Child Safety
Child Safety is Job #1
Ensuring child safety is fundamental to the mission of Boys & Girls Clubs of Miami-Dade and our #1 priority.
Child Safety is Job #1
Ensuring child safety is fundamental to the mission of Boys & Girls Clubs of Miami-Dade and our #1 priority.
For almost 80 years, Boys & Girls Clubs of Miami-Dade has been serving youth and families, who need us most in Miami Dade. Safety and protection of the children we serve, is always our number one priority. BGCMia is committed to the highest standards of safety and integrity and maintains a zero tolerance policy for behavior that harms a child.
Culture of Safety: Boys & Girls Clubs of Miami-Dade continually updates robust safety policies, programs and training for our staff and volunteers. These programs are designed to promote child safety and protect youth from threats present in our society. Through our National Child & Club Safety Department, we implement layers of safety policies and guidelines to keep our kids safe including:
All Boys & Girls Clubs of Miami-Dade employees and volunteers undergo a thorough criminal background check before joining the organization. Staff and volunteers are immediately placed into a subsequent arrest program with the DOJ/FBI, and BGCMia is updated automatically of any arrests.
Boys & Girls Clubs of Miami-Dade staff are all mandated reporters and are therefore required to report any suspected child abuse to Department of Children and Families. BGCMia staff are required to report any critical incident/safety concern to local authorities immediately. They are also required to report any critical incident to Boys & Girls Clubs of America within 24 hours.
Our Clubs maintain 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 are trained during their onboarding process and twice per year afterwards.
BGCMia has safety policies that prioritize the safety of youth we serve above all else. These policies include, but are not limited to, supervision, transportation to and from Clubs, appropriate communications and prohibition of private one-on-one contact (excluding confidential behavioral health services appointments with our certified professionals).
Ongoing training and supervision of staff is critical. BGCMia staff participate in a wide variety of child safety training conducted through an annual organization-wide BGCMia Safety Awareness Day. Expectations about the responsibility that every BGCMia staff person has for the safety of children start at the first-day orientation.
BGCMia conducts an Annual Facility Inspection at each Club site using a checklist modified to each specific Club. The inspection is to access the conditions of the Club with an eye on any areas of concern for youth and staff safety (Club buses are assessed during these inspections).
BGCMia has formed a dedicated safety committee of the Board that provides advice and oversight to BGCMia's safety policies.
BGCMia complies with federal, state, and local safety laws, including those impacting facilities and vehicles.
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.
Although opioid use is low among youth, many communities have high rates of use among adults. Exposure to substance use and misuse can traumatize youth, and the experience of this trauma predisposes them to future substance use to other negative health outcomes into adulthood. Boys & Girls Clubs of Miami-Dade is committed to helping the community and work to prevent and reduce the negative impact of opioid and substance abuse among all youth. For additional information that could help, we have provided resources for your well being and to keep you informed.
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Boys & Girls Clubs of Miami-Dade