Safety Policies

The Boys & Girls Clubs of Rutherford has implemented a comprehensive set of safety protocols that ensure the protection of young individuals. These policies are designed to safeguard the well-being of youth and encompass a wide range of measures that are strictly enforced by the Club. The policies cover various aspects of safety and aim to mitigate potential risks that may arise in the context of Club activities.

The Club’s commitment to safety is reflected in its unwavering adherence to these policies, which serve as a cornerstone of its mission to provide a secure and nurturing environment for its members. Some of our safety protocols include:

• Background check and drug screening policies
• Bathroom policy
• Social media policy
• Technology policy
• The Club prohibits private one-on-one contact

Mandatory Background Checks: The Boys & Girls Clubs of Rutherford County mandates that all staff undergo mandatory criminal background checks upon hire, and subsequently at least annually. Additionally, volunteers who have direct contact with children are required to undergo criminal background checks. To ensure a safe environment for children, all potential employees and volunteers are screened through the National Sex Offender Registry.

Required Immediate Reporting: Club staff and volunteers are all mandated reporters and 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 complete a safety assessment each year to ensure we continually make improvements to safety at our Club.

Safety Trainings: Ongoing training and supervision of staff and volunteers is critical. Both staff and volunteers participate in a wide variety of child safety training on a continuous basis, such as webinars and in-person training.

Safety Committee: The Boys & Rutherford Club has a dedicated safety committee to provide oversight, input and guidance on local policies and safety strategies. Priorities and initiatives include:

• Updating security for our facility, including new cameras and secure entry features,
• Reviewing emergency procedure training and processes,
• Reviewing and updating safety policies and procedures as needed.

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 work 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, we partner with:

Forest City Police Department
Rutherford County Sherriff’s Department
Rutherford County Health Department