What We Do
Our Clubs provide under-served youth with regular access to and engagement in areas such as STEM, sports leagues, homework help and tutoring, summer learning loss prevention, and engagement in the arts. As a result, Club youth are able to leverage and create opportunities that shift the course of their life trajectories and overcome cycles of inequity.
Additionally, access to affordable, reliable and safe out-of-school time programs allows parents and caregivers the opportunities to participate in the community's workforce. While their children are actively engaged at the Club, families can rest assured knowing that they have access to enhanced academic support to ensure youth are on track to graduate, nutritious food, opportunities to be physically active and health education, all provided by caring staff within the context of a safe, supportive Club environment. As a result, Clubs contribute to major savings for communities by helping to prevent costly expenditures for health care, public assistance programs, and criminal justice system involvement and incarceration.
In fact, in 2015, a return-on-investment (ROI) study by the Institute for Social Research and the School of Public Health at the University of Michigan found that every $1 invested in Boys & Girls Clubs returns $9.60 in economic benefits to the individual and society through future earnings and cost savings to their communities.
What is a Trauma-Informed Approach?
Trauma-Informed Practice, a strengths-based service delivery approach, prioritizes understanding the impact of trauma and ensuring physical, mental, and emotional safety for youth, families, and staff. It aims to empower individuals through safe, trusting relationships and interventions, guided by seven core values: safety, trust, awareness, equity, voice/choice & empowerment, mutual collaboration, connection, and growth.
According to SAMHSA, two out of three youth have experienced at least one traumatic event by age 16, leading to various negative outcomes including academic challenges, behavioral issues, physical and mental health concerns, substance misuse, suicide ideation, relationship problems, and incarceration. Given this prevalence, trauma-informed care is crucial in Boys & Girls Clubs where many children and adolescents have experienced trauma, impacting their behavior, emotional regulation, and ability to engage in learning and social activities.
By adopting a trauma-informed approach, Boys & Girls Clubs of WCW can create environments that prioritize safety, trust, and empowerment, fostering healing and growth. Our clubs provide supportive relationships, interventions, social emotional learning and activities to help individuals rebuild a sense of control and resilience, addressing underlying issues hindering academic, social, and emotional success.
Research underscores the importance of rebuilding children's sense of safety, trust, community, and connection through consistent supportive relationships, a key intervention. Boys & Girls Clubs are uniquely positioned to provide these essential relationships, fostering safety and trust. The Boys & Girls Club of America is committed to a trauma-informed movement, aligning with its mission to empower all young people, particularly those most in need, to fulfill their potential. Ensuring young individuals feel safe, valued, and supported is foundational for them to develop the relationships and skills necessary to become compassionate, productive, and responsible members of society.
How do we promote a trauma-informed approach in our clubs?
Creating Safe Spaces: We create physical environments that are safe and welcoming. This includes clear expectations, providing comfortable and inviting spaces, calming corners, and fostering a sense of belonging and community among participants.
Building Trusting Relationships: Staff members are trained to develop positive relationships with youth based on trust, respect, and empathy. This involves active listening, offering support, and providing opportunities for youth to express themselves in a non-judgmental environment.
Understanding Trauma: Staff members receive training on trauma awareness and abuse prevention, including the signs and symptoms of trauma, its impact on behavior and development, and strategies for supporting youth who have experienced trauma.
Promoting Self- Regulation: Programs incorporate activities and strategies to help youth develop skills for self-regulation and emotional management. This might include mindfulness exercises, relaxation techniques, and conflict resolution skills.
Empowering Youth Voice: We provide opportunities for youth to have a voice in decision-making processes and activity choices. This can help to build confidence, self-esteem, and a sense of control in their lives.
Collaborating with Families and Communities: Our clubs work collaboratively with families, schools, and community organizations to provide resources and support for youth and families. This includes referrals to additional services, coordinating positive behavior plans, and fostering a sense of community support.
Safety is our #1 Priority
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 provide significant resources to ensure this priority is achieved.
Culture of Safety: Boys & Girls Clubs of West-Central Wisconsin continually updates robust safety policies, programs and training for our staff and volunteers. These policies are designed to promote child safety and protect young people from threats that are present in our society.
Safety Policies: Boys & Girls Clubs of West-Central Wisconsin have comprehensive safety policies in place that protect youth including, but not limited to, supervision, transportation, and communication and prohibiting one-on-one contact with anyone under the age of 18.
24-hour Toll-Free Child Safety Hotline: We require all staff, members and families to report any incident or situation they feel is unsafe. Through our national partnership with Presidium, one of the nation’s leading safety experts, Boys & Girls Clubs of Broward County members and staff have access to a confidential 24-hour, toll-free Child safety Hotline, 866-607-SAFE (7233)
Mandatory Background Checks: Conduct criminal background checks every 12 months of all employees, as well as all volunteers who have direct, repetitive contact with children. Background checks must also meet Boys & Girls Clubs of America (BGCA) membership requirements.
Safe Passage Policy: Boys & Girls Clubs of West-Central Wisconsin requires all members to scan in and out each day with their Visions membership tracking system. In addition, members may not leave the club unescorted unless they are 12 years and older and have included in their membership application written parent/guardian consent.
Required Immediate Reporting: Boys & Girls Clubs of West Central Wisconsin 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 conduct a safety assessment 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 trainings each year. We also engage leading third-party safety experts to provide guidance for our policies and procedures.
Safety Committee: Boys & Girls Clubs of West-Central Wisconsin has a dedicated safety committee to provide input and guidance on local policies and safety strategies.
State and Local Laws: We comply with federal, state and local safety laws, including those impacting facilities and vehicles.
Safety Partnerships: Locally, we partner with local law enforcement agencies where our clubs are located as well as 3rd party Safety Consultants and various outside agencies committed to the protection of our youth.
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 Task Force 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.
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 the Boys & Girls Clubs of Broward County. To learn more about our national safety policies and actions, please visit Boys & Girls Clubs of America’s Child Safety page, here.