Parents’ Handbook

Revised: April 23, 20181

Lubbock Boys and Girls Club, Inc.

MISSION STATEMENT

To inspire and enable all young people to realize their full potential
as productive, responsible and caring citizens.

PURPOSE STATEMENT

The purpose of the Boys & Girls Club of Lubbock is to create opportunities for youth in their very own
place. Throughout its history, the Boys & Girls Club has focused on meeting the needs of children as
they grow to young adults. The Club helps them to help themselves, to realize their potential fordevelopment and improvement, and to become responsible citizens with the skills necessary forliving.
In order to reach its mission, the Boys & Girls Club will attract and maintain a viable, active, andengaged Board of Directors; recruit and develop a staff dedicated to building relationships; design acomprehensive program for education, recreation, personal, social and career development,citizenship and leadership, and cultural opportunities; and form alumni bonds that will continue toenhance the Club’s programs. Additionally, the Boys and Girls Club of Lubbock will develop andexercise sound fiduciary policies and ensure access of all children, regardless of family income oreconomic status, to a safe and inviting facility. Finally, the Boys & Girls Club will tell throughout thecommunity the story of a positive place for kids to grow.

TEN CARDINAL PRINCIPLES OF A BOYS & GIRLS CLUB1. IT IS FOR BOYS AND GIRLS. It has a boy and girl membership and as such satisfies an age-old
desire of boys and girls to have a club of their own.
2. IT HAS FULL-TIME PROFESSIONAL LEADERSHIP supplemented by part-time workers andvolunteers.
3. NO PROOF OF GOOD CHARACTER IS REQUIRED. It helps and guides boys and girls who
may be in danger of acquiring, or who already have acquired, unacceptable habits and attitudes,
as well as, boys and girls of good character.
4. ANY BOY OR GIRL CAN AFFORD TO BELONG. Membership dues are kept low so that allboys and girls can afford to belong and even those who are financially unable will not be deterredfrom joining.
25. IT IS FOR ALL BOYS AND GIRLS. Boys and girls of all races, religions and cultures are eligible
to become members.
6. IT IS BUILDING-CENTERED. Activities are carried on in the warm, friendly atmosphere ofbuildings especially designed to conduct programs.
7. IT IS NON-SECTARIAN.
8. IT HAS AN OPEN DOOR POLICY. Clubs are open to all members at any time during hours ofoperation.
9. IT HAS A VARIED AND DIVERSIFIED PROGRAM that recognizes and responds to the collectiveand individual needs of boys and girls.
10. IT IS GUIDANCE-ORIENTED. It emphasizes values inherent in the relationship between theboys and girls and their peers, and the boys and girls and adult leaders. It helps boys and girls tomake appropriate and satisfying choices. Because the Boys & Girls Club is unique, it has formore than 100 years been able to work successfully in the disadvantaged neighborhoods of ournation. It does not pretend to be able to do all things for all people. It does try to do one thing anddoes it right - serve youth.

CORE SERVICESCore services provide the activity base for member participation with attention to variety and diversity
in order to meet the needs, interest and inclinations of every member. Core services provide program
continuity by linking past programs with present practices.
These are the activities and services which are most identified as "typical" by youth, parents, boards
and the public. Although these are no hard-and-fast rule on how core services should be
categorized, many clubs group the activities around the following program areas: Character andLeadership; Education and Career; Health and Life Skills; The Arts; and Sports, Fitness andRecreation.
Core services attract and keep the interest of youth of all ages and are a means of getting to know
members in order to influence their lives positively. To be properly planned and conducted, theseactivities require the leadership of professionals. The activity areas are often associated withrecognized professional positions such as Physical Education Director, Social Recreation Director,Education Director, and Teen Center Director.

