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.

The Safety and Well-being of Young People is Our Number One 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:

Level 2 background checks on all staff
Volunteers are screened and background checked
Periodic drug screenings
Restricted access to program areas for the general public

MANDATORY BACKGROUND CHECKS

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.

REQUIRED IMMEDIATE REPORTING

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.

SAFETY PLAN

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.

SAFETY POLICIES

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).

SAFETY TRAINING

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.

MANDATORY ANNUAL SAFETY ASSESSMENTS

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).

SAFETY COMMITTEE OF THE BOARD

BGCMia has formed a dedicated safety committee of the Board that provides advice and oversight to BGCMia's safety policies.

STATE AND LOCAL LAWS

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

24-HOUR TOLL FREE 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.