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.
Our Approach to Safety
At the Boys & Girls Club of Napa Valley, safety is our paramount commitment. We steadfastly believe that every child and teen who walks through our doors deserves a secure and nurturing environment where they can learn, grow, and thrive. Our safety mission is woven into the fabric of our organization, driving our daily actions, policies, and decisions.
Commitment to Safety
Commitment to Safety
Mandated Reporting
Mandated Reporting
One-On-One Contact
One-On-One Contact
Cleaning
Cleaning
Parent Expectations
Parent Expectations
Member Expectations
Member Expectations
Staff-To-Youth Ratios
Staff-To-Youth Ratios
Meals & Snacks
Meals & Snacks
Communication
Communication
Policies & Procedures for the Protection of Youth
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. For a complete review of all of Boys & Girls Clubs of Napa Valley’s Polices for the Protection of Youth Click below.
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.
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.