3CORE PROGRAMMING
Clubs provide diverse activities that meet the interests of all youth. Core Programs engage
young people in activities with adults, peers and family members that enable them to develop
self-esteem and to reach their full potential. Based on physical, emotional, cultural and social
needs and interests of girls and boys, and recognizing developmental principles. Clubs offer
program activities in five areas:
1. Character and Leadership Development ... empowers youth to support and influence theirClub and community, sustain meaningful relationships with others, develop a positive selfimage, participate in the democratic process and respect their own and others’ culturalidentities.
Examples: Keystone Club, Torch Club, SMART Girls, Passport to Manhood, Scouts,
Junior Leaders, community service, Youth of the Month Program, Youth of the Year
Program, pep rallies, Positive Role Models, Black History Month.
2. Education and Career Development ... enables youth to become proficient in basic
educational disciplines, apply learning to everyday situations and embrace technology toachieve success in a career.
Examples: Power Hour, tutoring, educational games, outside speakers
3. Health and Life Skills ... develops young people’s capacity to engage in positive behaviors
that nurture their own well-being, set personal goals and live successfully as self-sufficient
adults.
Examples: SMART Moves, prevention programs, conflict management, health & hygiene
instruction, cooking classes.
4. The Arts ... enables youth to develop their creativity and cultural awareness throughknowledge and appreciation of the visual arts, crafts, performing arts and creative writing.
Examples: field trips, art lessons, pottery, photography, choir, arts & crafts, musiclessons, Fine Arts Contest, poetry and essay contests.

5. Sports, Fitness and Recreation ... develop fitness, positive use of leisure time, skills forstress management, appreciation for the environment and social skills.
Examples: pool, table tennis, foosball, table games, ping pong, tournaments, video games,
television, holiday and special events, field trips, volleyball, floor hockey, kickball, flag football,basketball, dodgeball, baseball, horse shoes, golf lessons, NIKE cross-training, inter-clubleagues, Recycling Program, outdoor & environmental education, Junior Gardeners
4Transportation and Open Door Policies

The Boys & Girls Club will offer a transportation program at some local schools as a convenience toparents. In order to ride the Boys & Girls Club vehicle the child must be a current member of theBoys & Girls Club of Lubbock. The vehicles have a schedule to maintain and will be at the schools ata certain time and will leave at a specific time. If your child does not wish to get in the vehicle, thedriver will not force the child to ride nor will the driver leave the vehicle to look for the child. The driverwill have to leave the child at the school. It will be the parent’s responsibility to pickup the child at theschool. The Boys & Girls Club will not make return trips to get a child that misses the van/bus.
Children partaking in activities at the Boys & Girls Club are free to participate or leave the program atwill. This means that your child may leave the club at any time and walk home without adultsupervision. This also means that the child may leave with any person that is there to pickup thechild. The only time the Boys & Girls Club staff is allowed to stop a child from leaving the Club withsomeone is when there is a legal document on file at the Club that states that an individual is not
permitted to have custody of that child. The Boys & Girls Club of Lubbock can not be held
responsible for the safety of the child if he/she chooses to leave the Club.
Disciplinary Guidelines and Procedures
Discipline is necessary in order to provide structure and for everyone’s safety. Discipline given
immediately after the offense and consistently is the most effective. Children and teens feel safe in a
predictable environment provided with rules and consequences. Effective discipline does not come in
the form of intimidation (yelling or threatening) or physical punishment (swats, licks, spankings, andthe like) this is absolutely unacceptable. Acceptable discipline in the club begins with trust. Trust
between staff and members are built by consistently following through with restrictions and logicalconsequences. These include loss of privileges. An example would be if a member is not using
equipment properly, then that member loses the privilege of using that piece of equipment for the day.
Suspension is also included as a form of discipline. This is discussed in the Policy of Member
Suspension. It is important that the club has a set of rules and that the rules are posted for themembers to see. Each staff must follow the same guideline and procedures for discipline in order toshow consistency.
Policy for Member Suspension
Events that require suspension from the facility include but are not limited to: disruption of club
activities, refusal to comply with club rules, fighting, stealing, general disrespect toward staff,intimidating or threatening behavior towards member or staff, and possession of weapons or illegal
contraband. The Club Director and Executive Director will decide if the suspension should bepermanent and if any other disciplinary actions should be taken.
In the event that a member should require suspension from the club, the following protocol will beobserved:5

1. A phone call will be made to the member’s parent or guardian requesting them to pick up
their child. Contact information for parent/guardian must be updated at all times.
2. The nature of the suspension should be explained in detail to the member and theparent/guardian.
3. The suspension should be appropriate to the offense and be consistent for all members.

