The YWCA and the YMCA often are considered one organization, but they both were founded and have evolved as separate entities with different missions. Both the YWCA and YMCA have also faced sexual assault accusations in their programs.

What Does YWCA Do?

The YWCA seeks to eliminate racism, empower women, promote social justice, assist families and strengthen communities. With more than 200 local associations around the U.S., the YWCA locations provide assistance to domestic violence and sexual violence survivors, child care services, family planning assistance, and are committed to racial justice and civil rights.

In 2015, the organization changed its corporate name from “Young Women’s Christian Association of the Unites States of America, Inc.” to “YWCA USA, Inc.” in order to reflect its diversity and inclusiveness. Although founded as “a Christian sisterhood,” the YWCA says its commitment is to social justice, no matter the person’s choice of religion.

What’s the Difference Between YWCA and YMCA?

The YMCA (Young Men’s Christian Association), also known as “The Y,” are two different organizations even though many local YMCA and YWCA operations have merged over the years.

The YWCA was established in 1858, and according to The NonProfit Times, began as an organization to help women from rural parts of a state adapt to life in the city when they landed a job in a bustling metropolis during the industrial revolution.

The YWCA also has always promoted the empowerment of women and offers emergency shelters and other services for domestic violence survivors. In addition to child care and youth programs, the YWCA offers job training and employment placement services, financial and economic self-sufficiency classes, basic education, tutoring, and assistance with low-income or transitional housing needs.

The YWCA continues to lead as a social justice organization that supports voting rights, racial integration, affirmative action, immigration reform measures and takes a stand against hate crimes and racial profiling.

The YMCA was founded in industrialized London in 1844 as a place for young men to seek refuge from the rough and tumble street life. The YMCA offered a peaceful gathering site for men to conduct prayer and Bible study. Noting how England’s YMCA helped men feel comfortable in new surroundings, a retired sea captain founded the U.S. YMCA in Boston at the end of 1851 for sailors and marine merchants to safely gather.

Most of today’s YMCA locations concentrate on the national nonprofit’s defined areas of focus, including youth development, healthy living and social responsibility. The YMCA offers a variety of sports and health-related programs for youth and adults, youth camps, meal programs, and more.

What Are Some YWCA Youth Programs?

The YWCA offers different programs that serve the specific needs of each community.

The YWCA of the Central Carolinas provides a number of after school and summer programs for children in low-income areas at no cost to their families. According to the organization’s website, more than 250 children in grades K-5 attend the YWCA’s centers, which focus on literary needs, parent engagement, character development and cultural enrichment.

During the Covid-19 pandemic, the Central Carolinas YWCA has been using an online program to continue helping children improve their literacy skills during quarantine time.

The YWCA of Metropolitan Chicago serves youth by offering a variety of STEAM programs that adds “Arts” to the Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) equation.

Boys ages 9 through 14 are invited to “3D- Developing Digital Diversity,” while girls ages 9 through 14 have “TechGYRLS” to foster STEAM-based interests.

For both boys and girls, the YWCA of Metropolitan Chicago offers WagiLabs for children ages 8 to 11 to have fun while sharing ideas that could help people, animals and the environment.

While the YWCA offers a safe haven for most children, unfortunately, some predators have found ways to prey upon children who are entrusted to them. Predators who abuse children are most often acquaintances (59%) or family members (34%), using their positions of power as family friends, coaches, teachers, priests, and more to perpetuate their abuse.

Youth Organization Sexual Assault

There are a number of youth organizations that provide after-school care and activities for children, including the YWCA and YMCA. These programs are used for education, socialization, development, and more. However, they can also be opportunities for abusers to find and prey on victims. Indeed, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), about 91% of child abuse is perpetrated by someone known either to the child or the child’s family—which can include people like family members, teachers, coaches, neighbors, and more.

Sadly, the issue is common—Child Protective Services finds evidence for child sex abuse claims every 9 minutes, according to the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network (RAINN).

There are steps to take to help prevent sexual abuse within a youth organization. This includes making sure that children are never one-on-one with adults and out of sight of others. Children of any age can be educated about abuse by learning what parts of their body are private and what they’re called, and let them know that it’s never okay for an adult to tell them to keep secrets.

And if a child approaches you with concerns, even if it seems unbelievable to you, believe them. Only about 38% of child victims disclose their abuse, many of whom tell a friend rather than an authority figure. Even fewer instances of abuse are reported to authorities, and still fewer are investigated. Believing children who come to you with concerns, and trusting your gut you if you feel something isn’t right, can go a long way to making sure abuse doesn’t stay hidden.

Have There Been Allegations of YWCA Assault?

More lawsuits have been leveled against the YMCA over sexual abuse, but that does not mean that there are not also similar issues within the YWCA as well. A 53-year-old man who drove a transportation van for the YWCA in Madison, Wisc. was charged last fall with sexual assault of a woman with a mental disability.

Dwain Sykes allegedly groped the woman several times inside the van where he was the driver and she was a passenger. The criminal complaint says the assaults occurred three separate times in September 2019 and were confirmed by video surveillance inside the van, according to Madison police.

Sykes is facing a second-degree sexual assault charge, which is a felony. He could receive a maximum of 25 years in prison followed by 15 years of supervision.

The victim’s mother told the Wisconsin State Journal’s Madison.com that her daughter functions at the level of an 8-year-old and is considered an “adult at risk” according to Wisconsin’s statutes. The mother also reportedly said her daughter may have higher levels of functioning in the areas of socialization and communication.

When interviewed by Safe Harbor, a local child advocacy organization that assists interviews with trauma victims, the victim allegedly said she told Sykes to stop and moved his hand away several times, but he persisted.

“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 Vanessa McDowell, CEO of YWCA Madison, in a statement. “We immediately contacted law enforcement and are cooperating with their investigation.” McDowell noted that Sykes had actually assaulted two riders.

Filing a YWCA Sexual Assault Lawsuit

The YWCA has a long history of providing resources and education about sexual assault, and has emphasized the importance of believing all victims. But this stance may be complicated in the face of sexual assault litigation against the YWCA itself.

A growing number of people are coming forward with litigation against the YWCA and YMCA over past abuse. The uptick in litigation stems partially from the fact that in recent years, several states have expanded their statutes of limitations regarding childhood sexual abuse.

If you or your child suffered from sexual assault or abuse in a YWCA or YMCA child care program—even if it happened years or decades ago—you may be able to file a YWCA sexual assault lawsuit.

Of course, filing a lawsuit cannot take away the pain and suffering caused by abuse, but it can at least help to provide some kind of compensation, as well as hold those responsible for your suffering—including an organization that may have ignored it or covered it up—accountable for their actions.

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. Consulting an attorney can help you determine if you have a claim, navigate the complexities of litigation, and maximize your compensation.

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