerable adults, staff, volunteers, and all parties involved. For over 30 years, Praesidium has trained more than one million people online and hundreds of thousands in person. As the largest and most comprehensive sexual abuse risk management firm globally, Praesidium knows how sexual abuse happens and, more importantly, how to prevent it.