Saftey Policy

Child Safety Is Job No. 1

Ensuring child safety is fundamental to the mission of the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Arkansas River Valley

The Safety and Wellbeing of Young People is Our Number One PriorityWe work everyday 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 SafetyThe BGCARV 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 criminal background checks
Immediate and mandated reporting
Annual safety assessments

Safety PoliciesThe BGCARV has comprehensive safety policies in place that protect youth – including, but not limited to, supervision, transportation, communication and prohibiting private one-on-one contact.24-hour Toll-Free Child Safety HotlineWe 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, BGCARV members and staff have access to a confidential 24-hour toll-free Child Safety Hotline, 866-607-SAFE (7233) or email SafeClub@Praesidiuminc.com.Mandatory Background ChecksMandatory criminal background checks are required every year for every staff and board member at the BGCARV. 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 and background checked through First Advantage, as well as the State Police.Required Immediate ReportingThe BGCARV 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 AssessmentsWe complete a safety assessment each year to ensure we continually make improvements to safety at our Clubs.Safety TrainingsOngoing training and supervision of staff is critical. 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 CommitteeThe BGCARV has a dedicated safety committee to provide input and guidance on local policies and safety strategies. Priorities and initiatives include:

Strict adherence to state and local laws
Emergency preparedness
Child advocacy

Mandatory Employee ReferenceAny 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 communityState and Local LawsWe comply with federal, state and local safety laws, including those impacting facilities and vehicles.Safety PartnershipNationally, Boys & Girls Club 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, the BGCARV partners with

The Russellville Fire Department
The Russellville Police Department
The Arkansas State Police

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

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