Safety at the Boys & Girls Clubs of Polk County
At Boys & Girls Clubs of Polk County, the safety and well-being of every child we serve is our top priority. We maintain high standards for safety through comprehensive staff training, rigorous background checks, secure facilities, and strong partnerships with local authorities. Our Clubs are places where youth feel physically and emotionally safe, supported, and empowered to thrive. We continuously review and strengthen our safety practices to ensure that every young person can grow and learn in a trusted environment.
BGCPolk’s Commitment to Safety: Layers of Protection
At Boys & Girls Clubs of Polk County, the safety of our members and staff is our number one priority. We follow the national guidance from Boys & Girls Clubs of America (BGCA) to implement a Layers of Protection strategy.
Our current layers include:
- Mandatory Level 2 DCF Background Screenings for all employees and volunteers
- Ongoing Safety Audits by BGCA and our local Worker’s Compensation partner (Summit)
- Inspections by the Florida Department of Health to ensure compliance with all food regulations
- Mandated Reporter Training for all staff and volunteers
- CPR and First Aid Certification for designated staff at every site
- A Dedicated Safety Committee that meets regularly to evaulate practices and respond to emerging needs
- Annual Safety Self-Assessments to review and improve our systems
- A clearly defined Club Safety Policy and Parent Handbook available for reference at any time.
We are proud of the progress we’ve made and committed to improving our safety layers each year. As new policies and enhacements are developed, this page will be updated to reflect those changes.
We welcome feedback and questions from parents, partners, and community members. To learn more about our safety practices or speak directly with our team, please contact us here.