Boys & Girls Club Abuse Lawyer

Millions Recovered for Child Sexual Abuse Victims Nationwide

Boys & Girls Clubs of America provide essential services to millions of children across the country, and while parents choose these after-school programs believing they provide safe environments, the unfortunate truth is that they do not always succeed in preventing abuse. Like schools and other youth organizations, Boys & Girls Clubs create spaces where wrongdoers can prey upon children.

If you or your child were sexually abused by a Boys & Girls Club employee, volunteer, or a fellow member, stepping forward with your story can ensure accountability for those who failed to protect children, and provide an opportunity for you to recover the justice and compensation you deserve.

The Zalkin Law Firm has earned a national reputation for our work helping survivors of child sex abuse seek justice through the filing of civil lawsuits. Backed by a caring and compassionate team that leverages decades of collective experience, we’re devoted to helping survivors take on powerful institutions and organizations that failed to meet their duties of care and responsibility.

Discuss a potential case with a Boys & Girls Club sexual abuse attorney from The Zalkin Law Firm. Based in California, our team serves survivors nationwide. Call us today at (800) 477-2989 or contact us online to get started.

What is the Boys & Girls Clubs of America?

The Boys & Girls Clubs of America (BGCA) is a national nonprofit organization dedicated to providing positive after-school and summer programs for young people, particularly those from disadvantaged backgrounds. It was founded in 1860 and has since grown to become one of the largest youth development organizations in the United States.

The mission of the Boys & Girls Clubs of America is to enable all young people, especially those who need it most, to reach their full potential as productive, caring, responsible citizens. They achieve this mission through a variety of programs and activities focused on academic success, healthy lifestyles, character and leadership development, and community involvement.

Each Boys & Girls Club typically operates in a local community and offers a safe and supportive environment where children and teenagers can participate in educational, recreational, and cultural activities. These activities are designed to help young people develop essential life skills, build positive relationships with peers and adults, and explore their interests and talents.

Sexual Abuse in Boys & Girls Clubs

Though Boys & Girls Clubs have been around for more than 100 years and are active in thousands of communities across the country, they do not always succeed in providing a safe place for children.

As an organization that caters to kids, there are always risks of sexual abuse – which is why Boys & Girls Clubs have important legal responsibilities when it comes to preventing abuse, reporting allegations, and protecting members.

Child sexual abuse may occur at a Boys & Girls Club facility or off-site and can take many forms, from unwanted touching and inappropriate relationships to molestation, sexual assault, and rape. Any allegations or signs of abuse demand an appropriate review by staff, and a report to law enforcement.

There are a number risk factors in Boys & Girls Clubs that are commonly red flags for abuse, including:

• Youth members: Boys & Girls Clubs serve children from ages 6 through 16 and older, which can create opportunities for older youth members to sexually abuse younger members, or members their same age. Though members are not staff, Boys & Girls Clubs still have an obligation to prevent and identify inappropriate relationships among members at their facilities, and take appropriate steps to respond.
• Volunteers: Boys & Girls Clubs offer many volunteer and community service opportunities to juveniles and adults of all ages. This can include court-ordered community services by youth who have been adjudicated for juvenile offenses. Boys & Girls Clubs have an obligation to ensure their volunteers do not pose unreasonable risks to members.
• Field trips: Many Boys & Girls Clubs offer field trips, excursions, and even overnight trips for members. While these can be enriching experiences, they also provide opportunities for offenders to take advantage of less oversight and engage in abusive conduct.
• Negligence: Boys & Girls Clubs have obligations to take reasonable steps in preventing, identifying, and reporting child sexual abuse or sexual assault involving members. Unfortunately, the negligence of employees or management may mean that abuse is never reported, or that allegations are improperly handled or never reported to law enforcement.

