Adult Volunteer Leader Development

Saturday December 9th, 2006 East Central Ministries hosted a health fair for people living in Albuquerque’s Southeast Heights. Urban 4-H participated in this community event and brought information to share about 4-H youth opportunities as well as information on the ICAN/EFNEP programs in Bernalillo County. Diabetes screening, blood pressure check, immunizations and free flu shots were just a few of the other services offered at this Health fair. The East Central Ministries serves a high poverty, high minority population in Albuquerque. This first annual health fair was well attended and many free services were provided for the community.

The 4th annual Youth Practitioners Summit took place at the Albuquerque Convention Center on Dec. 5,6,7, 2006. Some 480+ people participated in the conference from youth development fields or those who support youth development across the state of New Mexico. This year the urban 4-H staff was active in the conference planning, presented a workshop on Positive Youth Development and set up a 4-H display. Staff from the State 4-H office came from Las Cruces to do workshops on Youth Adult Partnership and Volunteerism. Paula Sanchez from Los Alamos put together a display highlighting the Healthy and Fit program for 5th grade students currently happening in the northern part of our state.
The efforts from NM Cooperative Extension were much appreciated and well received by the youth practitioners who attended this year’s summit.

Articles are compiled in a monthly Socorro County 4-H newsletter. The newsletter is sent to all 4-H families making them aware of all County, State & National 4-H activities. We rely heavily on the newsletters to get the word out about what 4-H has to offer the youth of Socorro County. Efforts are made to keep all graphics and wording non-racial.

Fourty (40) 4-H adult volunteer leaders completed the application and screening from for processing before being enrolled as a New Mexico 4-H Volunteer Leader. Socorro County Agents developed a instructional piece to assist other agents/secretaries when entering the leader screening information into the computer. Agents were greatly thanked by other agents for the assistance.

A yearly 4-H adult volunteer leader traing was held with 15% of the volunters leaders attending. 100% of Organizational Leaders and 10% of Volunteer Leaders where trained on what their role is a 4-H Volunteer, updates on new 4-H Policies and Procedures, new 4-H project curriculum, and fundraising guidelines for each club.

Two hundred and one (201) 4-H volunteer adult leaders completed the application and screening form for processing before being enrolled as a New Mexico 4-H Leader. • 100% of new organizational club leaders were offered an orientation and initial education lessons. • Provided new and experienced 4-H leaders with new project curriculum, contest and other training. • Over 10% of adult 4-H volunteers participated in at least one leader education program during the 4-H program year. • 4-H Specialists served as a resource to the county by instructing at 4-H leader education programs. • Provided each new 4-H leader/volunteer with new project curriculum, contest, and other training.