At the Boys & Girls Clubs of El Paso, ensuring the safety and well-being of young people is central to our mission. We are committed to providing a secure and engaging environment where children have every opportunity to succeed. We maintain a strict zero-tolerance policy against any form of inappropriate behavior, including child sexual abuse or misconduct, and dedicate significant resources to uphold this commitment.
Commitment to Child Safety at Boys & Girls Clubs of El Paso
At Boys & Girls Clubs of El Paso, we are dedicated to maintaining a safe environment for all children by regularly updating our comprehensive safety policies, programs, and staff training. Our multilayered approach to child protection includes:
- Mandatory reporter training for all staff and volunteers as part of the onboarding process.
- Strict enforcement of appropriate staff-to-child ratios.
- Thorough criminal background checks for staff and volunteers, conducted both before hiring and annually.
These measures are designed to safeguard young people from potential threats and ensure a secure environment at all times.
24-Hour Toll-Free Child Safety Hotline
We encourage all staff, 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 Clubs of El Paso members and staff have access to a confidential 24-hour toll-free Child Safety Hotline, 866-607-SAFE (7233) or email SafeClub@Praesidiuminc.com
Comprehensive Safety Protocols at Boys & Girls Clubs of El Paso
Mandatory criminal background checks are required every year for every staff and board member at the Boys & Girls Clubs of El Paso. In addition, criminal background checks are required for any volunteer who has direct contact with children. All potential employees and volunteers are also run through the National Sex Offender Registry.
Required Immediate Reporting: Boys & Girls Clubs of El Paso 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 each year to ensure we continually make improvements to safety at our Club(s).
Safety Training: Ongoing training and supervision of staff is critical. We participate in a wide variety of child safety training conducted such as 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.
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, the Boys & Girls Clubs of El Paso partners with:
- El Paso Police Department
- El Paso Fire Department
- Emergence Health Network
Nationally, Boys & Girls Clubs of America has advocated 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 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 Clubs of El Paso. To learn more about our national safety policies and actions, please visit Boys & Girls Clubs of America’s Child Safety page, here.
Enhancing security at Club Travis Petty
Our historic Club Travis Petty building, a cornerstone of Segundo Barrio since 1929, is currently undergoing vital structural improvements with the support of a grant from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). A thorough inspection by a City of El Paso police officer identified key security areas for enhancement. This grant will substantially bolster the security and resilience of our facility, ensuring a safer environment for everyone who visits.
