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Safety First

Our core value of Be Safe is central to everything we do.

Safety First

Our core value of Be Safe is central to everything we do.

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:
  • A safe, positive environment (encompassing both physical and emotional safety)
  • Youth development experts trained in social-emotional learning and trauma informed care
  • 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. 

Required Immediate Reporting

Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Florida 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 Boys & Girls Clubs of America within 24 hours.

Training & Tools

Staff receives regular training on the requirements of being a Mandated Reporter, how to prevent, recognize and react responsibly to childhood sexual abuse, First Aid/CPR, Supervision of Children and more. When a child has experienced trauma in their personal life, our staff works to arrange professional counseling to aid the child’s recovery.

Facilities

Club-owned facilities have been built or renovated to maintain clear lines of sight throughout the building, allow for single-use restrooms, and eliminate any blind spots from supervision. Each site completes an annual mandatory safety assessment using a defined online tool.

Background Checks

Mandatory Level-2 criminal background checks, which includes fingerprinting, are required for every employee, volunteer, and board member who has direct contact with children. Background checks are conducted before any adult is allowed contact with our Club members and are repeated every year.

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.

Events West Orange County

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

Find a Treatment >>

National Institute on Drug Abuse >>

Florida Alcohol & Drug Abuse Association >>

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.