Club Member’s Rules
1. Only members are allowed in the Club. Non-members are allowed one free visit during theafterschool program and Teen Night program. There are NO VISITORS allowed during our summer
program.
2. All members must sign-in as they enter each day on the computer. Appropriate clothing will beworn (shirts & shoes).
3. Once members leave the Club they may not return until the next day. Members cannot hangaround outside or around the doors.
4. Do not enter staff’s offices without first knocking and waiting until asked to come in. Never go into
an office without a staff person being with you.
5. Be proud of your Club. Keep the Club clean. Food will be eaten only in the snack area. When
you are finished eating, throw your paper away and clean up your mess.
6. Bikes are to be parked outside the club. Club member vehicles will be legally parked in the Clubparking lot and locked.
7. Colors, weapons and gang signs will not be allowed in or near our Club.
8. Profanity, loud noise and running around in the Club are not allowed.
9. All injuries or accidents must be reported immediately to staff.
10. The Club telephone is to be used ONLY for business calls and emergencies (i.e. injuries, illness).
Calls for club members are discouraged, but messages will be taken. Members must ask to use thetelephone.
11. Members who require constant attention or discipline will have to leave the Club.
12. Any member who engages in violent or delinquent behavior will be subject to disciplinary action
including suspension. This includes fighting, bullying, stealing, using abusive language, etc.
13. Staff and other Club members must be treated with respect by everyone.
614. Members must sign up for each activity every time they participate in the activity. For example:
You sign up to play pool and finish playing your pool game. You decide to play checkers and sign up
for that. After you are finished with that game you decide you want to play pool again, you must signup for pool again.
15. Coats, books and other personal items must be placed in the designated area. Members mustnever take or go through another member’s belongings. The staff is NOT responsible for any
personal property brought to the Club by members.
16. All members must be picked up no later than regular Club closing hours. If late pickups continue
this may result in loss of membership privileges.
17. Due to overall Child Safety issues parents are not allowed to walk around the Club looking fortheir child. Parents/Guardians must wait at front counter when picking up their child. Every childneeds to sign out when they leave the Club.
Consequences for not following the rules:
LOSS OF PRIVILEGES: Not being able to play with equipment for a day, not being able to go into
an area.
SUSPENSION: Not being able to attend the club for a certain amount of time.
PERMANENT SUSPENSION FROM THE CLUB: Events that require permanent suspension fromthe club include but are not limited to: repeated disruption of club activities, repeated refusal tocomply with club rules, repeated fighting or stealing, repeated disrespect towards staff and othermembers, repeated intimidating or threatening behaviors towards staff and members, and any
possession of weapons or illegal contraband.

Fee Payments
The Boys & Girls Club fees are at the lowest rate possible. It is important that everyone pays
something. Payment gives importance to the program and shows ownership. Members are notcurrent if fees are not paid and will not be allowed to participate in club activities. Please contact theclub director if you are not able to pay the full fee. A scholarship form will be given to you to fill out.
Only a limited amount of money is available for scholarship. The Executive Director has final
approval for all scholarships.
Parent Participation
In this day and age, it’s evident that the level of parent participation in a child’s life is directly related tothat child’s success in development. Therefore, The Boys and Girls Club of Lubbock, encourage theparticipation of parents as much as possible. There are many ways to be an active Boys & Girls Club
parent such as coaching, helping with holiday dinners, family game nights, or just helping with theclubs every day activities. Contact your local Boys & Girls Club for more information. We at The
Boys& Girls Club of Lubbock and all our members, appreciate your involvement.
7

Executive Director’s Comments
We want to welcome you to the Lubbock Boys & Girls Club and our staff and Board of Directors will
make every effort for you child to have a positive experience at our club. If you have any questions orcomments please contact the Administrative Office at 806-792-2880. At the Lubbock Boys & GirlsClub “Great Futures Start Here”!

8