The Boys and Girls Club of America was established to provide a safe and fun place for children without many other resources for after-school care. It is advertised in the community as a place parents can trust to provide their children with friends, experiences, food, and supervision. In the last decades, this image of them has been shattered by countless allegations of sexual abuse perpetrated by owners, directors, staff, and volunteers.
If a member of, or someone affiliated with, the Boys and Girls Club has abused you or your child, you may be eligible to receive compensation for your injuries. At White Law PLLC, our Michigan summer camp sexual abuse lawyer may be able to help. Our firm prides itself on advocating for survivors of sexual abuse, helping their voices get heard, and supporting their journey to seek justice.
Resources offered by the Boys and Girls Club
The Boys and Girls Club provides a robust inventory of programs available to youth. They provide many services that families may not otherwise have access to and, in some areas, partner with Medicaid programs to provide free childcare to low-income families. Some of the additional services provided are:
- educational support after school
- courses on career skills and money management
- programs to facilitate skills in STEAM
- sports
- summer camps
The Boys and Girls Club may have changed the lives of many youths for the better. However, there are noted and persistent concerns regarding ratios for supervision, background check policies, and accountability in the face of these accusations.
Your Fight Is Our Fight
Boys and Girls Club Abuse Allegations
The Boys and Girls Club was founded in Boston in 1860. According to their mission and story, the BGC values providing children with a place to go that offers safety, community, and support. However, allegations of sexual abuse and the organization’s lack of action regarding reports go back decades.
In an investigation by Hearst Connecticut Media, many of these allegations were made public in 2019. As of 2020, the Post reported that the Boys and Girls Club investigation found 351 victims in 35 states. These allegations vary in nature, and the alleged and convicted perpetrators include owners, directors, staff, volunteers, and members.
Allegations include rape, molestation, enticement, and masturbating in front of a child, among others. In the last year, a Boys and Girls Club CEO is facing charges of harassing an Athens woman regarding a sexual video he took without her consent.
Causes of Boys and Girls Club Sexual Abuse
Among the allegations and convictions of perpetrators, the primary reasons for these ongoing issues are not generally nefarious. Most of these cases, with a few exceptions, seem to stem from procedural issues. Some of these reasons include:
- Inadequate supervision resulting minor members assaulting other children in the bathrooms.
- Lack of ratio expectations and a goal of 25 kids to one adult does not allow appropriate engagement and supervision or intervention in case of an issue
- Poor record keeping of staff or members who have engaged in inappropriate behavior has allowed problems in multiple locations perpetuated by the same individual, such as the case of People v Kilgore, which resulted in a conviction.
As of 2014, the Boys and Girls Club implemented a policy requiring reporting inappropriate incidents to the national body, and they host regular mandated reporting training. However, even since 2014, the above-cited source from the post reports at least two incidents of staff failing to report abuse to the appropriate authorities. Many survivors are kept in silence with threats that no one will believe them, and this failure enforces the belief that no one will help, encouraging survivors not to speak up.
We understand that you may be going through a difficult situation and we are ready to help however we can.
Settlements
Many survivors of sexual abuse that was perpetrated by a Boys and Girls Club affiliate or while in the care of the Boys and Girls Club were able to pursue compensation for their injuries in civil court. Some of those outcomes are as follows:
- 1.4 million dollars awarded by the jury
- 1 million dollars settled during the trial
- 22 million dollar settlement approved in Madison Square Boys and Girls Club Inc. bankruptcy.
- 600,000 awarded in Piscitelli v Salesian Society
Recovering compensation in a settlement does not undo the harm that an abuser inflicted. However, you may benefit from speaking to a Lansing summer camp sexual abuse lawyer. Additionally, in situations like that of Mr. Piscitelli and Father Steve Whelan, you may want to consider a Lancing clergy sexual abuse lawyer with White Law PLLC.
You will always work directly with your attorney throughout your case.
Red Flags for Sexual Abuse
One of the additional criticisms of the Boys and Girls Club is the fact that they not only had people in their building who were hurting children but also that no one noticed any signs of what was happening. There is no clear behavioral indicator that a child has been sexually abused, but there are behaviors that should raise some flags to ask more questions or seek other guidance. According to early, open, often, some signs of sexual abuse may be:
- Sudden change in sleeping or eating patterns
- Sudden aversion to a specific place or person
- Being suddenly withdrawn, anxious, or depressed
- Role-playing sexual behavior
- Drawings or stories that are sexually focused
- Developmentally inappropriate questions about sexuality or behavior
- Increase in soiling or bed-wetting
- Headaches and stomach aches
If your child demonstrates these symptoms, it does not mean that they have been sexually abused. Although it may be an indicator that you should get curious and ask questions about the behavior. You can help your child heal, grow, and move forward with time and appropriate treatment.
Recovering from Boys and Girls Club Sexual Abuse
If an employee or affiliate of the Boys and Girls Club has sexually abused you or your child, you deserve someone to speak up for you. At White Law PLLC, we will use the legal recourse available to give you a voice. By filing a lawsuit for civil damages, many survivors feel a sense of closure by sharing their stories and making their abuser known.
Call us today for a case consultation to discuss the resources we may be able to provide. We are available 24/7 to schedule the consultation. You deserve to have your story heard, and we want to help you do it.
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