Denny Price Family YMCA offers programs for youths throughout the year, all the while ensuring children are kept safe while in the care of the staff.

“It’s everyone’s job at the Y, everyone’s re-sponsibility that safety precautions are taken,” said YMCA As-sociate Director Marge Bailey. “At the Y what is foremost in our minds is the protection of our youth.”

Both staff and facility are checked and programs are in place so each member or visitor to the YMCA is kept safe.

“We do background checks on all of our staff and volunteer coaches,” Bailey said. She said YMCA staff also are drug-tested.

Each month, the membership database is compared with the Oklahoma Sex and Violent Crime Offender Registry Web site, which prevents a sex offender from obtaining a membership or a day pass.

Doors at the facility are affixed with alarms. If an alarm were to sound, a staff member would investigate the cause of the alarm immediately. The facility also has security cameras throughout.

YMCA has emergency plans for situations such as a tornado or a building lockdown.

Bailey said staff members undergo monthly safety training and are certified in CPR and Automated External Defibrillator use.

Bailey said extra staff members are on duty for special events such as tournaments and games.

“This year we started asking spectators to sign in so we have an idea who is in our facility if we do have an emergency,” she said.

Bailey said extra staff often are present in the facility’s nursery and pool areas.

“We try to exceed state requirements,” Bailey said.

Executive Director Ken Rapp said about 8,000 children participate in youth programs at YMCA, such as its after-school program and summer day camp.

“We reach much more than just our members,” Rapp said. “You don’t have to be a member to participate in some of our youth programs.”

Lisa Gau said she’s very comfortable with her two children, ages 7 and 10, participating in the after-school camp at YMCA.

“There’s plenty of supervision,” Gau said. “They’re (children) always with a buddy if they go somewhere.”

She said the security provided by the staff ensures her children’s safety.

“They question everyone who goes through the door,” Gau said. “They ask them if they are working out or picking up their kids.

“I sign my kids in and out every day so they know where my kids are all the time.

Denny Price Family YMCA also hosts alternatives to unsupervised after-prom parties.

“Traditionally we host about four after-prom parties,” Rapp said.

“I think it is a safe and good place for families to be together and be active, ” Bailey said. “If it wasn’t for our presence at the YMCA there would be a void in the community.”