Boys & Girls Club Of Kenosha

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Safety

This organization has a zero-tolerance policy for abuse and will not tolerate the mistreatment or abuse of consumers in its programs. Any mistreatment or abuse by an employee or volunteer will result in disciplinary action, up to and including termination of employment or volunteer service and cooperation with law enforcement.

 

Culture of Safety: The safety and wellbeing of young people is our number one priority. We work every day to create a safe, fun environment so kids can have every opportunity to be successful in life. We have zero tolerance for inappropriate behavior of any kind, including child sexual abuse or misconduct, and we put resources behind that stance.

The Boys & Girls Club of Kenosha continually updates robust safety policies, programs and training for our staff and volunteers that are designed to promote child safety and protect young people from threats that are present in our society. We implement layers of safety policies and guidelines to keep our kids safe.

Click HERE for a flyer with all relevant safety hotline phone numbers.

Youth Center Member/Parent Handbook: At the Boys & Girls Club of Kenosha we believe in the importance of building values and self-esteem among youth. Your child will have the opportunity to explore programs that are unique and fun while also focusing on their academic and social development.

At the Club, we offer each member a fun and safe environment to experience unique opportunities where youth can learn and develop. We believe that all youth can be successful and are passionate about helping them to create great paths for their futures.

We encourage all parents and Youth Center Members to review the Youth Center Member/Parent Handbook prior to when your child starts to attend our After School or Summer Programming.  This handbook provides all policies that parents will need to know and be familiar with.

If you have any questions on the Youth Center Member/Parent Handbook, please contact our Youth Center membership desk at 262-653-7326 or the Boys & Girls Club of Kenosha front desk at 262-654-6200.

Please note, in the event of an emergency at the Boys & Girls Club of Kenosha, parents are encouraged to call 262.653.7330 for updates and information regarding their child’s safety. Details will be provided on the location and time for safe pick-up. Please keep this number handy and follow all instructions to ensure a smooth and secure process.

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, Boys & Girls Club of Kenosha 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 Club of Kenosha.  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: Boys & Girls Club of Kenosha 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.

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

Safety Trainings: Ongoing training and supervision of staff is critical. We participate in a wide variety of child safety training 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 Club of Kenosha has a dedicated safety committee to provide input and guidance on local policies and safety strategies.

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.

Local safety partners include:

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 Club of Kenosha. To learn more about our national safety policies and actions, please visit Boys & Girls Clubs of America’s Child Safety page, here.