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Adult Volunteer Leader Development (San Juan County)

Plan Goal

This plan deals with volunteer leader trainings, organizational leaders, project training for leaders, recruitment efforts; anything related to ADULT volunteers.

Situation Statement

There are 250 volunteer leaders in the San Juan County 4-H program. As the program expands more adult volunteers are needed to assist 4-H youth. Adult volunteers provide a significant amount of direct contact with 4-H youth and are essential partners in the 4-H Youth Development Program for maintaining and expanding the New Mexico 4-H program. 4-H volunteer leaders must be recruited, screened, selected, oriented, trained, supervised, evaluated and recognized for a sustaining volunteer program. Increased retention of volunteers is a challenge. Adult leaders need options of how and when to be involved, as their priorities regarding volunteer, personal and work commitments change over time. Volunteer leaders need orientation and education about the organizational structure of 4-H, 4-H delivery modes, affirmative action, youth protection, risk management, enrollment procedures, youth protection, working with youth, leadership styles, leadership roles, 4-H projects, and local, state, national and international 4-H opportunities.
Club organizational leaders, club project leaders, county-wide project leaders and 4-H activity leaders all serve an important role in meeting the needs of 4-H youth. 4-H volunteers provide guidance to youth throughout their 4-H activities and experiences and contribute greatly to the development of important life skills among 4-H youth. Through volunteerism in the San Juan County 4-H Youth Development Program youth gain the opportunity to identify and form caring relationships with supportive adults.

Target Audience and Actions

Adult Leaders who are 19 years of age by January 1 of the current 4-H year and not enrolled as a 4-H member; potential adult volunteer leaders; senior 4-H members; and 4-H agents and paraprofessionals.

Actions:
• Maintain University mandated screening process beginning in October 2006 for adult 4-H leaders.
• Utilize 4-H Specialists as a resource for leader education, subject matter expertise, and general support.
• Hold an annual meeting that utilizes a 4-H Specialist delivering a specifically requested program.
• Support, guide and advise the• San Juan County’s 4-H Leader’s Organization
• Hold quarterly leader meetings and training sessions which will include 4-H project curriculum training of new project curriculum.
• Consult with individual leaders on an as needed basis.
• Encourage county leaders to attend the annual NM Leaders’ Forum, Western Region 4-H Leaders Forum and other state and nation wide youth events.
• Volunteer leaders will be encouraged to participate in county-wide events and the SJC 4-H Leaders Organization in order to meet other volunteers and to facilitate communication among the county’s clubs.
• A page in the monthly 4-H Newsletter will be provided to leaders to inform them of activities, materials, and other resources available to them from the Extension Office and Staff.
• 4-H Volunteers will be utilized to help organize and conduct 4-H activities and events allowing them to gain a better understanding of the San Juan County 4-H program.

Short-Term Objectives

• Each year, potential new 4-H volunteer adult leaders will complete the application and screening form for processing before being enrolled as a New Mexico 4-H Leader.
• By April of each year, 100% of new organizational club leaders will be offered an orientation and initial education lessons.
• Provide new and experienced 4-H leaders with new project curriculum, contest and other training as needed.
• By January 1 of each year, 10% of adult 4-H volunteers will participate in at least one leader education program during the 4-H program year.
• 4-H Specialists will serve as a resource to the county by instructing at 4-H leader education programs as requested.
• Provide each new 4-H leader/volunteer with new project curriculum, contest, and other training as needed.

Medium-Term Objectives

• Increase the number of adult leader volunteers in the San Juan County 4-H Youth Development Program.
• Recruit experienced volunteer 4-H leaders to be mentors for new volunteer leaders.
• 4-H volunteer leaders will develop positive learning environments and a variety of educational experiences that will allow 4-H youth to develop important life and subject matter skills.
• 4-H volunteer leaders will utilize 4-H curriculum and activities to provide knowledge and skill to youth allowing them to develop life skills, practical knowledge, encouragement, motivation, and social skills.
• 4-H volunteer leaders will understand the responsibilities of 4-H volunteers and become successful club organizational leaders, club project leaders, county-wide project leaders and 4-H activity leaders.

Long-Term Objectives

• Increase the number of adult volunteer leaders in the San Juan County 4-H program.
• San Juan County will have representation at the annual NM 4-H Leaders’ Forum.
San Juan County 4-H Leaders’ organization will maintain its role in providing a forum for interaction among adult leader volunteers.
• 4-H volunteer leaders will utilize 4-H curriculum and activities to provide knowledge and skill to youth allowing them to develop life skills, practical knowledge, encouragement, motivation, and social skills.

Evaluation Plan

• Number of adult 4-H volunteers enrolled in San Juan county
• Number of new adult 4-H volunteers recruited in San Juan County during each of the program years.
• Program evaluation will be created and implemented to determine knowledge gained, attitudes changed, skills learned, or practices adopted of 4-H volunteers.