Prohibition of Private One-on-One Interaction Policy
Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Minnesota is committed to providing a safe environment for members, staff, and volunteers. To further ensure their safety, the organization prohibits all one-on-one interactions between Club members and staff and volunteers (including board members). All staff and volunteers must abide by the following:
- Ensure all meetings and communications between members and staff or volunteers are never private (see definition below).
- Ensure in-person meetings take place in areas where other staff, volunteers, and/or members are present.
- Communicate to another staff whenever an emergency arises that necessitates an exception to this policy.
- Never initiate private or isolated one-on-one contact with a member.
- Never have a private or isolated meeting or communication with a member. This includes in-person meetings and virtual communications such as texting, video chat, and social media between only a staff or volunteer and a single member.
- Never transport one Club member at a time. This includes transportation in Club or leased vehicles. If there are any Club members there must be a second adult staff/volunteer in the vehicle at all times.
Definition of One-on-one Interaction
One-on-one interaction is defined as any private contact or communication (including electronic communication) between any Club member and staff or volunteers – including adult staff, minor staff, volunteers, board members, and others who might encounter members during regular programming and activities.
Private contact/communication
Private contact/communication is any communication, in person or virtual, that is between one member and one adult (18 or over) staff or volunteer that takes place in a secluded area, is not in plain sight, and/or is done without the knowledge of others. Private places can include but are not limited to vehicles, rooms without visibility to others, private homes, and hotel rooms. Examples of private contact include but are not limited to:
- Meeting behind closed doors (in rooms without windows or visible sightlines) or any spaces that are not visible to others.
- One staff transporting one member in a vehicle.
- Electronic communications (text, video, social media, etc.) between one member and one staff or volunteer.
Public contact/communication
Public contact/communication is any communication or meeting, in person or virtual, that is between at least three individuals, including two staff/volunteer and one member, one staff/volunteer and two members, or variations of these combinations. Examples of public contact include but are not limited to:
- Meeting in plain sight of others (e.g., in a quiet corner of an active games room).
- Transporting members via public transportation (bus, taxis, train, air, etc.) or transporting multiple members.
- Electronic communications (text, video, social media, etc.) between multiple members and adults (e.g., group chats).
- Public places can include but are not limited to buses, airports, shopping malls, restaurants, and schools.