The YWCA has been in the United States for more than 150 years and offers a number of services and programs for children.

YWCA childcare programs are highly popular and can help low-income women and families get the childcare they need to remain in the workforce. However, some programs have been accused of failing to stop YWCA sexual assault perpetrated by employees or volunteers or even other children in the program and have been the subject of YWCA and YMCA lawsuits. This is part of a larger trend of litigation being filed against youth organizations all across the country.

What Is the YWCA?

YWCA originally stood for the Young Women’s Christian Association, according to YWCA USA’s FAQ page. However, the organization officially changed its name to YWCA USA, Inc. in 2015 to reflect “YWCA’s diverse and inclusive nature” and a “commitment to social justice, no matter someone’s religion.” The website also states that its mission is to “eliminate racism, empower women, stand up for social justice, help families, and strengthen communities.”

The organization was founded more than 160 years ago in New York City and is one of the oldest women’s organizations. YWCA USA has 225 associations with more than 1,300 locations across the nation and serves more than 2.3 million women and families. YWCA USA employs some 12,500 people but relies heavily on its 52,000 volunteers.

The organization works through local chapters to offer services and host local events.

What YWCA Programs Are There?

YWCA programs include childcare services and domestic and sexual violence services.

According to its website, the YWCA has offered childcare services since 1868. Each year, approximately 200,000 children take part in the organization’s early childcare programs through childcare, Head Start, and Pre-K programs. Women are able to work because of the low or no-cost childcare programs, says the YWCA website. Further, the organization offers after-school programs and summer camps to children of all ages.

The YWCA has the “largest network of domestic and sexual violence service providers in the nation,” according to the organization’s website. Services for domestic and sexual violence are reportedly provided at 150 YWCAs across the country.

The organization also offers racial justice resources such as racial profiling checklists for use in schools and communities. The YWCA also collects and analyzes data related to the empowerment of women and the health and safety of women and girls.

Have Any Sexual Assault Lawsuits Been Filed Against YWCA?

Despite its sexual violence services and programs, YWCA childcare is joining the ranks of the Boy Scouts and other youth organizations with allegations that children in their programs have been sexually assaulted. Youth organizations may be a great way of providing children with after-school programs to help with tutoring or personal growth and development, however, they can also be the site of sexual abuse. Child sexual abuse is a major problem in the United States, and the vast majority of cases are perpetrated by someone known to the victim, such as family members (34 percent), or acquaintances (59 percent), such as family friends, coaches, teachers, priests, and more.

A Pennsylvania YWCA sexual assault lawsuit alleges that a three-year-old was pinned down in the bathroom by another child with his genitals exposed. The alleged victim’s mother claims that YWCA staff failed to properly supervise the children in the bathroom. His mother says that the problem is chronic.

A teacher discovered the children, but the staff did not notify the mother about the incident, according to the York Daily Record. Instead, the mother says she found out from a report left in her child’s backpack.

The YWCA has reportedly pledged to vigorously defend itself, claiming that no sexual encounter occurred between the children and that the teacher acted appropriately under the circumstances. However, the attorney representing the plaintiff says that the encounter impacted the plaintiff’s son who suffers from emotional and psychological distress from the incident.

The newspaper reports that the plaintiff contacted the state Department of Human Services and the YWCA childcare program was cited by the agency as a result.

“An institution can respond to the state and say, ‘OK, we’re going to change,’’’ the plaintiff’s attorney told York reporters. “But sometimes, the unfortunate reality is institutions need to be hit in their pocketbook before they start instituting real change.”

YWCA Employee Charged with Sexual Assault

A Madison man was charged with sexual assault for allegedly groping a woman with a mental disability while he worked as a driver with the YWCA, according to the Wisconsin State Journal. Incidents happened on multiple occasions in September of 2019 and were caught on camera, the journal reports.

Dwain Sykes, a 53-year-old man, reportedly drove a van for the YWCA’s JobRide program. He was fired by the YWCA after he was accused of inappropriately touching more than one woman while driving the van.

“The driver’s actions are not representative of the values of the YWCA Madison and were in direct violation of our code of conduct,” said the Madison YWC’s director.

The victim’s mother reportedly told investigators that her daughter is an adult, but functions at the ability of an 8-year-old and needs help during daily life solving problems and processing new information.

“I said stop, too, but he wouldn’t listen, and I tried picking up his hand and moving his hand … to give him the clue that I wasn’t OK with it,” reportedly said the survivor in an interview about the incident. She also said that Sykes told her and the other woman not to tell anyone about the sexual assault and bought them candy and other items.

According to legal filings, the driver knew that the woman had a mental disability. He reportedly faces a second-degree felony charge for sexual assault of a mentally ill person, which can lead to up to 25 years in prison and an addition 15 years on parole.

Can You File a YWCA Sexual Assault Lawsuit?

If you or your child suffered sexual assault or abuse in a YWCA or YMCA childcare program — even if the abuse took place years or even decades ago — you may be able to file a sexual assault lawsuit. Incidents could have been perpetrated by either a YWCA employee or volunteer or by another participant in the program that the YWCA failed to properly prevent or address. While litigation cannot take away the pain and suffering caused by abuse, it can at least help to provide some kind of compensation, as well as hold those responsible for your suffering accountable for their actions and inactions.

Sexual assault lawsuit compensation may be awarded for emotional, psychological, and physical injuries you or your child suffered. It is important to act soon because a statute of limitations may apply to your claim.

Several states have introduced changes to their statutes of limitations, extending the time in which survivors can file child sex abuse lawsuits and providing lookback windows for lawsuits previously excluded by the statute of limitations. Some lookback windows have already closed, but in other states, like California, there is still have time left.

Filing a lawsuit can be a daunting prospect, so Top Class Actions has laid the groundwork for you by connecting you with an experienced attorney. An experienced attorney can help you decide whether a sexual assault lawsuit is the right choice, as well as navigate the legal process including filing the complaint, preparing for trial, and collecting any potential evidence.

This article is not legal advice. It is presented
for informational purposes only.