YMCA of the Virginia Peninsulas receives the Highest Honor in Child Abuse Prevention

Newport News, VA – October 10, 2025 – The YMCA of the Virginia Peninsulas is proud to announce that it has been awarded Praesidium Accreditation®, the highest honor for child abuse prevention practices, by Praesidium, the national leader in abuse risk management. This prestigious accreditation publicly demonstrates the YMCA’s unwavering commitment to creating the safest possible environment for children and vulnerable individuals in its care.

Praesidium Accreditation® is recognized as the gold standard in abuse prevention. To achieve this distinction, the YMCA of the Virginia Peninsulas 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 the YMCA’s successful implementation of these standards.

Following this process, Praesidium confirmed that the YMCA successfully met the highest industry benchmarks for safety and risk management. “Our YMCA is one of the largest child care providers in the region, and the safety of those we serve is our top priority,” said Adam Klutts, president and CEO of the YMCA of the Virginia Peninsulas. “Receiving Praesidium Accreditation reinforces our commitment to protecting children and families in the communities we serve. We will never compromise on safety,” Klutts added.

Praesidium has spent over 30 years helping organizations prevent sexual abuse, reviewing thousands of cases to identify root causes and developing best practices. Accreditation provides organizations with proven tools, expert consultation, and ongoing accountability to maintain a culture of safety.

The YMCA of the Virginia Peninsulas joins a select group of YMCAs nationwide that have earned this distinction, setting a powerful example of leadership in child protection.

### Media Contact:
Skip Ferebee
skip.ferebee@ymcavp.org
757-253-7925 ext. 3104

### About the YMCA of the Virginia Peninsulas
The YMCA of the Virginia Peninsulas is a cause-driven charity that has been strengthening communities in the Virginia Peninsulas for almost 130 years through youth development, healthy living, and social responsibility. Across the Association, 18 facilities engage 50,000+ men, women, and children — regardless of age, income, or background — to nurture the potential of children and teens, improve our community’s health and well-being, and provide opportunities to give back and support neighbors. The Peninsula Y has long-standing relationships and physical presence not just to promise but to deliver lasting personal and social change.

### 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 members, including licensed social workers, lawyers, healthcare 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.