Staff Protocol & Expanded Measures
Staffing
As part of enhanced safety and health protocols, the Club will staff each building with one Site Director to oversee the drop-off process and address any issues that arise, one Membership Coordinator to assist with drop-off & pick-ups, one Program Coordinator per group to run programs, and at least one support staff (YDPs) to ensure cleanliness throughout and provide additional support as needed. All staff will undergo extensive training of enhanced safety protocols, observation, and sign-off from senior leadership.
STAFF UNIFORM REQUIREMENTS
To address safety and easily identify BGCML staff, all staff MUST wear their Boys & Girls Club shirt. Jackets may not be worn over shirts, however, a long sleeve shirt worn under the shirt is permitted. Khaki-style pants or capris, jeans, shorts or skirts are to be worn. Skirts and shorts should be knee length while standing and cover your thighs when seated. All bottoms should be clean, with no tears exposing skin and worn on your waist. Unless you are leading a Sports & Recreation activity, no yoga, athletic style pants, or gym shorts should be worn. Comfortable flat shoes such as sneakers or casual shoes are to be worn – no heels, flip flops or shower shoes. Staff are asked to arrive to program with newly washed clothes every day.
Name badges are a mandatory piece of the dress code. They are to be worn at all times while working and easily visible to staff, parents and children. Employees are to immediately report lost name badges to the direct supervisor.
In accordance with CDC recommendations, and State of Michigan requirements, all staff will be required to wear a mask, until further notice. BGCML will not issue cloth masks to employees. Disposable masks will be available on site each day, and required to wear prior to entry
Should an employee report to work in violation of the above dress code, they will immediately be sent home to change, and will receive a verbal warning. Time to do so will be unpaid. After 3 verbal warnings, an employee will receive an official write-up.
Family Groups
Upon admission into the program, each member will be sorted into a family group, not to exceed 8 youth. These 8 youth will stay with this same group for the duration of the program. During the first week of programs, staff will lead their group through the creation of a group agreement, as well as deciding on a team name, symbol and cheer. This will allow each group to form their own unique identity.
These groups will have staggered arrival and dismissal times, to minimize group sizes at entries.
PARENT/GUARDIAN EXPECTATIONS
Parents are asked to support the Club in providing a safe space for our members and staff by informing the club of any changes to their child’s health or community exposure. It is strongly encouraged that parents/guardians take the temperature of their child(ren) each day prior to coming to the club. If a child exhibits any symptoms of fever (over 100.4 degrees), chills, cough, sore throat, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, fatigue, muscle or body aches, headache, new loss of taste or smell, congestion or runny nose, nausea or vomiting, diarrhea, or a rash in the last 1 to 5 days?, parents are asked to keep them home until their symptoms have subsided for 120 hours (5 days) without the assistance of medication. Parents are expected to answer a verbal health questionnaire daily upon drop-off and authorize the Club or its representatives to administer a daily temperature check on their child prior to admission into the program.
Upon enrollment, parents will be asked to undergo a virtual onboarding session and will also be asked to review our handbook with their children and reinforce the importance of compliance and safety. Weekly safety briefings will be sent to parents via a Club e-newsletter.
Member expectations
Members participating in the program are expected to follow Club policies surrounding behavior, hygiene, health practices, social distancing, and any recommendations outlined by the CDC and/or Michigan Department of Public Health. Members must be able to participate in the program at their designated workspace, wear a mask, and follow instructions of BGCML staff in order to ensure their safety. Each member will have their own program kit, with all the necessary program supplies for the day, to minimize sharing of supplies. Sharing of supplies/equipment will be prohibited, unless approved by BGCML staff and sanitized in between use.
Members who show disregard for Club policies or exhibit intentional disruptive behavior may be asked to leave the program.
All staff and members are asked to not bring in any personal items. Staff cell phones can be stored in a designated space and must be sanitized upon entry into the building. All snacks and meals will be provided to members.
Personal Items
Children shall not change from one group to another
Each group shall be in a separate room. Groups shall not mix with each other.
If children rotate from one space to another, the room and equipment will need to be sanitized prior to having another group.
There will be no more than one child per table unless children can safely sit 6 feet away from each other. Tables should be positioned to accommodate six feet of separation between every person.
