Club Safety
Child Safety is Job No. 1
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.
Culture of Safety
Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Conejo Valley continually updates our safety policies, programs and training for our staff and volunteers. They are designed to promote child safety and protect young people from threats. We implement layers of safety policies and guidelines to keep our kids safe including:
- Requiring all staff members to complete BGCA’s Child Safety Abuse Prevention Curriculum
- Partnering with our local Sheriff’s offices in Ventura County and Lost Hills
- Having a dedicated Safety Committee to provide input and guidance on local policies and safety strategies
Safety Policies
Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Conejo Valley has comprehensive safety policies in place that protect youth – including, but not limited to, supervision, transportation, communication and prohibiting private one-on-one contact.
Mandatory Background Checks
Mandatory criminal background checks are required every year for every staff and board member at Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Conejo Valley. In addition, criminal background checks are required for any volunteer who has direct contact with children. 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.
Required Immediate Reporting
Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Conejo 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 annually ensure we are 100% compliant. We continually make safety improvements at our Clubs to adhere to Boys & Girls of America’s recommend safety standards to adhere to Boys & Girls Clubs of America’s recommended safety standards.
Safety Trainings
Ongoing training and coaching of staff is critical. We participate in a wide variety of child safety trainings, including coaching classes, webinars, and online classes. All staff are CPR & First-aid trained.
Safety Committee
Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Conejo Valley has a dedicated safety committee to provide input and guidance on local policies and strategies. Priorities and initiatives include:
- Providing staff with guidance to ensure 100% safety compliance
- Reviewing policies and procedures that support a safe Club environment
- Reviewing the National Youth Outcomes Initiative (NYOI) data to ensure kids feel safe at the Club
Non-Fraternization
BGCGCV has implemented a non-fraternization policy, which prohibits personal relationships with members outside of club duties.
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
Locally, Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Conejo partners with:
- American Red Cross
- safeTALK
- Ventura County Behavioral Health
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.
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 of Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Conejo Valley. To learn more about our national safety policies and actions, please visit Boys & Girls Clubs of America’s Child Safety page, here.