Safety & Security

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.

Safety Policies

Boys & Girls Clubs of Bend has comprehensive safety policies in place that protect youth – including, but not limited to, supervision, transportation, communication and prohibiting private one-on-one contact by any adults. Please read our full policy packet HERE.

Staff Safety

Creating an environment of safety is our number one priority at BGC. Each staff member undergoes a thorough background check, drug screening, CPR and First Aid training, as well as ongoing trainings such as Recognizing Abuse as mandatory reporters and anti-bullying trainings.

Culture of Safety

Boys & Girls Clubs of Bend 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 safety policies and guidelines to keep our kids safe including:

  • Regular Child-Abuse Prevention Training from Darkness to Light through our partners at Kids Center
  • Regular First Aid and CPR Training
  • Quarterly safety checks conducted at each site
  • Incident reporting protocols and review
  • Crisis Management Plan
  • Safety Drills

24-hour Toll-free Child Safety Hotline

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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, Boys & Girls Clubs of Bend 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 Checks

Mandatory criminal background checks, drug screening, CPR and First Aid training are required every year for every staff and board members at Boys & Girls Clubs of Bend. 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 by First Advantage.

Required Immediate Reporting

Boys & Girls Clubs 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 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 including seminars, conferences, and webinars. 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. Bend Police Department.

Safety Committee

Boys & Girls Clubs of Bend has a dedicated board and staff led safety committee to provide input and guidance on local policies and safety strategies. Priorities and initiatives include:

  • Creating and promoting a culture of safety
  • Facility safety and security
  • Child abuse prevention and response
  • Safety Metrics

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, Boys & Girls Clubs of Bend partners with:

  • Bend Police Department
  • Kids Center
  • Bend-La Pine School District

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

Department of Justice FBINational Center for Missing & Exploited ChildrenCDC Logo

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