COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo., Feb. 13, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Taking the next step in creating a culture of safety, USA Swimming this week hosted more than 150 USA Swimming members and NGB representatives at the 2015 Safe Sport Leadership Conference at the Colorado Springs Marriott.

Featuring tangible, actionable tools that can be easily implemented at the LSC and club levels throughout the country, the conference covered topics such as effective hiring practices, risk identification and crisis management.

"This was a seminal moment for Safe Sport and the swimming community, as attendees left empowered with tools and information to foster positive sport culture in their club, LSC, NGB or organization," said Susan Woessner, USA Swimming Safe Sport Director. "The response has been overwhelmingly positive and we're grateful to the presenters who shared their commitment and expertise to make our sport a safer environment for all."

The three-day conference began with a keynote address from Danielle Bostick, a former swimmer and sexual abuse victim, followed by several sessions. The presentations included an FBI representative, USA Swimming Board of Directors members, Safe Sport staff and industry specialists.

More information from the individual sessions of the Safe Sport Leadership Conference is here. For more on the Safe Sport program, visit www.usaswimming.org/protect.

"This year's Safe Sport Leadership Conference was a true milestone for our sport," said Chuck Wielgus, USA Swimming Executive Director. "Our organizational leaders and membership are becoming increasingly comfortable in talking about very serious issues, and this in-turn is raising awareness throughout our sport, and raising awareness is the key to reducing abuse."

The 2015 Safe Sport Leadership Conference line-up:

• Get the Right People on Board: Effective Hiring Practices: Melanie Lockwood Herman, Nonprofit Risk Management Center Executive Director
• Facility Management and Risk Identification: Michael Osborn, FBI
• Bystander Engagement: Lauren Sogor, Public Health Communications Expert
• Managing Bullying and Conflict: Nancy Richey, Age-group swim group
• When Culture Breaks Down: Crisis Management: Melanie Lockwood Herman, Nonprofit Risk Management Center Executive Director
• Online Child Exploitation: What Can I Do?: Michael Osborn, FBI

About USA Swimming
As the National Governing Body for the sport of swimming in the United States, USA Swimming is a 400,000-member service organization that promotes the culture of swimming by creating opportunities for swimmers and coaches of all backgrounds to participate and advance in the sport through clubs, events and education. Our membership is comprised of swimmers from the age group level to the Olympic Team, as well as coaches and volunteers. USA Swimming is responsible for selecting and training teams for international competition including the Olympic Games, and strives to serve the sport through its core objectives: Build the base, Promote the sport, Achieve competitive success. For more information, visit www.usaswimming.org.

Contact: Tommy Schield (tschield@usaswimming.org / 719.866.3599)

SOURCE USA Swimming

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