Common forms of sexual abuse include:

• Physical Sexual Abuse: This involves any form of physical contact or activity of a sexual nature between an adult and a child. It can include touching, fondling, kissing, or any other physical act intended to gratify the perpetrator's sexual desires.
• Verbal Sexual Abuse: Verbal sexual abuse involves sexually explicit language, comments, or suggestions directed at a child. This can include sexual jokes, innuendos, or explicit discussions about sexual topics, which can be highly inappropriate and damaging to a child's well-being.
• Non-Contact Sexual Abuse: Non-contact sexual abuse refers to actions that do not involve physical contact but still have a sexual component. This can include exposing a child to pornographic material, forcing a child to watch sexual acts, or engaging in sexually suggestive behavior in front of a child.
• Grooming: Grooming is a process used by perpetrators to build trust and establish a relationship with a child for the purpose of sexual abuse. This can involve giving special attention or gifts, manipulating the child's emotions, or exploiting vulnerabilities to gain the child's trust and compliance.
• Exploitation: Sexual exploitation involves using a child for sexual purposes, often through manipulation or coercion. This can include forcing a child to engage in sexual acts, taking sexually explicit photos or videos of a child, or trafficking a child for sexual purposes.
• Online Sexual Abuse: With the prevalence of digital technology, online sexual abuse has become a growing concern. This can include grooming, exploitation, or harassment of children through social media, messaging apps, online gaming platforms, or other digital channels.

If you suspect your child was sexually abused at a Boys & Girls Club, believe Boys & Girls Club staff failed to adequately handle reported abuse or reported offenders, or are an adult who was sexually abused as a minor, you may have the right to take legal action and file a civil lawsuit against those at-fault.

As civil claims, sexual abuse lawsuits offer survivors an opportunity to bring allegations into the public forum, and seek accountability from wrongdoers and clubs that failed to protect them against abuse.

When successful, civil abuse claims can also allow victims to recover financial compensation for their pain and suffering, medical and mental health expenses, and other damages arising from their abuse.

Understanding the Legal Rights of Sexual Abuse Survivors

Survivors of sexual abuse at Boys & Girls Clubs have specific legal rights designed to help them seek justice and obtain the compensation they deserve. These rights include:

• Filing a Civil Lawsuit: Survivors can take legal action against those responsible for the abuse, including the perpetrator and any institution that failed to prevent or address the misconduct.
• Seeking Compensation: Victims can recover damages for various impacts, including emotional distress, medical and psychological treatment, ongoing therapy, and other related expenses.
• Privacy Protections: The legal system safeguards survivors' confidentiality, ensuring that legal professionals handle their personal and sensitive information with the utmost discretion.
• Access to Support Services: Survivors have the right to access various support resources, such as counseling, advocacy, and legal guidance, to assist them in their recovery and navigate the complexities of the legal process.

Recognizing and understanding these rights empower survivors to make informed decisions and take appropriate legal steps to achieve justice and healing.

Institutional Responsibilities and Preventive Measures Against Sexual Abuse

Boys & Girls Clubs have a critical responsibility to implement measures that prevent sexual abuse and protect the children in their care. Key responsibilities include:

• Comprehensive Screening: Performing thorough background checks on all employees and volunteers to prevent those with a history of sexual misconduct from gaining access to children.
• Mandatory Staff Training: Providing regular, specialized training for staff on identifying signs of sexual abuse, reporting procedures, and maintaining a safe environment for children.
• Effective Reporting Protocols: Developing clear and accessible procedures for reporting sexual abuse, ensuring that all allegations are promptly and thoroughly investigated.
• Promoting a Safe Culture: Creating an environment where staff, volunteers, and children are encouraged to report any concerns or suspicious behavior without fear of retaliation.

By fulfilling these responsibilities, Boys & Girls Clubs aim to create a safer environment and mitigate the risk of sexual abuse. Ongoing vigilance and improvements are essential to protect children and address any issues that arise effectively.

Request a FREE Consultation Today

Initiating a sexual abuse claim can be immensely difficult for survivors and their families, many of whom may fear scrutiny, loss of friends or community, and shame. However, those feelings are a large part of why child sex abuse is so pervasive, and why so many offenders and cases go unreported.

By stepping forward with the help of highly experienced and caring attorneys like those at The Zalkin Law Firm, you can better understand your rights and what to expect of the legal process, and benefit from the resources needed to heal and prevail in your claim. We value the trust survivors place in our team, and work diligently to guide them through their legal journeys.

Our legal team offers FREE and confidential case reviews to survivors nationwide, and is available to discuss your case when you contact us at (800) 477-2989.