Child Safety

At Boys & Girls Club of Lawrence, child safety is our 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 and have the resources to enforce that policy.

Culture of Safety

Boys & Girls Club of Lawrence 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 present in our society.

24-hour, Toll-free Child Safety Hotline: We encourage all staff, youth 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 Club of Lawrence members and staff have access to a confidential 24-hour, toll-free Child Safety Hotline at 866-607-SAFE (7233) or SafeClub@Praesidiuminc.com.

Mandatory Background Checks: Criminal background checks are required for every staff member at Boys & Girls Club of Lawrence.

Required Immediate Reporting: Boys & Girls Club of Lawrence 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 to ensure we continually make improvements at our club.

Safety Trainings: We participate in a wide variety of ongoing child safety training; such as seminars, conferences, webinars, and workshops led by leading third-party safety experts.

Safety Committee: Boys & Girls Club of Lawrence has a dedicated Board-led Safety Committee to provide input and guidance on local policies and safety strategies.

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

Nationally, Boys & Girls Clubs of America has advocated for 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.

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