Child Safety

Safety is Our Number One Priority

There is nothing more important than the safety of our youth. We work every day to create a safe, fun environment, so kids can have every opportunity to be successful in life. We do not tolerate inappropriate behavior of any kind, including child sexual abuse or misconduct. Making sure Club members are safe is the first step to their success.

Culture of Safety

Boys & Girls Club of Janesville continually updates our safety policies, programs, and staff and volunteer training to promote child safety and protect young people from potential threats. We implement safety policies and guidelines to keep our kids safe including supervision, transportation, communication, prohibiting one-on-one contact, and a drug-free facility. Our parent handbook is provided to members at enrollment. Contact the Club Administrative Specialist at 608-755-0575 to ask for the handbook.

Our emergency evacuation site is First Congregational United Church of Christ, 54 S. Jackson St., Janesville, WI. From there, parents/guardians will need to take direction from the Janesville Police Department or Boys & Girls Club staff.

24-Hour Toll-Free Child Safety Hotline

Through our national partnership with Praesidium, one of the nation’s leading safety experts, Boys & Girls Club of Janesville members and staff have access to a confidential, 24-hour, toll-free Child Safety Hotline, 866-607-SAFE (7233) or email SafeClub@Praesidiuminc.com. All staff, Club members, and families are encouraged to report any situation they feel is unsafe to local child protective services or law enforcement.

Mandatory Background Checks

Mandatory background checks are required every year for each staff and Board member at Boys & Girls Club of Janesville. In addition, criminal background checks are required for any volunteer who has direct contact with children. All potential employees and volunteers are ran through the National Sex Offender Registry.

Required Immediate Reporting

All Club staff and volunteers are mandated reporters and are required to report any suspected child abuse or concern to local authorities immediately. We are also required to report any critical incident to Department of Children and Families and Boys & Girls Club of America  within 24 hours.

Mandatory Annual Safety Assessment

We complete a safety assessment each year to ensure we continually make improvements to safety at our Club.

Safety Training

Ongoing training and supervision of staff is critical. We participate in child safety training such as fire safety, active shooter preparedness, recognizing child abuse and neglect, bullying prevention, suicide prevention, and social emotional support. We also partner with 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

Our dedicated safety committee provides input and guidance on local policies and safety strategies and focuses on:

• Building Safety
• Emergency Preparedness
• Verifying submission of the annual safety assessment
• Reviewing results of all safety assessment to identify areas for improvement
• Reviewing safety policies
• Implementing solutions to ensure the safety of all members, staff, volunteers, and visitors

Mandatory Employee and Volunteer Reference

Boys & Girls Club of Janesville conducts a reference check on all potential employees or volunteers, including Board members. If a potential employee or volunteer has experience with another Boys & Girls Club, we get a reference from that Club supervisor before making an offer of employment or volunteer service. 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. We also comply with the Department of Children and Families group childcare license requirements.

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, leading experts and organizations
• Blue Ribbon Taskforce, local Club leaders providing input on safety direction and key safety initiatives
• Mental Health First Aid, a national program that teaches sills 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 Club of Janesville partners with:

• Janesville Police Department
• Janesville Fire Department
• School District of Janesville
• Janesville Mobilizing 4 Change
• Rock County Anti-Human Trafficking Task Force

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