Safety and Policies

SAFETY IS OUR NUMBER ONE PRIORITY.

Ensuring child safety is fundamental to the mission of the Boys & Girls Club of Tahlequah. We work every day to create a safe, fun environment so kids can have every 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.

OUR POLICIES

Culture of Safety:

Boys & Girls Club of Tahlequah continually updates robust safety policies, 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:

  • Mandatory reporting on any incident regardless of the severity to the appropriate authorities and Boys & Girls Clubs of America
  • Mandatory background checks on all employees, volunteers and Board members
  • Mandatory annual safety assessments
  • Mandatory employee references

For Families and Parents:

 

For Staff and Youth Workers:

 

Safety Policies: 

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

View our full safety policies here:

 

 

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 Club of Tahlequah members and staff have access to a confidential 24-hour hotline:

📞 866-607-SAFE (7233)
📧 SafeClub@Praesidiuminc.com

Mandatory Background Checks:

Mandatory criminal background checks are required annually for all staff and Board members. Volunteers who have direct contact with children must also complete background checks before participation.

Required Immediate Reporting:

All staff and volunteers are mandated reporters.

View our full safety policy here: Incident Reporting Policy 

Any critical incident or safety concern must be:

  • Reported immediately to local authorities
  • Reported to Boys & Girls Clubs of America within 24 hours

 

 

Safety Trainings:

Ongoing training is essential to maintaining a safe environment.

We participate in:

  • Seminars, guest speakers, and webinars
  • Training provided by third-party safety experts

Our partners include:

  • Praesidium
  • National Center for Missing & Exploited Children
  • National Children’s Advocacy Center

Safety Committee:

We maintain a dedicated Safety Committee that provides input and guidance on local safety policies and strategies to ensure continuous improvement.

Mandatory Annual Safety Assessments:

We conduct annual safety assessments to evaluate and strengthen our safety practices across all Club operations.

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 all federal, state, and local safety laws, including those related to facilities and transportation.

Safety Partnerships:

Boys & Girls Clubs of America collaborates with leading experts in safety, security, and technology to implement best practices.

Key partnerships include:

  • National Child Safety Advisory Task Force
  • Blue Ribbon Taskforce
  • Mental Health First Aid
  • Crisis Text Line

Our Commitment to Families

We are committed to creating a safe, inclusive, and supportive environment where every child can learn, grow, and thrive. Our layered safety approach ensures that protection is not just a policy—but a daily practice.

Questions or Concerns?

If you have any questions about our safety policies or would like more information,

please contact us directly at 918-456-6888.

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

Boys & Girls Clubs of America Child Safety page