The Safety and Wellbeing of Young People is Our #1 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.
Culture of Safety
Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater La Crosse 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 including:
• PBIS training for all staff (mirrored by members)
• Secure facilities for our programs
• Staff & Parent involvement on important issues
Safety Policies
BGCGL has comprehensive safety policies in place that protect youth – including, but not limited to, supervision, transportation, communication and prohibiting one-to-one contact.
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, BGCGL members and staff have access to a confidential 24-hour toll-free Child Safety Hotline.
Mandatory Background Checks
Mandatory criminal background checks are required every year for every staff and board member at BGCGL. 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
BGCGL staff and volunteers are all mandated reporters. In the State of Wisconsin we are also required to report any critical incident to Boys & Girls Clubs of America within 24 hours, which is a responsibility we take very seriously.
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 conducted 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
BGCGL has a dedicated safety committee to provide input and guidance on local policies and safety strategies. Priorities and initiatives include:
• Extensive training for staff
• Continual review of polices and procedures
• Access to appropriate safety resources
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
Locally, BGCGL partners with
- La Crosse School District
- La Crosse Police Department
- La Crosse County Social Workers & Counselors
- Holmen School District
- Holmen Police Department
- West Salem School District
- West Salem Police Department
