Youth safety is,
and always will be,
our #1 concern

At the Boys & Girls Clubs of Harrison-Crawford Counties, we work hard every day to create a safe and fun environment so kids can have every opportunity to be successful in life.

Our practices that make this happen:

Culture of Safety: The Boys & Girls Clubs of Harrison-Crawford Counties (BGCHC) 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:

  • Annual background checks for all adults with contact to youth

  • Appropriate staff-to-child ratios

  • Regular safety trainings both online on Spillett University and with local partners

  • All staff are trained in CPR/First Aid/AED

Mandatory Background Checks: Criminal background checks are required each year for every staff and board member. 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 Department of Child Services database.

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

  • 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 Harrison-Crawford Counties partners with:

  • Our local police & fire departments

  • Our local school districts

Safety Committee:  Through the BGCHC Board of Directors, a dedicated Safety Committee is organized specifically to provide input and guidance on local policies and safety strategies. Our board-led Safety Committee meets quarterly and also completes annual inspections at all Club sites.

24-Hour 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, Club members and staff have access to a confidential 24-Hour Child Safety Hotline, 866-607-SAFE (7233) or email SafeClub@Praesidiuminc.com.

Our community’s young people deserve nothing less than our constant focus on their safety with our firm commitment to protect every child who is entrusted to our care.

 To learn more about the national safety policies and actions, please visit the Boys & Girls Clubs of America’s Child Safety Page.

If you have questions concerning any of the safety information on this page, please submit a “Contact Us” request and a member of the administrative staff will reach out.