At the Boys & Girls Club of La Plata County, Club the safety and well-being of young people is our number one priority.
The Boys & Girls Club of La Plata County (BGCLPC) team works every day to create a safe, fun environment where kids have every opportunity to be successful in life. Our organization is committed to the highest standards of safety and integrity and maintains a zero-tolerance policy for inappropriate behavior of any kind, including child sexual abuse or misconduct. Our Club and programs are designed to be physically and emotionally safe places for our children and teens under the guidance of caring, trained, and trustworthy staff.
BGCLPC continually updates robust, safety policies programs and training for our staff and volunteers, designed to promote child safety and protect young people from threats that are present in our society.
BGCLPC has comprehensive safety policies in place that protect youth including, but not limited to, supervision, transportation, communication and prohibiting any private or one-on-one contact. Click here to see our full safety policies or they may also be requested from our front desk.
The Club encourages all staff, Club members and families to report any incident or situation they feel is unsafe. Through our national partnership with Praesidium, one of the nation’s leading safety experts, members and staff have access to a confidential, 24-hour, toll-free, Child Safety Hotline, 866-607-SAFE (7233) or email SafeClub@Praesidiuminc.com.
Mandatory criminal background checks (including a check of the National Sex Offender Registry) are required every year for each member of the staff and volunteer board members. In addition, criminal background checks are required for any volunteer who has direct contact with Club members.
BGCLPC program staff are mandated reporters. They are required to report any critical incident/safety concern to local authorities immediately. They are also required to report any critical incident to Boys & Girls Clubs of America within 24 hours.
BGCLPC completes a mandatory, safety assessment each year.
BGCLPC staff receive ongoing training and supervision. They participate in a wide variety of child safety training including webinars, seminars, conferences, and a semi-annual safety symposium. BGCLPC engages certified individuals with specific expertise to provide guidance on Club policies and approaches, including Praesidium, the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children, and the National Children’s Advocacy Center.
BGCLPC has a safety committee, comprised of qualified community volunteers, whose responsibility includes providing input and guidance on Club safety policies and strategies.
Any employee interested in moving to another Boys & Girls Club is required to have a reference from the previous Club, even if Clubs are within the same community.
BGCLPC complies with federal, state, and local safety laws, including those impacting facilities and vehicles.
Nationally, Boys & Girls Clubs of America works with leading experts in the areas of safety, security and technology to develop state-of-the-art solutions for Clubs.
Safety Partners Include:
National Child Safety Advisory Task Force, made up of leading experts and organizations
Blue Ribbon Taskforce, comprised of local Club leaders charged with providing input on the safety direction and key safety initiatives
Mental Health First Aid, a national program that teaches skills to recognize and respond to signs of mental illness and substance abuse
Crisis Text Line, a confidential text message service for youth in times of crisis
Nationally, Boys & Girls Clubs of America has advocated the passage of the U.S. PROTECT Act, which improved background screening systems and access. The national organization has also partnered with the FBI, the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children and the Centers for Disease Control to contribute to the development of safety practices that benefit ALL youth-serving organizations.
America’s young people deserve nothing less than our constant focus on their safety and our firm commitment to protect every child who is entrusted to our care at BGCLPC.
The safety of our Club members, their families and our staff family is a Club priority. COVID-19 protocols follow those outlined by the State of Colorado and San Juan Basin Health Department.
