Safety Policies and Procedures

The Safety of Young People is Our Number One Priority

We work every day to create a safe, fun environment so every kid has the opportunity to be successful in life. We have ZERO tolerance for inappropriate behavior of any kind, including child sexual abuse or misconduct, and we put resources behind that stance.

Culture of Safety

Boys & Girls Clubs of Southcentral Alaska continually updates robust safety policies and provides programs and training 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 layers of safety policies and guidelines to keep our kids safe including:

  • Staff wear ID badges.
  • All staff and volunteers submit to annual background checks.
  • Boys & Girls Clubs of Southcentral Alaska conducts annual safety training for staff.

Safety Policies

Boys & Girls Clubs of Southcentral Alaska has comprehensive safety policies in place that protect youth – including, but not limited to, supervision, communication, and prohibiting private one-on-one contact.

Child Safety Hotline

We take all concerns regarding child safety seriously.  Please contact our CEO or Director of People Operations at 907.249.5400 with concerns.

Mandatory Background Checks

Mandatory criminal background checks are required upon hire and every year for every staff member at Boys & Girls Clubs of Southcentral Alaska. In addition, criminal background checks are required for any volunteer who has direct contact with children. All potential employees and volunteers are run through the National Sex Offender Registry.

Required Immediate Reporting

Boys & Girls Clubs of Southcentral Alaska 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 safety assessments each year to ensure we continually make improvements to safety at our Clubs.

Safety Trainings

Ongoing training and supervision of staff is critical. We participate in a wide variety of child safety training such as seminars, conferences, and webinars. We also engage leading third-party safety experts to provide guidance for our policies and approaches.

Safety Committee

Boys & Girls Clubs of Southcentral Alaska has a dedicated safety committee comprised of staff and community leaders to provide input, guidance, and accountability on local policies and safety strategies.

Mandatory Employee Reference

Any employees 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 safety direction and key 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 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 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 Southcentral Alaska. To learn more about our national safety policies and actions, please visit Boys & Girls Clubs of America’s Child Safety page, here.

If you have questions about our commitment to safety, please email club@bgcalaska.org.

Child and Club Safety Policy Statement

At the Boys & Girls Clubs of Southcentral Alaska, safety is foundational to everything we do. We strive to create safe places where youth and staff thrive, and we are committed to always maintaining a safe and healthy environment.

Implementing a Safety Management System & Layers of Safety Protection

To ensure the safety of our operations and services, we are committed to a safety management system to identify, assess, and mitigate risks and to continuously improve our safety performance. This requires our unyielding commitment to the following principles:

  • Promoting the concept that safety is a core value and precondition to operation.
  • Enabling proactive identification, assessment, and mitigation of risks associated with our activities, programs, and services.
  • Fostering a positive safety culture through behavioral norms, expectations and “unwritten rules.”
  • Prioritizing the safety and health of all individuals involved in our operations and affected stakeholders.
  • Conducting risk assessments on a regular basis to proactively address risks and minimize the likelihood and severity of incidents.
  • Complying with all applicable laws, regulations, and standards, including the Movement’s membership requirements.
  • Actively encouraging the reporting of incidents, near misses and other safety concerns without fear of reprisal.
  • Promoting safety awareness through open, regular communication and engagement initiatives.
  • Providing comprehensive training to employees, volunteers, and other stakeholders to ensure they are equipped with the knowledge and skills necessary to perform their tasks safely.
  • Allocating sufficient resources (people, processes, tools and training) to support this safety policy.
  • Integrating safety into all aspects of our business planning and decision-making processes.
  • Ensuring all employees understand that we all have a daily obligation to pursue safety, quality and compliance as described in this safety policy.

Review and Revision:

This Safety Management System policy will be reviewed annually to ensure its continued effectiveness and relevance. It may be revised as necessary to reflect changes in regulations, industry standards, and organizational requirements.

Voted and Approved by the Board of Directors on August 21, 2025

Weather-Related Closure Policy

To ensure the safety of those we serve and our staff, the Boys & Girls Clubs of Southcentral Alaska will close when the local School District closes for inclement weather.

In the Anchorage area, closures will include the Clubhouses throughout the area and the Child Development Centers at Turnagain and Woodland Park.

For updates, please monitor your email and the BGCSAK Facebook page.

Volcano Preparedness and Safety Procedures

We care deeply about the safety and well-being of our Clubhouse members. Below is information to help prepare in the event of volcanic activity. Should an emergency arise, our homepage will serve to update parents and caregivers on the latest developments.

Before an Eruption / Emergency

  • We will actively monitor updates from local emergency services and the Alaska Volcano Observatory.
  • Increased volcanic activity will prompt us to communicate any necessary changes to our operations via email, this page, and Facebook.

Emergency During Care Hours

Communications: Parents and caregivers will be contacted through established channels.
Clubhouse – Email, the BGCSAK website (bgcalaska.org), and social media.
Child Development Centers – ProCare, the BGCSAK website (bgcalaska.org), and social media.
Early Pickup: If conditions require, we may request early pickup. Parents will be notified immediately and given 60 minutes to pick up their children.
Ongoing Closure: We will follow the lead of local school districts for reopening Clubhouses and CDCs throughout impacted areas.

Emergency During Non-Business Hours

Communications: Parents and caregivers will be contacted through established channels, similar to communications on Inclement Weather Days.
Clubhouse – Email, the BGCSAK website (bgcalaska.org), and social media.
Child Development Centers – ProCare, the BGCSAK website (bgcalaska.org), and social media.
Ongoing Closure: We will follow the lead of local school districts for reopening Clubhouses and CDCs throughout impacted areas.

How You Can Prepare

  • Ensure your emergency contact information is current in the Parent Portal.
  • Sign up for emergency alerts, some resources include:
  • Discuss emergency plans with your child, including safe meeting places and contacts.
  • Keep an emergency kit at home and in your car with masks, water, and essential supplies.

Additional resources to assist with preparing for a natural disaster:

We prioritize safety and keeping parents and caregivers informed. If you have any questions, please reach out to your local Clubhouse Manager. Thank you for working with us to ensure a safe environment for our members.