INTRODUCTION TO THE PENNSYLVANIA 4-H/YOUTH DEVELOPMENT POLICY AND RESOURCE MANUAL
Okay, so you're new to Extension. You have many questions about the 4-H youth
development program but aren't quite sure where to get the answers. Start with the
4-H/Youth Development Policy and Resource Manual. A copy can be found in every Extension
Office, the Regional Director's office, or the office of a Department Head in the
College of Agricultural Sciences.
You will gain the most from this on-line training if you have the manual in front
of you and can refer to it from time to time. So, if the manual is not on your desk,
take a few minutes to find a copy.
Open the front cover of the manual. Notice that there are two sections, one on policy
and one on program resources. The manual is updated each year. You can check the
Table of Contents in each section to see when various pages were updated last. The
dates appear in parentheses after the titles. One copy of the yearly updates is sent
to county offices, Regional Directors, Department Heads, and others who have policy
and resource manuals. Find out who in your office is responsible for ensuring that
the updates are placed in the manual. If you receive the yearly updates, be sure
to forward them to that person. Updates should also be shared with everyone in your
office working with youth or with volunteers. You might consider requesting some
time at your January staff meeting to share updates.
Below is a list of items with which you should be familiar. Look at them now, and
then refer back to them when you need to.
Mission Statements: Mission statements for the College of Agricultural Sciences,
the Department of Agricultural and Extension Education, and National 4-H can be found
on pages 1-1 and 1-2 in the policy section of the manual.
YPCC and Organizational Structure: Page 2-1 provides a description of the
functions for the Youth Program Coordinating Council (YPCC). Minutes from YPCC are
placed on PENpages and sent to all county offices. Agendas for each meeting are also
sent to county offices. YPCC meets every month, usually the first Tuesday afternoon.
The YPCC Advisory Committee meets twice each year, once in the fall and once in the
spring.
The document, Role of Agent Responsible for Leadership of County Extension Youth
Development and 4-H Program, can be found on pages 2-4 through 2-6.
Operating guidelines for county 4-H/youth program advisory committees are found on
pages 2-7 through 2-14. These guidelines should be used as a template for local operating
guidelines.
4-H Members in Pennsylvania: The 4-H membership policy appears on page 3-1.
Please note the appropriate 4-H age of members and limits on members exhibiting in
the same project in more than one county.
The Pennsylvania 4-H Code of Conduct begins on page 3-3. A Spanish translation of
the code follows. A 4-H Volunteer Code of Conduct is found on fact sheet 9 of the
VIP Fact Sheet Series for 4-H volunteers.
Volunteers in Pennsylvania: Information on involving volunteers in Extension
programming starts this chapter. For youth events using chaperones, chaperoning standards
begin on page 4-3.
A guideline for counseling with volunteers begins on page 4-5. Please note on page
4-6 the information con major misconduct of a volunteer and the threat of a civil
suit. Also, any letters concerning change in volunteer status, in other words dismissal
or suspension of a volunteer, should be sent to the Human Resources Director, 307
Ag Administration Building.
The procedures for screening volunteers working with youth follows page 4-8 in the
manual. Volunteer screening is covered during another session of staff orientation
currently being offered in a face-to-face workshop following CEO I.
Affirmative Action: This information is covered during CEO I.
4-H Funds: Raising of funds in the 4-H program should be done to support educational
activities. Club account guidelines are on pages 6-1 through 6-4. Guidelines for
County Extension Accounts are also included in this section. Resources found in this
section include the application for State Fair Funds, Tax Exempt Status of 4-H Organizations
Authorized to Use the 4-H Name and Emblem, and The 4-H Name and Emblem: Guidelines
for Authorized Use. More information on applying for State Fair Funds is offered
in a face-to-face workshop following CEO I.
Volunteer Liability Insurance: The volunteer liability insurance information
can be found as a part of the new staff web site training at the following address:
http://www.cas.psu.edu/docs/casadmin/NSO/VolInsurance.html.
Section II of the policy manual contains information on program resources. Some items
that you may want to review as new staff include:
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1. |
Indicators of a Quality county Cooperative Extension 4-H Youth Development Program, pp. 1-3 to 1-5 |
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2. |
The Interface of Youth At Risk Programming with 4-H, p. 1-13 |
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3. |
4-H Project Guidelines, p. 1-14 to 1-15 |
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4. |
4-H Youth Curriculum Committees, p. 1-18 |
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5. |
Volunteer Position Description, p. 2-1 |
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6. |
4-H Member Activities, pp. 3-4 to 3-15 |
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7. |
Resources for a variety of program areas are on pp. 4-1 to 4-10. |
Go to the
Worksheet
on Getting to Know
the 4-H/Youth Development Policy and Resource Manual
