When Michigan leaders talk about protecting children, they’re increasingly talking about prevention—the practical, upstream work that helps families thrive before a crisis happens. That’s why Governor Gretchen Whitmer’s recent appointment of Parrish Underwood, President and CEO of the YMCA of Metropolitan Detroit, to the Child Abuse and Neglect Prevention (Children Trust Michigan) Board of Directors matters for families across our state.
Underwood was appointed as a member representing parents for a term beginning December 20, 2025 and ending December 19, 2028, bringing a family-centered lens to a board that exists to help communities stop abuse and neglect before it starts. And if you know the Y, you know this work isn’t new—it’s core to who the YMCA has always been.
What Children Trust Michigan does—and why prevention is the point
Children Trust Michigan (also known as the state’s Child Abuse and Neglect Prevention Board) exists for one purpose: help Michigan communities prevent child abuse and neglect by strengthening families. It supports local prevention partners with funding, education, and resources, and it serves as Michigan’s chapter of Prevent Child Abuse America.
What it means to keep kids safe at the Y
A lot of people think of the Y as swim lessons, camps, gyms, and afterschool care—and it is. But behind those programs is a safety infrastructure built to protect children in every setting.
YMCA of the USA outlines child protection practices that U.S. Ys must implement to remain in good standing. These include required prevention policies, criminal background checks, screening against sex offender registries, regular assessments, and annual training for staff and volunteers on preventing and responding to sexual abuse and misconduct. The Y also emphasizes reporting: allegations involving minors must be reported to appropriate authorities, alongside additional reporting expectations to Y-USA.
This is the kind of operational rigor that aligns directly with Children Trust Michigan’s purpose. Prevention is not only education and awareness; it’s also policies, training, accountability, and a culture where adults understand their responsibility to protect kids.
The bigger signal: prevention is everyone’s work
Underwood’s appointment is a reminder that child safety doesn’t live in one agency, one nonprofit, or one system. It lives in the overlap—where trusted institutions meet family needs early, often, and without stigma.
Children Trust Michigan is built to fund and elevate what works statewide. The YMCA is built to show up in neighborhoods with programs, relationships, and safe spaces for youth. Put those together—and you get a model that looks a lot like what prevention should be: coordinated, community-based, and relentlessly focused on helping families succeed.
A moment to celebrate—and a call to stay involved
It’s worth celebrating when Michigan elevates leaders who understand that protecting kids starts with supporting parents, caregivers, and community networks.
Parrish Underwood’s appointment to the Child Abuse and Neglect Prevention Board underscores what the Y has represented for generations: a commitment to families, a commitment to youth, and a commitment to safety—not as a slogan, but as a daily practice.
If you’re looking for a place to channel your hope into action, consider how you can support prevention in your own community—volunteer, learn about child safety practices, donate to trusted prevention partners, or simply get involved with the organizations creating safe spaces for kids.
Because the strongest communities don’t just respond to harm. They work—together—to prevent it.