Boys & Girls Club: We will do better

Organization announces safety changes, thirdparty review after abuse investigation

Shortly after the publication of a Hearst Connecticut Media investigation that found 250 victims in 30 states who say they were sexually abused as children at the hands of employees, volunteers and other members of Boys & Girls Club of America affiliates, the national organization announced a thirdparty review of its policies and a series of measures aimed at improving safety at local clubs.

“We recognize that more needs to be done and we have always been committed to doing whatever it takes to keep kids safe,” a statement from a spokesperson reads. “We are retaining an outside independent thirdparty to conduct a toptobottom review of our safety processes to help us determine whether reporting protocols in place can be strengthened and how we can better ensure those are being followed.”

The review will ensure “the most appropriate actions are taken,” the statement says, and the organization will make the findings of the review available to the public. The planned improvements that may result from the review will also be public.

“There will also be additional thirdparty reviews of individual clubs,” according to the statement.

While the national organization awaits the results from the review, it said it would implement additional safety measures immediately.

“To further support safety in clubs, every Boys & Girls Club will have a thirdparty expert complete an onsite assessment annually,” according to the statement. “Should an organization not be able to obtain an assessor, Boys & Girls Clubs of America will provide.”

The organization said it will also reevaluate what it can do to better inform communities when allegations of abuse

arise. Hearst Connecticut Media’s investigation produced a nationwide database of alleged sex abuse cases connected to Boys & Girls Clubs, something that the national organization does not publicly maintain.

“Because of our commitment to protecting children and transparency, we will be evaluating what we can do to further inform our members, their families and the local communities clubs serve after an incident occurs,” according to the statement.

On Sept. 12, Boys & Girls Clubs across the nation will conduct sexual abuse prevention training and “drills,” the organization said.

The confidential tollfree Child Safety Helpline that has been available to local club members and employees for years will now be more visibly posted in “all rooms of every Club site encouraging Club parent(s), staff or volunteers to use,” the statement says.

Boys & Girls Clubs of America representatives said the organization will take action to require safety policies and guides are made available to parents during orientation, online or at the time of registering a child for membership.

“Boys & Girls Clubs of America’s number one priority is the protection of the children we serve at Clubs,” the statement reads. “Any abuse of children is horrific, and we are very sorry and heartbroken that any child was ever harmed. We will do whatever it takes to ensure the safety and protection of the youth we serve and continue to improve our policies that protect young people.”

The statement further clarified the organization's policy on tracking abuse. Since 2014, the local clubs have been required to report critical safety incidents to the national organization. Those reports are not available to other affiliates or the public.

“Boys & Girls Clubs of America tracks and is aware of allegations of abuse at local Clubs. We require every allegation to be reported both to law enforcement and to the national organization,” according to the statement. “We treat all these allegations as criminal matters first, which ensures any harm to a child is investigated and handled by law enforcement with the full cooperation of local Clubs. Within hours of receiving a report from a Club, Boys & Girls Clubs of America provides resources to first support potential victims and their families, and second to work with local Clubs to ensure they are safe.”

The statement reiterated the current “layers of protection” the organization has in place to protect children, including mandatory criminal background checks, mandated reporter training and safety committees.

“Boys & Girls Clubs of America continually updates and innovates robust safety policies, programs and training for local Club staff and volunteers that are designed to protect young people from threats that are present in our society,” the statement says. “Through our national Child & Club Safety Department we implement layers of safety policies and guidelines to keep our kids safe.”

The organization said its overall objective is to provide opportunities to youth.

“Boys & Girls Clubs were founded 159 years ago with one objective, to provide safe places for kids and provide them with mentorship and opportunities to learn and grow,” the statement reads. “Boys & Girls Clubs should be safe places for children and teens, and there is no place here for anyone who would do them harm.”