BGCTC’s Youth Safety and Program Updates Related to COVID-19 Outbreak

Mar 13, 2020

Safety of Boys & Girls Club members is, and will continue to be, our #1 priority at BCGCT. We are working tirelessly to investigate options for providing care and support to Club families and families of First Responders during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Access to care may be limited!

Please stay tuned and watch this space for details as they are made available. Our organization is proceeding swiftly yet cautiously to ensure emergency care is safe for members as well as our staff.

Mar 12, 2020 Statement

Boys & Girls Clubs of Thurston County (BGCTC) is committed to the safety of the youth we serve. With heightened awareness and growing concern about the respiratory illness caused by a new coronavirus known as COVID-19, BGCTC is monitoring, planning, and preparing for public health risks for the youth we serve and their families. We are following guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and the Washington State Department of Health (DOH).

Our partner school districts are also currently engaging in contingency planning in the event the virus spreads to our area and schools. All branches of BGCTC will following the lead of partner school districts regarding school closures, as they work closely with state and local health officials on responding to potential illness outbreaks that might lead to school closures.

BGCTC Policy Regarding Closures

• If inclement weather or a public health emergency necessitates school closures by a school district, Boys & Girls Clubs in that school district will also be closed that day. This includes before and after-school programs. 
• If a known exposure or risk takes place within a Club site, that branch will close for the time necessary to limit risk to you and staff as well as appropriately sanitize and disinfect the Club facility.
• If a child in your care attends a school that is closed because of illness or a public health emergency, they will not be allowed to attend an alternate Club location that day.
• For timely, up-to-date details regarding Club closures, follow your respective Club Branch’s Facebook page.

In addition to extra cleaning at Club sites, BGCTC staff will encourage and reinforce the following practices as outlined in the CDC’s guidelines for preventing and treating COVID-19:

• Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth.
• Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash.
• Stay home when you are sick.
• Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces using a regular household cleaning spray or wipe.
• Follow CDC’s recommendations for using a facemask:
  • CDC does not recommend that people who are well wear a facemask to protect themselves from respiratory diseases, including COVID-19.
  • Facemasks should be used by people who show symptoms of COVID-19 to help prevent the spread of the disease to others.
• Wash your hands often:
  • Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after going to the bathroom; before eating; and after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing.
  • If soap and water are not readily available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol. Always wash hands with soap and water if hands are visibly dirty.

BGCTC Organizational Staffing Plan

Reliable staffing is essential to be able to deliver on our commitment to youth and their families. If staff work in a program that is operating normally, it is expected that staff report for their normally assigned shifts unless they exhibit symptoms of illness or are a caregiver to a family member with COVID-19. If there is no known exposure to those staff, and those staff can assist other programs or administrative tasks, we expect those staff to report to work when requested. 

We plan to operate Clubs as long as we are legally allowed and able to keep staff and children safe. Club closures will also depend on acting in a fiscally responsible manner where Club closures will be determined by enrollment numbers and community need.

If you have questions or concerns regarding these policies, please contact the BGCTC Director of Operations at 360.956-0755.