Club Safety

We implement layers of safety policies and guidelines to keep our kids safe including:

Prior to working with children, all youth development professionals must pass a background and reference check.

As part of our “onboarding” process, all staff must successfully complete Praesidium Sexual Abuse Prevention training along with other relevant
safety training prior to working with children.

We have an established structured Board-Led Safety Committee that meets regularly to address and evolve safety policies, procedures, and
strategies.

Safety Policies: The Boys & Girls Clubs of North Central Illinois has comprehensive safety policies in place that protect youth – including, but not limited to, supervision, transportation, communication and prohibiting private one-on-one contact.

24-Hour Toll-free Child Safety Hotline: We encourage all staff, 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, the Boys & Girls Clubs of North Central Illinois members and staff have access to a confidential 24-hour toll-free Child Safety Hotline, 866-607-SAFE (7233) or email [email protected].

Mandatory Background Checks: Mandatory criminal background checks are required every year for every staff and board member at the Boys & Girls Clubs of North Central Illinois. In addition, criminal background checks are required for any volunteer who has direct contact with children. All potential employees and volunteers are also run through the National Sex Offender Registry.

Required Immediate Reporting: The Boys & Girls Clubs of North Central Illinois staff and volunteers are all mandated reporters. We are required to report any critical incident/safety concern to local authorities immediately. We are also required to report any critical incident to the Boys & Girls Clubs of America within 24 hours.

Mandatory Annual Safety Assessments: We complete a safety assessment each year to ensure we continually make improvements to safety at our Clubs. – We complete safety assessments twice a year to ensure we continually make improvements to safety at our Clubs.

Safety Trainings: Ongoing training and supervision of staff are critical. We participate in a wide variety of child safety training conducted such as seminars, conferences, webinars and a semi-annual safety symposium. We also engage leading third-party safety experts to provide guidance for our policies and approaches, including Praesidium, the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children, and the National Children’s Advocacy Center.

Safety Committee: The Boys & Girls Clubs of North Central Illinois has a dedicated safety committee to provide input and guidance on local policies and safety strategies. Priorities and initiatives include:

• Addressing facilities to ensure that safety policies and procedures are consistent throughout our Boys & Girls Clubs.
• Educating our children on Club policies/rules of conduct that help ensure their personal safety and the safety of others.
• Working with our community partners on joint clear communication and strategies that are adhered to regardless of location and activities with our children.

Mandatory Employee Reference: Any employee interested in moving to another Boys & Girls Club is required to have a reference from the previous Club, even if the Clubs are within the same community.

State and Local Laws: We comply with federal, state, and local safety laws, including those impacting facilities and vehicles.

Safety Partnerships: 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. 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 the Boys & Girls Clubs of North Central Illinois. To learn more about our national safety policies and actions, please visit Boys & Girls Clubs of America’s Child Safety page, here.