Culture of Safety

Boys & Girls Club of Metro Queens continually updates robust safety policies, programs, training and supervisory practices 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 multiple layers of protection to keep our kids safe including:

• Background checks on all employees, volunteers, and board members.

• Providing staff training in positive Club culture, inclusivity, and safety policies and procedures.

• Providing CPR/First Aid training to staff

• Regular monitoring by agencies including the Department of Youth and Community Development and New York City Department of Education.

Safety Policies

Boys & Girls Club of Metro Queens as comprehensive safety policies in place that protect youth including, but not limited to, supervision, transportation, communication and prohibiting private one-on-one contact. 

24-hour Toll-free Child Safety Hotline

Through our national partnership with Praesidium, one of the nation’s leading safety experts, Boys & Girls Club of Metro Queens families, 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 for all staff are required upon hire, and at least annually thereafter at Boys & Girls Club of Metro Queens. In addition, criminal background checks are required for any volunteer who has direct contact with children. All potential employees and volunteers are also fingerprinted and checked for prior child abuse records through the State of New York. A national background check through our vendor, First Advantage, includes a criminal history and search of the National Sex Offender Registry.

Required Immediate Reporting

Boys & Girls Club of Metro Queens 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 on-site trainings, 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.

Safety Committee

Boys & Girls Club of Metro Queens has a dedicated safety committee to provide oversight, input and guidance on local policies and safety strategies.

Mandatory Employee Reference

Any employee interested in moving to another Boys & Girls Club is required to have a reference from the previous Club, even if the Clubs are within the same community. 

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 Club of Metro Queens partners with:

• New York Police Department

• New York Fire Department

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 Club of Metro Queens.

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