Our Commitment to Safety
At Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro South, the safety and well-being of our members is our highest priority. We are committed to providing a safe, positive, and inclusive environment where all youth can learn, grow, and thrive. Every Club location upholds the highest standards of youth safety and follows best practices established by Boys & Girls Clubs of America (BGCA), as well as all applicable local, state, and federal regulations.
Our safety approach is proactive, comprehensive, and centered on prevention. All staff and volunteers undergo thorough background checks and are required to complete youth safety training, including child abuse prevention, mandated reporting, supervision standards, and emergency preparedness. Ongoing professional development ensures staff remain knowledgeable about current safety protocols and best practices. Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro South maintains clear policies and procedures to protect youth, including supervision standards, access control, incident reporting, and emergency response plans. Our facilities are regularly inspected to ensure safe, clean, and secure environments. We also prioritize physical, emotional, and psychological safety by fostering a culture of respect, inclusion, and accountability. In partnership with families and the community, we encourage open communication and shared responsibility for youth safety. Parents and guardians are invited to report concerns and provide feedback at any time. We take all safety concerns seriously and respond promptly and appropriately.
Through strong policies, trained professionals, and a commitment to continuous improvement, Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro South remain dedicated to creating spaces where youth feel safe, supported, and empowered every day.
CrisisGO is the crisis response platform we utilize in our Clubhouses and facilities.
CrisisGo coordinates alerts, messages, and notifications through communication and IoT devices across and within first responders, safety and security teams, organization stakeholders and their communities.
Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro South utilizes the WAVE Drowning Prevention Systems at our Taunton Clubhouse and Camp Riverside pools. All swimmers 8 years old and under are required to wear the WAVE drowning prevention head bands while in the water. If a headband is submerged for more than 20 seconds, the WAVE system will sound an alarm and alert on duty lifeguards through their notification bracelets.
Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro South utilizes the Raptor Technologies VisitorSafe Visitor Management System which helps us to authenticate the identity of each and every person who comes into our Clubhouses. By digitally verifying that the visitor and the person on the ID document are the same, we gain a higher degree of confidence that our members and staff are safe.
Child Protection Policy
Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro South takes the prevention of child abuse very seriously. We recognize that child abuse and inappropriate contact of children is a pervasive problem throughout the United States which must be managed in a proactive manner if we are to protect those in our care.
Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro South is committed to taking proactive steps to protect children in our programs and facilities. Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro South's comprehensive Child Protection Policy outlines policies within the four elements of screening and hiring, training, supervision, and feedback systems. All relevant policies are reviewed every three years and utilize language that is specific and clear for all staff members.
Member Code of Conduct
In order to ensure a safe, fun, and impactful Club experience for all members, Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro South strictly enforces a
Member Code of Conduct.
The membership rules as stated are designed to ensure that members are accounted for at all times, that all members and staff feel safe and respected while they are at the Club, that age-appropriate behavioral development is consistently reinforced, and that all staff and members are acting as positive representatives of the Club community at all times.
Health & Safety
The safety of our Club members is our highest priority.
Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro South staff members are trained in CPR and First Aid. Regular safety drills (fire, medical emergency, shelter in place, etc.) are conducted at all Clubs to ensure we are prepared to act effectively in the event of a true emergency.
When members arrive at our Clubhouses their attendance is logged and they are only allowed to enter and exit through their Clubhouse's front door. Once at the Club, pre-teen members may not leave until they are picked up by a parent or guardian unless they have prior written permission. Teen members may dismiss themselves, and may leave and return to the Club once per day.
Culture of Care
We are committed to equipping our youth, staff, and community members with the necessary tools and skills to navigate the complexities of life, fostering a culture that embraces support and skill-building to address the day-to-day conflicts inherent in youth's lives. Our approach is grounded in trauma sensitivity and informed by the understanding that healing and growth require safe spaces.
Our objective goes beyond academic achievement, focusing on cultivating essential life skills such as emotional intelligence, teamwork, perseverance, communication, problem-solving, and engagement. We recognize that true development encompasses the social and emotional growth of young people, supporting the holistic well-being of each child. Central to our vision is the empowerment of our professionals, providing them with the resources, training, and support needed to deliver high-quality care and guidance. We believe that a Culture of Care rests upon three pillars: physical safety, psychological safety, and cultural safety, ensuring that every individual feels valued, respected, and embraced for who they are.
Together, we are building more than a club; we are nurturing a community where every member feels seen, heard, and supported, laying the foundation for a brighter, more inclusive future.
