Safety is Fundamental
At Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Florida, we practice safe behaviors, take action to put safety first, and speak up to ensure both the physical and emotional safety of others. We recognize that for many of the children we serve, the world can be a perilous place, and that our Clubs represent a safe haven. Thus, from the layout and features of our physical Club space to the careful screening and training of our staff and volunteers, safety is central to every facet of Club life.
We’re committed to providing:
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A safe, positive environment (encompassing both physical and emotional safety)
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Youth development experts trained in social-emotional learning and trauma informed care
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Innovative, stringent safety policies that protect the physical and emotional well being of our young people
Child & Club Safety Handbook >>
Ensuring Safety
At Boys & Girls Clubs, we incorporate national safety standards and work with community partners to consistently strengthen our safety programming through new trainings.
Any employee interested in moving to another Club is required to have a reference from their previous Club, even if the Clubs are within the same community.
Policies
Our Safety Policies & Procedures outline clear steps to prevent safety issues and concerns.
- All Visitors must sign in and out of the facility
- No parent or visitor is allowed to walk through facility without escort
- Anyone picking up a child from our Clubs must be on the approved list
- We prohibit one-on-one contact between adults and Club members.
Access to 24-Hour Child Safety Hotline
All staff, members and families are encouraged to report any incident or situation they may feel is unsafe. Through our national partnership with Praesidium, one of the nation’s leading safety experts, anyone has access to this resource by calling 1-866-607-SAFE (7233) or emailing at SafeClub@Praesidiuminc.com.
National Priority: Click HERE to learn how Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Florida partners with Boys & Girls Clubs of America to ensure that our standards are continually strengthened to ensure safety of every Club member.
Drug Abuse Awareness Resources
Board Safety Committee
BGCCF maintains a standing committee which reviews, updates, and oversees the implementation of our safety policies and procedures. Comprised of board members and safety specialists, priorities include Priorities and initiatives include:
- Ensuring building safety policies and procedures are adhered to and all staff are trained
- Safety Visits
- Ratios of staff to members are enforced
- Strict adherence to best practices related to the prevention of COVID-19
BGCCF employs a zero-tolerance policy for any disregard of our procedures. If any issues or concerns are brought to our attention, we contact the police and the Florida Department of Children and Families immediately. If you have any safety-related concerns or questions, please contact your local Club or our CEO, Jamie Merrill at jmerrill@bgccf.org.