YMCA of the Rockies, which includes locations in Estes Park and Granby, has received the Praesidium Accreditation. Praesidium is an organization focused on preventing the sexual abuse of children and vulnerable adults within institutions.

According to a news release, staff from Estes Park Center, Snow Mountain Ranch and Camp Chief Ouray collaborated to earn this accreditation.

“As an organization, YMCA of the Rockies is committed to the prevention of abuse. We serve more than 210,000 people per year and safety of our guests remains the top priority. Because we serve a large proportion of children, working with Praesidium to create peace of mind for parents is particularly important to the prevention of abuse,” Estes Park Center Program Director Susan Taylor said in a news release.

According to the YMCA, this accreditation is highest industry standard in abuse prevention. Praesidium provides services such as risk assessment, training, policy development and monitoring to help organizations create safe environments. The comprehensive accreditation process was established in 2004. It involves an eight-step series, including refining policies, strengthening screening and selection tools, investing in training, increasing monitoring and supervision, building internal feedback systems, educating consumers, responding appropriately, and strengthening administrative practices.

YMCA of the Rockies is among the first 50 YMCAs in the country to accomplish accreditation, which can take up to a year to earn through Praesidium’s comprehensive review of all of the organization’s practices. The current accreditation will last for three years, according to the news release.

YMCA of the USA works with Praesidium to engage in safe practices for working with children. As the largest YMCA camp and conference center in the world, YMCA of the Rockies in Colorado offers retreats and activities at two vacation centers and one traditional summer camp.

For more details about the Praesidium Accreditation and other ways the YMCA helps protect children and all guests, visit YMCARockies.org and PraesidiumAccreditation.com.