Commitment to Safety
Safety First: Our Unwavering Promise
We prioritize the well-being of every individual in our care, creating safe spaces for growth and learning. Our comprehensive safety protocols and dedicated staff ensure a secure environment. We are steadfast in our commitment to fostering a culture of safety, respect, and responsibility.
The safety and
well-being of our
Boys & Girls Clubs family is our highest priority.
The safety of young people at Boys & Girls Clubs is always our top priority. Youth who are mentally and physically safe are better able to learn, grow, and thrive. Boys & Girls Clubs of St. Lucie County works continuously to enhance safety policies, practices, and trainings to ensure they are centered on youth’s needs. There is nothing more important to us than keeping children safe and protected.
Boys & Girls Clubs do not tolerate inappropriate behavior of any kind, including child sexual abuse or misconduct. From strict adherence to policies and guidelines within Club facilities and staffing structure, to equipping young people with the critical thinking and social-emotional skills to make healthy, safe choices, ensuring Club members are safe is the first step to their success.
Boys & Girls Clubs of America works continuously to enhance robust safety policies and actions to ensure young people remain safe in Clubs
Our National
Child & Club
Safety Department
Through our national Child & Club Safety Department, we implement layers of safety policies and guidelines to keep our kids safe including:
Background
Checks
Mandatory annual criminal background checks for staff and volunteers.
Mandatory
Reporting
Local Boys & Girls Clubs are required to immediately report any suspected abuse or victimization to the appropriate authorities and then to Boys & Girls Clubs of America.
Safety Committees
Each Club has a Board- led Safety Committee elevating safety to the highest level of governance, and are required to fulfill the same responsibilities at every Club.
Mandatory Safety Assessments
Clubs are required to complete a mandatory annual safety assessment.
3rd Party Experts
BGCA and local Clubs engage leading 3rd party safety experts on training, policies and resources. Recently BGCA worked with RAINN, the nation’s leading organization dedicated to abuse prevention, awareness, and response to conduct a safety review.
Reference
Requirement
Any employee looking to move to another Club, MUST have a reference from the previous Club to be eligible for rehire.
Continuous
Enhancement
Continual updates to Clubs’ sexual abuse prevention polices, practices, and trainings that align with best practices of healthcare and school-based settings.
Resources for
Families and Staff
Impactful training and resources for Club youth and families focused on mental health and social-emotional development.
Resources for
Youth Members
Clubs are required to prominently display key safety resources and information, including the Child Safety Helpline and Crisis Text Line
Policy
Communications
Clubs must inform parents and guardians of safety policies when they receive a youth membership application.
Join the Club Now
Join the Boys & Girls Clubs and benefit from an engaging, safe, interactive and fun environment