Health& Safety

At Boys & Girls Clubs of Napa Valley, child safety and wellbeing will ALWAYS be our first priority. We view safety as a constant work in progress and so the policies below are good reference points but are always in a state of review and modification.

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COVID-19 Safety Protocols

Our Napa and American Canyon locations are safe spaces that serve over 1,300 youth between the ages of 6-18. Boys & Girls Clubs provide these youth with the support they need to reach academic success, develop good character, and lead healthy lifestyles.

Commitment to Safety

Commitment to Safety

For over 65 years, the Boys & Girls Club of Napa Valley has served youth in Napa and American Canyon. The safety and protection of the children we serve has always been our number one priority. Our organization is committed to the highest standard of program quality and child safety.

Masks

Masks

All Club Members and Staff are strongly encouraged to wear masks indoors at the Club, including our Clubhouses and on school campuses.

Safe Distancing

Safe Distancing

Boys & Girls Clubs of Napa Valley will maximize physical distance between members as much as possible. Additionally, outside program areas are utilized as much as possible, including play fields, outdoor lunch tables, and blacktops.

Cleaning

Cleaning

Our staff have received additional training to minimize the spread of viruses and bacterial infections, clean and disinfect, and provide social and emotional support. Our clubhouses have also been outfitted with HEPA Air Scrubbers and Electrostatic Sprayers to help mitigate the spread of COVID19.

Parent Expectations

Parent Expectations

Parents should inform the Club of any changes to their child’s health or community exposure. If a child exhibits any symptoms of fever, runny nose, coughing, or shortness of breath, parents are asked to keep them home. Parents are expected to be available to pick up their child within 30 minutes as needed.

Member Expectations

Member Expectations

Members participating in our programs are expected to follow Club policies and guidelines for behavior, hygiene, health practices, and social distancing. Members who show disregard for Club policies or exhibit intentional disruptive behavior may be asked to leave the program.

Water

Water

As a precaution, all water fountains have been disabled and will not be available for use. We provide a filled water cooler and disposable cups for member use. Members will never reuse their cups and must have staff help dispense water from the coolers. Staff will properly clean each cooler after each day. Members may bring a personal water bottles.

Meals & Snacks

Meals & Snacks

Meals and snacks are prepared off-site and are individually sealed. Meals are served at each Club location, and with all proper handling requirements including washed hands, gloves, and at proper food-safe temperatures. Proper handwashing procedures will be implemented with all members at the beginning and conclusion of all meal breaks.

Communication

Communication

If you or someone in your household has come into contact with a confirmed case of COVID-19 please keep your child home AND notify the Club. The Club will, if warranted, notify parents of a second hand exposure so that they have the option to keep their child(ren) home.

General Safety Protocols

For more than 100 years, child protection and safety have been the bedrock principles of our Boys & Girls Clubs. In today’s world, young people are faced with enormous challenges – from poverty to the high school dropout crisis to an obesity epidemic – that threaten their chance to have great futures; and, unfortunately, headlines remind us every day that we live in a dangerous world that puts too many young people at serious risk.

Given these realities, we must be ever-vigilant in ensuring that our Clubs are safe havens for our youth, staffed by caring adult mentors who have the best interests of kids at heart. While child safety has been priority #1 for Clubs throughout our history, our work in this area is never done.

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All staff & volunteers undergo a strict background check prior to employment.

Local police agencies, sheriff departments, District Attorneys, and probation departments compile and submit arrest and conviction information to the California Department of Justice. All of our applicants undergo Live Scan, which is a request for this information using digital fingerprint scanning. Pursuant to California Penal Code section 11105(m), we receive the following information during a live scan:

  • Every conviction of an offense rendered against the applicant, except a conviction for which relief has been granted pursuant to Section 1203.49.
  • Every arrest for an offense for which the applicant is presently awaiting trial, whether the applicant is incarcerated or has been released on bail or on his or her own recognizance pending trial.
  • Every arrest for an offense for which the Department of Social Services is required by paragraph (1) of subdivision (a) of Section 1522 of the Health and Safety Code to determine if an applicant has been arrested. However, if the records of the Department of Justice do not contain a disposition for an arrest, the Department of Justice shall first make a genuine effort to determine the disposition of the arrest.
  • Sex offender registration status of the applicant.

This background check process provides live & ongoing updates if any member of our team breaks the law in anyway. The Department of Justice sends us Subsequent Arrest and Disposition Notifications each time a team member is arrested. We follow up on these updates immediately and make decisions regarding continued employment prior to the start of this employee’s next shift.

  • Volunteers are never alone with kids. They are always matched with a staff person to ensure safety & supervision in every Club space.
  • Club staff are never in one-on-one situations with kids. We know we can better keep kids safe if they are always in group situations.
  • Club staff cannot drive kids in their personal vehicles.
  • Club staff are not allowed to have contact with members outside of the Clubs. This includes in person, via phone or text, and all social media/online outlets.
  • All staff are trained on appropriate recognition & reporting of child abuse in compliance with state & local laws.
  • In addition, annually, all Club staff receive training to ensure proper supervision, behavior, & discipline techniques to keep kids engaged & safe while participating in our programs.
  • Each Club has extensive and robust emergency protocols and procedures in place for unexpected situations. These include earthquakes, fires, active shooters, and missing children. These plans were created in conjunction with schools & law enforcement partners.
  • Safety audits are conducted in our clubs and improvements are made to ensure a high standard of safety at every location.
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Report abuse

Keeping kids safe takes a community. If you are concerned that a young person in your life is being abused but is not connected to one of our Clubs, contact the Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-4-A-Child (1-800-422-4453). If you are unsure if a young person is being abused, we encourage you to review these common signs of abuse. Our message to communities and parents is clear: We work every day to create a safe, fun environment where kids can pursue academic success, good character, and a healthy lifestyle – all under the guidance of caring, trained, trustworthy adult leaders. And our message to anyone who would potentially compromise our Clubs and our mission is equally clear: We have ZERO tolerance for inappropriate behavior of any kind, and we put resources behind that stance.

Our community’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.