The Madison Area YMCA has been awarded Praesidium Accreditation® by Praesidium, the leader in abuse risk management. Praesidium Accreditation® is a prestigious honor that publicly demonstrates that the organization has achieved the highest industry standards in child safety and abuse prevention. 

This accreditation applies to all Madison Area YMCA programs and operations, across all facilities and locations, both onsite and offsite. This includes its Family Center, F.M. Kirby Children’s Center, and programs operating beyond the Y’s walls—such as camp sites and offsite aquatic facilities. It reinforces the Madison Area YMCA’s unwavering commitment to safety and to protecting those in its care wherever YMCA programs are delivered. The Madison Area YMCA successfully completed the Praesidium Accreditation process as of December 10, 2025. 

“Ensuring the safety and well-being of those in our care is foundational to who we are as a YMCA,” said Diane Mann, President & CEO of the Madison Area YMCA. “Praesidium Accreditation® reflects our unwavering commitment to prevention and reinforces the trust our families place in us every day.” 

To achieve accreditation, the Madison Area YMCA underwent a rigorous process to implement Praesidium’s Accreditation Standards across key operational areas, including 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. 

“The Madison Area YMCA demonstrated an exceptional and impressive commitment to child safety throughout the accreditation process. During our site visit, it was clear that abuse prevention is deeply embedded in the organization’s culture, practices, and leadership,” said Léa Churchill, Praesidium Accreditation Specialist. “The Madison Area YMCA has gone above and beyond to ensure there are no gaps in their abuse prevention measures, and the YMCA should be proud of the systems and accountability they have in place.”

The Madison Area YMCA is a nonprofit organization dedicated to strengthening community through youth development, healthy living, and social responsibility. Serving individuals and families of all ages and backgrounds, the Y provides programs and services that promote belonging, foster well-being, and ensure access for all through Y Scholarships and community support.