Sexual Assault Shouldn’t Be on the Agenda at Summer Camp

But Too Many Kids Have Been Hurt at the YMCA.

If you or your child were sexually assaulted at a Y facility, you may have a lawsuit.

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YMCA Sexual Assault Lawsuit

Just How Bad Is Sexual Abuse at the YMCA?

It isn’t good. The places where kids gather to play, learn, socialize, and grow strong should be safe, if not sacred. Think sports leagues, after-school programs, and summer camps – all designed by the global nonprofit YMCA to be an extension of a child or teen’s community/tribe, inspiring trust.

But predators go where children go. If your child has been abused by a YMCA coach, camp counselor, other employee, volunteer, or peer, please let us help you hold the organization accountable with a civil lawsuit.

“When adults collectively understand the risks and red flags of child sexual abuse, we can do more to keep kids safe. When we all take action, abuse is preventable.”

– YMCA of the USA

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We’re changing the narrative about lawsuits.^™

Did You Know That Predators Have Been Found at the YMCA?

Shocked? We’re outraged at discovering the extent to which this type of abuse has taken hold in a historically revered neighborhood organization that’s about as American as hot dogs on the 4th of July; but, more so, we’re upset (not surprised) that organizers and decision-makers have a history of not making every effort to keep the environment safe for kids.

So Are Kids Safe at the Y?

Not enough for them or you (parents) to let your guard down, not anymore. Especially in bathrooms, bath houses, and locker rooms, growing incidents of sex abuse have been reported.

The abuse falls into three categories:

abuse by a YMCA employee (ex: counselor, coach, caregiver)
abuse by a YMCA member
abuse by a YMCA event participant (ex: another child)

How Expansive Is the Y’s Reach in America?

YMCA has 2,700 separate organizations with branches in 10,000 US inner city neighborhoods, working with 21 million men, women, and children to “strengthen communities through youth development, healthy living, and social responsibility, employing 19,000 staff and supported by 600,000 volunteers.”¹

Applicants for both employees and volunteers are subject to standard-question background checks, including personal and employment references, criminal convictions, driving records, other related reference checks, and a drug test reserved for employee applicants only. The Y claims it checks the national sex offender registry nightly.²

95% of new sexual offenses are committed by someone not previously convicted of a sexual crime.

Is There a YMCA Sexual Abuse Lawsuit?

Yes. Some of them are decades old, but here, we are focusing on current offenses of children and teens.

CASE 1: In Hart County, Georgia, a family is suing the Bell Family Branch of the YMCA, where their then-12-year-old daughter was groomed and molested by her male gymnastics coach. The abuser was arrested years later after the victim came forward and reported what he had done to her from age 12 throughout her teenage years. Because of her bravery, other victims of the same coach came forward. Sadly, shortly after her abuser’s bond hearing, the young woman chose to end her life.
CASE II: Also in Hart County, another family filed a lawsuit against the same YMCA branch in 2020. In this case, a child was allegedly sexually abused by an unsupervised older minor child while in a childcare program at the Y. This lawsuit centers on the organization’s failed duty to constantly supervise children and to ensure a safe environment for them.

What Can You Do to
Protect Your Children?

It’s critical for parents to ask questions and gather certain information when registering your child for Y events where they will be under someone else’s care, including:

How many children will be participating in an event?
What is the ratio of children to supervisors?
What are the supervisor’s credentials?
What are the names of the supervisors?
How are the supervisors trained or educated in childcare?

What Are the Signs of Child Sexual Abuse?

A parent absolutely never wants to consider the idea that their child may have been sexually abused. We know – we hate for any child to be hurt. However, it’s essential that, as a parent, you understand how to watch out for signature behaviors of abuse survivors so you can help identify possible problems and, most importantly, remove your child from a potentially abusive situation as soon as possible.

Here are some signs to looks for:

Clingier than usual.
Unusual or new fears, sometimes around touch, being alone, being with a particular person, or in a particular place.
Distracted, zoning out, not listening.
Eating, sleeping, or hygiene changes.
Regressive behaviors such as bed-wetting or soiling after being toilet trained, acting or wanting to be treated like a baby/younger child again.
Showing knowledge of sexual behavior beyond their developmental age.

Sexual themes in artwork, stories, and play.
“Acting out” behaviors – aggression, destructive behaviors.
“Acting in” behaviors – withdrawal from friends and family, depression.
Problems with friends and schoolwork/attendance.
Vague symptoms of illness, such as headache or tummy ache.
Self-harm – cutting, risky behavior.
Asking vague questions or making vague statements about topics such as secrets, unusual “games,” or adult behaviors.

Where Do We Come In & Why?

Since we were founded in 2016, A Case for Women and our affiliate A Case for Justice have focused on shining a light on sexual abuse cases.

For this initiative, we are honored to be collaborating with the law firm of Deitch + Rogers, whose attorneys are handling both the cases cited above.

By conducting in-depth investigations, teaming with top-notch experts, and using cutting-edge legal techniques, Deitch + Rogers attorneys leave no stone unturned in their pursuit of justice. The firm’s dedication to their clients’ well-being extends beyond the courtroom, and they are acclaimed for compassionate support and clear communication throughout the legal process.

Why Should You Trust
A Case for Women?

We know you – even if we’ve never met you – the shaky whisper you summon to speak your truth, or your child’s.

We exist because we believe it’s possible for your family to reclaim emotional power by coming forward with your story, even if you choose to do it as a John Doe or Jane Doe. A big percentage of the thousands of survivors we help choose to remain anonymous, including survivors of Larry Nassar, Dr. Robert Anderson, Dr. Richard Strauss, the Boy Scouts, the Catholic Church, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, to name some of the cases we’ve supported.

Bottom line: The impact when you take a stand affects so many others who have been hurt, and may prevent a child or teen from suffering what your child endured.

Civil lawsuits, unlike criminal lawsuits, don’t just go after individual perpetrators to put them behind bars; we go after the system that chose to ignore survivors and pretend your story wasn’t earth-shattering. That is perhaps the worst crime.

We are here to help 100%. Always. Let us do this for you and your family. It’s also the best way to find honest healing and move forward less shackled to the trauma. We’re here 24/7/365.

Sources

Elizabeth L. Jeglic, PhD, “Sex Offender Registries: Are they keeping our children safe?” Psychology Today, August 9, 2019.
Unnamed, “YMCA of the USA,” Wikipedia, 2024.
Sara Berlinger, “YMCA guests weigh in on sex offender registry check for all members, employees,” NBC, February 8, 2018.
Unnamed, “COBB FAMILY SUES BOWERSVILLE MAN IN ALLEGED RAPE OF THEIR DAUGHTER AT YMCA,” Atlanta Crime News (Deitch + Rogers, LLC), August 2024.

WE WEAR THIS BADGE PROUDLY. Because, in a time when legal services are still dominated by men, only a Women Owned Business can bring the woman’s perspective to issues that disproportionately affect women.

We are the ones, far more than men, who are injured by sexual assault, financial scams, the gender pay gap, toxic chemicals, and the misguided practices of powerful pharmaceutical companies.