Safe Sitter® At Your Y

Over 40 Y's have found a match between the mission of the Y and the mission of the Safe Sitter® program, a competency-based, highly structured babysitting preparation course designed for young adolescents no younger than 11. Ask Sherry Mercer, Instructor for the Sheridan County Y in Wyoming, and she'll tell you that Safe Sitter® is more than just life-saving, it's life-affirming. "Two organizations making a difference - concerned with the well-being of youth and families - bonded by missions believing in the inherent worth of everyone - paired in the hope that by caring, the world will be a better place now and in the years to come. What better partners than the Y and Safe Sitter®?" said Mercer.

For years, adolescent babysitters have been "stepping in" for parents who are "stepping out." And while many of these young people bring with them a love for children and an earnest desire to do their job well, few are prepared for, or even aware of, the responsibilities they assume. When Safe Sitter® was established in 1980, parents no longer had to hope for the best when choosing a babysitter for their children.

The Safe Sitter® Teaching Site

Y's become Safe Sitter® teaching sites by paying a one-time fee (which provides lifetime support) and sending staff to a one-day workshop. After becoming a registered teaching site, Y's usually offer the course as part of their after school programs, during school breaks, or on Saturdays. Instructors at the Baxter Y in Indianapolis, Indiana, teach Safe Sitter® in several local schools, saying. "The existing format of the after school program offers a launching board to recruit students."

The Monroe County Y in Bloomington, Indiana offers its very own "Safe Sitter® Extended Days" to give graduates of the program immediate and practical experience in using the skills they've just learned. According to Nancy Wroblewski, Fit Trip Coordinator at Monroe County, the Y teaches the 2-day, 12 hour Safe Sitter® program during three days of its summer camp program. It's taught Monday through Wednesday and offered four different weeks during June and July.

"Then we offer a "Safe Sitter® Extended Days" program on Thursday and Friday of the same weeks which gives our new Safe Sitter® graduates the option of signing up to help with the younger children at camp," Wroblewski said. "The new grads can help the camp counselors and play with the younger children in the camps or help in our Y Kids Play 'n Learn program. The kids love doing it! Safe Sitter® is a popular program and our "Extended Days" program gives our new grads a practicum for babysitting."

Y teaching sites not only impact the lives of the families, but also enjoy increased visibility and enhanced relationships in their community. "Offering the Safe Sitter® program has opened up a whole new avenue for us to reach our members," said one, Safe Sitter® Instructor at the Cooper Street Y in Arlington, Texas. "I not only get to connect with the young adolescents in our community, but I also get to work with parents on building a solid family network. We're proud that Safe Sitter® allows us yet another chance to build strong families!"

The Safe Sitter® Instructor

Almost 5000 Safe Sitter® Instructors are working hard to keep children safe and sound. They typically become passionate about the need for Safe Sitter® because they remember when they babysat and weren't always sure what to do. Instructors frequently say they like giving young sitters more confidence and knowledge on how to deal with problems. For example, pairing Safe Sitter® students with younger children in their Leaders in Training, the Hamilton County Y in Fishers, Indiana, advertises their after school courses by saying, "This program is designed to provide youth with practical experience mentoring and working with younger children. It's a great leadership opportunity!"

The Safe Sitter® Course

Safe Sitter® offers three course options - Safe Sitter® (1-day) is a 6 ½-hour essential curriculum designed for busy schedules, Safe Sitter® (1-day with CPR) is a 6 ½-hour curriculum designed to include teaching CPR in a one day course, and Safe Sitter® is a 12-hour curriculum designed for comprehensive coverage that also includes CPR. The section format lends itself to flexible scheduling. Teaching methodology includes hands-on manikin practice, small group interactive learning, role-playing, and games. The low ratio of students to instructors ensures each student personal attention and active participation. The students must pass a written and practical exam proving mastery of key concepts.

Students are charged a moderate fee, although scholarships are available to those in need. Curriculum includes:

Care of a choking child/infant and CPR
Practical child care techniques
Injury prevention and first aid
Babysitting as a business
Safety precautions
Behavior management

Indianapolis pediatrician, Dr. Patricia A. Keener, wrote the medically accurate program. Since 1980, over 500,000 Safe Sitter® trained babysitters have provided a pool of prepared sitters coast to coast in the United States.

The Safe Sitter® Student

Safe Sitter® is the only national, non-profit organization devoted exclusively to preparing adolescents to be safe, nurturing babysitters. But Safe Sitters learn far more than babysitting skills. They learn life skills-skills that will benefit them throughout their lives, especially in their future role as parents. Safe Sitter® has a far-reaching vision. Better Sitters Today. Better Parents Tommorrow.®

"By offering Safe Sitter® at the Y, we are enabling young people to be more equipped to serve their family and community by teaching them valuable skills to help provide safe care for younger children," said Theresa Whittington, Youth and Family Director at the Y of Central Ohio-Hilltop Branch in Columbus, Ohio. "It empowers the teens and gives them confidence to use their skills when babysitting, taking care of younger brothers and sisters, or volunteering in our youth programs."

For more information on becoming a Safe Sitter® teaching site, contact:
Safe Sitter, Inc.
8604 Allisonville Road, Suite 248
Indianapolis, IN 46250-1597
317-596-5001
800-255-4089
safesitter@safesitter.org
www.safesitter.org