Since 1966, the Boys & Girls Club of San Fernando Valley has worked with thousands of youth, and their safety and well-being has always been our top priority.  Our Club is committed to ensuring that every child enrolled in Club programs has a safe experience. The Boys & Girls Club of San Fernando Valley adheres to the following policies and procedures for the protection of youth.

Safety Policies

BGCSFV has safety policies that place the safety and well-being of the youth we serve above all else. These policies include, but are not limited to, supervision, transportation, communication, and prohibition of private one-on-one contact.

Mandatory Criminal Background Checks

All Club employees and volunteers must undergo a thorough criminal background check through the FBI/DOJ before they may begin working with youth. The Club is automatically notified of arrests of anyone registered with the system.

Required Immediate Reporting

BGCSFV staff are mandatory reporters, and therefore are legally required to notify child welfare officials of any suspected child abuse or neglect. BGCSFV staff is required to report critical safety incidents or concerns to local authorities immediately. Additionally, the Boys & Girls Club of San Fernando Valley is required to report to Boys & Girls Clubs of America within 24 hours of the incident.

Safety Plan

Our Club maintains a comprehensive safety plan that includes emergency procedures and reporting requirements for any incident that could pose harm to a youth or staff. The plan is updated annually, and all Club staff receive training throughout the year. Program staff are currently First Aid/CPR certified through the American Red Cross. Our Club also participates in the local CERT (Community Emergency Response Team) program, where staff, volunteers, and members can practice disaster preparedness.

Mandatory Annual Safety Assessments

BGCSFV completes a safety self-assessment each year. If any concerns arise, Boys & Girls Clubs of America’s staff will take action to make recommendations, require changes, or to provide additional support.

Training

All staff and volunteers are trained annually on Club safety policies. Additionally, all Club employees have access to a variety of safety trainings from BGCA and through partner organizations. Clubs participate in a wide variety of child safety training conducted through seminars, conferences, webinars, and a semi-annual safety symposium. BGCA engages 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.

Mandatory Employee Reference

Any employee interested in moving to the Boys & Girls Club of San Fernando Valley is required to have a reference from the previous Club, even if the Clubs are within the same community.

Board of Governors Safety Committee

Boys & Girls Clubs of America has a dedicated Child Safety Committee on its Board of Governors to guide our national safety efforts and policies. The Boys & Girls Club of San Fernando Valley has a dedicated board-led safety committee that provides input and guidance on local policies and safety strategies.

State and Local Laws

BGCSFV complies with federal, state, and local safety laws, including those impacting facilities and vehicles.

24-Hour Toll Free Child Safety Hotline

Through a national partnership with Praesidium, one of the nation’s leading safety experts, Boys & Girls Clubs of America provides a confidential, toll-free Child Safety Helpline to all current or previous Club staff, members, or families to report any incident or situation in which they feel unsafe. To access the Child Safety Helpline, call 866-607-SAFE (7233) or email SafeClub@Praesidiuminc.com.