Safety is our top priority

There is nothing more important than the safety of our participants and members. We work every day to create a safe, fun environment, so that every person we serve has an equal opportunity to be successful in life.

Through Boys & Girls Clubs of America, Caring People Alliance is supported by the Child & Club Safety Team, comprised of safety experts who provide support, on a variety of issues, including physical and emotional safety, facilities management, emergency management, child sexual abuse prevention, and disaster preparedness. Boys & Girls Clubs of America continually updates and innovates robust safety policies, programs, and training for our staff and volunteers that are designed to protect young people from threats that are present in our society.  

Zero Tolerance for Inappropriate Behavior

We 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, safety is the first step to their success.

Ongoing Updates to Abuse Prevention Policies

We make continual updates to Clubs’ sexual abuse prevention polices, practices, and trainings that align with best practices of healthcare and school-based settings.

Comprehensive Background Checks for Safety

Our community support programs process mandatory criminal background checks for all volunteers and employees, including but not limited to FBI Fingerprinting, National Sex Offender Registry Check, and Pennsylvania Child Welfare Background Check.

Annual Health and Safety Reviews

All of our sites participate in annual site reviews from the Health Department, DHS/OCDEL, and various stakeholders including PCA, OST, STARS, and more.

Immediate Reporting of Incidents

We will immediately report any incident, regardless of severity, to the appropriate authorities, and then to Boys & Girls Clubs of America.

Board-Led Safety Committee Oversight

We operate a Board-led Safety Committee, elevating safety to the highest level of governance.

Mandatory Annual Safety Assessments

We are required to complete a mandatory annual safety assessment.

Mental Health and Social-Emotional Training

We receive and disseminate training and resources focused on mental health and social-emotional development to our youth and Club families.

Creating Safe and Inclusive Spaces for Growth

Our Clubs offer safe, inclusive spaces and experiences that empower members’ learning and growth.

• Promoting the concept that safety is a core value and precondition to operation.

• Enabling proactive identification, assessment, and mitigation of risks associated with our activities, programs, and services. 

• Fostering a positive safety culture through behavioral norms, expectations and “unwritten rules.”

• Prioritizing the safety and health of all individuals involved in our operations and affected stakeholders.

• Conducting risk assessments on a regular basis to proactively address risks and minimize the likelihood and severity of incidents. 

• Complying with all applicable laws, regulations, and standards, including the Movement’s membership requirements.

• Actively encouraging the reporting of incidents, near misses and other safety concerns without fear of reprisal.

• Promoting safety awareness through open, regular communication and engagement initiatives.  

• Providing comprehensive training to employees, volunteers, and other stakeholders to ensure they are equipped with the knowledge and skills necessary to perform their tasks safely.  

• Allocating sufficient resources (people, processes, tools and training) to supporting this safety policy.  

• Integrating safety into all aspects of our business planning and decision-making processes. 

• Ensuring all employees understand that we all have a daily obligation to pursue safety, quality and compliance as described in this safety policy.