Orientation for Certification of Oklahoma 4-H Volunteers

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Orientation for Certification of Oklahoma
4-HVolunteers
Oklahoma 4-H Volunteer Management
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Purpose for Volunteer Certification

• To ensure a safe environment for youth involved
  in Oklahoma 4-H.
• To provide documentation for volunteer activities
  and to strengthen liability coverage for
  volunteers under the State Tort Claims Act.
• To assist in the selection, education, tracking
  and placement of volunteers.
• To develop 4-H Volunteer competencies through
  continuing education activities.

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Objective

• Review purpose of OCES 4-H Youth Development
  Program
• Introduce Program Policy 5, RAM Form/Youth Code
  of Conduct and Affirmative Action
• Organizational Structure of a club and county
  program
• Managing Risk
• Continuing Education Opportunities
• Maintaining Certification
• Complete enrollment

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Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service4-H Youth
Development
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Getting to know us

• Oklahomas Land Grant Universities
• 100 year tradition
• Youth Development
• Education

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4-H Project Work

• A teaching tool for developing desirable
  character traits and project skills.
• Provides real life experiences in making
  decisions.
• Age appropriate and flexible for individual
  development.
• Concerned with the optimum development of the
  individual.
• Teaches desirable habits and attitudes
• Teaches one to help ones self, which leads to
  helping others

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Philosophy of

• 4-H Events
• 4-H events provide an opportunity for education,
  evaluation and recognition.
• 4-H Activities
• 4-H Activities provide an opportunity for
  education, participation and fellowship.

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4-H Recognition Model
A club and county program should have a healthy
blend of all five forms of recognition.
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4-H is Experiential Learning

• Five-part learning model
• EXPERIENCE the activity perform it
• SHARE the results, reactions, observations
  publicly
• PROCESS by discussing, looking at the experience
  analyze, reflect
• GENERALIZE to connect the experience to
  real-world examples
• APPLY what was learned to a similar or different
  situation practice

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4-H Pledge
I pledge My head to clearer thinking, My heart to
greater loyalty, My hands to larger service,
and My health to better living for my club, my
community, my country, and my world.
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A Time for County Sharing

• Overview and explanation of
• County Project Clubs
• 4-H Project Manuals
• County Activities and Events
• Forms of Recognition Practiced
• Ribbon
• Awards Program

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Program Policy
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Affirmative Action

• The Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service is
  open to all eligible persons regardless of race,
  color, national origin, gender, religion, age,
  veteran status or disability.

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Policy No. 5

• Membership
• Cloverbuds non-competitive program for 5-8 year
  olds
• Traditional membership 9-19 years old
• 4-H Year
• July 1- June 30
• Age as of January 1
• Livestock show rules and guidelines
• Roles
• Member, Parent, Family, Club Leader, Volunteer,
  Extension Educator

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Policy No. 5

• General Rules
• Printed rules and guidelines for sanctioned 4-H
  activities and events
• Academic eligibility
• Code of conduct agreement and medical release
  form
• Dual membership
• Livestock show rules and guidelines

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A Time for County Sharing

• Overview and explanation of
• Yearbook
• Newsletter
• Deadlines
• Forms
• Website

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Structure of Local and County4-H Programs
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Local 4-H Club Structure
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4-H Clubs

• Meet regularly
• Are run by youth officers, supervised and
  instructed by a caring adult
• Have an educational emphasis
• Provide opportunity for developing communication
  skills
• Fun and enjoyable for members and families
• Provide recognition and peer support
• Well organized

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Club Meeting

• Business
• Call to Order
• Opening with Pledges and Ritual
• Roll call/sign in
• Introduction of Guests
• Minutes Correspondence
• Treasurers Report
• Reports of Committees
• Unfinished Business
• New Business
• Announcements
• Adjournment
• Program or Education
• Talks Demonstrations by Members
• Judging Activity or Project Lesson
• Opportunities to Learn by Doing
• Guest Speakers, Films, etc.
• Special Tours or Group Activities
• Recreation Refreshments

Recreation
Education
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Business
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County 4-H Program Structure
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• Committee(s)
• Activities
• Events
• Parent-Volunteer Training
• Club Representation
• Youth-Adult Partnership with Youth Council

County 4-H Program Structure
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• Diverse group of perspectives
• Representative of county geographically and
  ethnically
• Assists in identifying needs and trends

County 4-H Program Structure
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• Primary purpose is strong financial backing
• Board of Directors who assist the 4-H program
  through the development of funds
• Works in cooperation with Parent-Volunteer
  Association

County 4-H Program Structure
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• Works in cooperation with Parent-Volunteer
  Association
• Representative of all clubs and ages
• Youth active participants on county planning
  committees

County 4-H Program Structure
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• Committee(s) empowered to plan, conduct, and
  evaluate county programs, activities, and events.
• Establish and maintain a strong Youth-Adult
  Partnership.

County 4-H Program Structure
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A Time for County Sharing

• Overview and explanation of
• Youth Council
• Parent-Volunteer Association and opportunities to
  serve
• County Activity and Event Committees
• Other Committees - volunteer development, etc.
• Program Advisory Committee
• Foundation

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Managing Risk
Transportation and Chaperones
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Under Oklahoma Law
OCES views volunteers as an extended employee
when they are acting in the scope of their duties
as a sanctioned volunteer for an
approved/official 4-H activity.

• any person who is authorized to act in behalf
  of a political subdivision or the state whether
  that person is acting on a permanent or temporary
  basis, with or without being compensated on a
  full-time or part-time basis. (51 O.S. 1991, 152)

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And Eeyore whispered back I am
not saying there wont be an Accident, mind you.
Theyre funny things, Accidents. You never have
them till youre having them. A.A. Milne, 1928
The House at Pooh Corner
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Risks You May Face...

• Torts
• Automobile liability
• Volunteer Owned Vehicle
• University self-insurance
• Transporting children
• Extension responsibility
• Teen Drivers

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Risks You May Face...

• Director and officers liability
• General liability
• Offering services to vulnerable people
• Other volunteer issues

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Everyday operations...

• Participate in sufficient training regarding
  supervising minors
• Help identify risks, report them and/or correct
  the identified risk(s).
• Avoid situations of negligence.
• Reduce risk
• Be sure insurance is in place or is purchased.
• Report plans to club leaders and OCES
• Report (through written documentation claims or
  losses date, time, details leading up to the
  accident, treatment administered, persons
  contacted, etc.
• Participate in health and safety training.

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As a Chaperone

• Identify and reduce opportunities for risk
• Avoid situations of negligence
• Be sure there is insurance for an activity or
  event
• Have a copy of the childs Medical Release form
  quickly accessible
• Avoid transporting one child
• Do not leave children alone
• Reduce the need to house youth and adults
  together
• Well oriented/trained in expectations and
  responsibilities

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A Time for County Sharing

• Overview and explanation of
• Policy on filing Activity and Event Intent Forms
• County or Club Insurance Policy
• First Aid Kit

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Certification
Completing Enrollment
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Continuing Education

• County/Unit Opportunities
• District
• State

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Maintaining Certification

• Annually complete
• 4 Continuing Education credits
• Enrollment form, Behavioral Guidelines and
  appropriate Volunteer Agreement
• Assessment of your volunteer position with county
  educator

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Maintaining Certification

• When the following occurs
• Probation
• Break in service inactive
• Termination of service

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Paperwork to complete

• Volunteer Enrollment Form
• Organizational Leader Agreement or Volunteer
  Agreement

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A Time for County Sharing