Our Commitment to Safety
Boys & Girls Clubs of the High Rockies’ #1 priority is the protection of the children we serve at our Clubs. Any one incident is one too many. We will do whatever it takes to ensure the safety and protection of the youth we serve and continue to improve our policies that protect young people.
We require every allegation to be reported both to law enforcement and to our national organization. We treat all these allegations as criminal matters first, which ensures that any harm to a child is investigated and handled by law enforcement. Our organization provides resources to first support potential victims and their families.
We will continue to evaluate and improve our safety policies, programs, and training for our Club staff and volunteers to protect young people from threats that are present in our society. Our ongoing goal is to implement layers of safety policies and guidelines to keep our kids safe, including:
• Mandatory (yearly) criminal background checks for ALL staff, volunteers, and board members.
• We are required to immediately report any incident regardless of severity to the appropriate authorities and then to Boys & Girls Clubs of America.
• TRAINING: It is a membership requirement that all staff and volunteers of local Clubs are trained annually on the required comprehensive safety policies of the local Club.
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. 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.
• BGCCC has a Board-led Safety Committee elevating safety to the highest level of governance.
• Our Clubs are required to complete mandatory annual safety assessments and inspections.
• Boys & Girls Clubs of America and our local Clubs engage leading third-party safety experts on training, policies, and resources.
• Any employee looking to move to another Club, MUST have a reference from the previous Club.
• Our policies prevent any staff or volunteer from being alone with a child at all times.
• Staff and volunteers are not allowed to transport youth in their personal vehicles.
• STATE AND LOCAL LAWS: All local Boys & Girls Clubs are required to comply with federal, state, and local safety laws, including those impacting facilities and vehicles.
• APPROPRIATE USE OF TECHNOLOGY: BGCCC has developed policies to ensure the safe and appropriate use of technology in our Clubs including computers, mobile technology, and social media. Resources, training, and activities are tailored for various audiences and age ranges, including kids, tweens, teens, and adult staff members.
• TOLL-FREE CHILD SAFETY HELPLINE: Through our 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.
Please contact any one of us if you have any questions or concerns regarding the safety of our Clubs and kids. It is our top priority and we welcome any feedback, comments, or recommendations.
Jessica Bartak, Unit Director Platte Canyon Club in Bailey, CO
303-679-7546 or plattecanyon@bgchr.co
Gavin Salee, Unit Director Southpark Club in Fairplay, CO
719-836-9019 or southpark@bgchr.co