Only items that can be sanitized/cleaned daily are authorized to be used as part of the program (wood, plastic, metal, etc). Items that cannot be washed or sanitized daily at the facility will be prohibited (stuffed animals, plush toys, etc).
Drinking fountains will be inaccessible to youth. BGCML staff will provide water bottles to youth daily.
Youth must wear a mask at all times.
Staff will sanitize frequently touched surfaces and objects every 30 minutes.
SAFE LEARNING SPACE
All members will receive a club Safety Briefing at the start of their day to remind them of the importance of social distancing and maintaining good hygiene practices. Staff will receive additional training around fostering a safe learning environment and are encouraged to clarify expectations and institute best practices for behavior management in the event an issue arises.
PROGRAM DELIVERY
BGCML will continue to abide by restroom policies. Restrooms should be regularly monitored by a designated staff at a schedule set by site leadership. Monitoring includes walk-throughs, inspections, and additional needs set by site leadership.
Staff shall:
Only use designated adult restrooms. Should separate restrooms be unavailable, staff shall use restrooms at designated intervals to ensure they are not using restrooms at the same time as youth members
Abide by all staff codes of conduct
Intervene and notify Club leadership should inappropriate conduct be observed
Ensure restrooms are regularly cleaned and sanitized
Staff observing unacceptable restroom conditions shall immediately notify Club leadership, and document, in writing, restroom conduct incidents
Members and staff are asked to only use restrooms dedicated for their use. Anyone who uses the restrooms must wash their hands for at least 20 seconds with soap and water prior to exiting the restroom.
While under social distancing measures, no bathroom passes shall be issued to members. A staff member must communicate over walkie talkie when sending a member to the restroom during the program. Designated support staff should ensure that not more than two members are in the restroom at a given time. All one-on-one contact is prohibited at the site, including member:member and staff:member contact. Thus, if two youth are in the restroom at the same time, a staff member must monitor the restroom. Restrooms must be sanitized and disinfected at end of shift by designated personnel.
RESTROOMS
Immediately send home or separate anyone who becomes sick at work. Employees should contact their doctor or local health department as they show symptoms.
Staff immediately notify their supervisor via phone and email if they are showing symptoms of COVID-19 and/or they test positive for the virus.
BGCML’s CPO or VP of Operations will notify Public Health - Muskegon County of the positive case, and follow all guidance on what actions need to be taken.
BGCML’s CPO or VP of Operations will notify our DOD
In consultation with Public Health - Muskegon County and our DOD, BGCML will prepare the appropriate communications, including:
If the individual who tested positive was in close contact with any other staff during the infectious period prior to the positive test result, inform fellow employees of their possible exposure to COVID-19 but maintain the confidentiality of the individual who tested positive. Fellow employees may be advised to self-monitor their symptoms or quarantine, depending on the guidance of the health department.
If the individual who tested positive was in close contact with any members during the infectious period prior to the positive test result, inform parents of their children’s possible exposure to COVID-19 but maintain the confidentiality of the individual who tested positive. Families may be advised to self-monitor their symptoms or quarantine, depending on the guidance of the health department
If the individual who tested positive was in close contact with any other community partners during the infectious period prior to the positive test result, inform the community partners of their possible exposure to COVID-19 but maintain the confidentiality of the individual who tested positive. Other individuals may be advised to self-monitor their symptoms or quarantine, depending on the guidance of the health department.
Prepare a media holding statement and parent letter (see appendix)
Staff will close any areas used by the sick person for deep cleaning and disinfection
CDC guidance on cleaning and disinfecting will be followed, including:
Opening outside doors and windows
Waiting at least 24 hours before cleaning and disinfecting
Cleaning and disinfecting all areas used by the sick person, such as offices, bathrooms, common areas, and shared electronic equipment.
BGCML will work in collaboration with Public Health - Muskegon County to determine when to re-open closed areas and when staff in quarantine may be allowed to return to work
After re-opening, staff will continue regular cleaning, disinfection, social distancing, and hygiene practices.
Prior to returning to work, the employee must present two negative COVID-19 tests, taken over 24 hours apart, or a Doctor’s note indicating that they are negative for COVID-19 and cleared to return to work.