Club Safety
At Boys & Girls Clubs of Prince George’s County, the safety and protection of the children we serve is our number one priority. We work every day to create a safe, fun, and inclusive environment where all young people can learn, grow, and reach their full potential.
Our Safety Commitment
Safety Standards
We follow Boys & Girls Clubs of America’s comprehensive safety policies and procedures, which are designed to protect youth from harm and ensure a secure Club experience.
Trained & Screened Staff
All staff and volunteers undergo background checks and receive ongoing training in child safety, supervision, and mandatory reporting requirements.
Safe Environment
We maintain safe facilities, clear supervision practices, and age-appropriate programming to support the physical and emotional well-being of every child.
Staff & Supervision
Putting Child Safety First
We follow strong safety policies, regular reviews, and local and national oversight to ensure our Clubs meet the highest standards of youth protection.
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For more information about Boys & Girls Clubs of America’s national safety policies and resources, please visit BGCA.org/safety
Safety Policies & Oversight
Ensuring Safety
At Boys & Girls Clubs of Prince George's County, we incorporate national safety standards and work with community partners to consistently strengthen our safety programming through new trainings.
Required Immediate Reporting
Boys & Girls Clubs of Prince George's County incorporates national safety standards and work with community partners to consistently strengthen our safety programming through new trainings.
Training & Tools
Staff receive training on the requirements of being a Mandated Reporter, how to prevent, recognize and react responsibly to childhood sexual abuse, First Aid/CPR, supervision of children and more. When a child has experienced trauma in their personal life, our staff works to arrange professional counseling to aid the child’s recovery.
Facilities
Club-owned facilities are built or renovated to maintain clear lines of sight throughout the building, allow for single-use restrooms, and eliminate blind spots from supervision. Each site completes an annual mandatory safety assessment using a defined online tool.
Background Checks
Mandatory Level-2 criminal background checks, including fingerprinting, are required for every employee, volunteer, and board member who has direct contact with children. Background checks are completed before any adult is allowed contact with Club members and are repeated every year. Any employee interested in moving to another Club must have a reference from their previous Club, even within the same community.
Policies
Our Safety Policies & Procedures outline clear steps to prevent safety issues and concerns:
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All visitors must sign in and out of the facility.
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No parent or visitor is allowed to walk through the facility without an escort.
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Anyone picking up a child from our Clubs must be on the approved list.
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We prohibit one-on-one contact between adults and Club members.
Access to 24-Hour Child Safety Hotline
All staff, members and families are encouraged to report any incident or situation they feel is unsafe.
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Through our national partnership with Praesidium, anyone has access to this resource by calling 1-866-607-7233 or SafeClub@Praesidiuminc.com
Drug Abuse Awareness Resources
We connect families and youth with trusted resources and treatment options to address substance use and addiction, including:
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Board Safety Committee
Boys & Girls Clubs of Prince George's County maintains a standing Board Safety Committee that reviews, updates, and oversees the implementation of our safety policies and procedures. Priorities include ensuring building safety policies and procedures are followed, conducting safety visits, enforcing staff-to-member ratios, and maintaining strict adherence to best practices related to the prevention of COVID-19.