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Adult 4-H Volunteer Leader Development (Valencia County)

Plan Goal

This plan deals with volunteer leader trainings for organizational leaders, project leaders, and activity leaders and in recruitment and retention efforts for adult volunteer leaders.

Situation Statement

There are over 200 active adult volunteer leaders in the Valencia County 4-H Program. 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 Valencia County 4-H program. Adult 4-H volunteer leaders (in every capacity) provide their knowledge and guidance to youth and aid in the development of the important life skills 4-H promotes. 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.

Target Audience and Actions

Audience:
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 paraprofessionals are the target audience of this plan.

Actions:
1. Encourage all 4-H volunteers who sign up as leaders to go through the University mandated screening process in October 2006.
2. Utilize 4-H Specialists as resources to the county for leader education, subject matter expertise, and general support.
3. Facilitate planning and implementation of adult workshops at county wide youth events aimed at recruiting and retaining leaders.
4. Encourage leaders in Valencia County to attend the annual New Mexico 4-H Forum for Adults.
5. Encourage experienced leaders from Valencia County to plan and conduct a workshop at the annual New Mexico 4-H Forum for Adults.

Short-Term Objectives

1. 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.
2. By April of each year, 100% of new organizational club leaders will be offered an orientation, provided a copy of the “4-H Policies and Procedures Handbook”, provided a copy of the “Club Leaders’ Handbook”, will understand 4-H enrollment procedures for Valencia County, and understand the communication linkage to Valencia County Cooperative Extension Office and other 4-H volunteers, resulting in an involved 4-H club membership.
3. By September 30 of each year, 20% of adult 4-H volunteers will participate in at least one leader education program during the 4-H program year, resulting in increased volunteer satisfaction and knowledge gain as reported by agents.
4. Each year, at least one adult 4-H leader volunteer will attend the annual New Mexico 4-H Forum for Adults.

Medium-Term Objectives

5. By the 2010-2011 4-H program year there will be a 3% increase from the 2008-2009 program year of 4-H volunteers recruited, screened, and enrolled in Valencia County.
6. By the October 2010-2011 4-H program year there will be a 5% increase in the retention rate of first year 4-H club leaders from the 2007-2008 program year.
7. By October 2010 there will be defined options for how volunteers can be involved in the 4-H program.
8. Utilize the 4-H Specialists a resource and for assistance to Valencia County at 4-H leader workshops and programs delivered by the County Extension staff.

Long-Term Objectives

9. Increase the number of enrolled adult 4-H volunteer leaders who go through the recruitment, screening, selection, orientation, and training process by 25 volunteers by the end of the 2010-2011 4-H year.
10. Have 100% of adult 4-H volunteer leaders understand their roles and responsibilities to the Valencia County 4-H Program and aid them in becoming successful club organizational leaders, club project leaders, and activity leaders.
11. The addition of new 4-H projects or activities, outreach to under-served youth audiences, and the on-going development of unpaid and paid 4-H faculty/staff will be enhanced by the empowerment of volunteers.

Evaluation Plan

1.The number of newly enrolled and retained adult 4-H volunteer leaders in Valencia County will be used as a key evaluation tool from year to year.
2.The Valencia County Extension staff will conduct evaluations at the county level to assess knowledge attained, usefulness of information, and relevance to Valencia County situations at the workshops held throughout the year.
3.The Valencia County 4-H advisory committee will assist in the evaluation of the overall 4-H program each year at the advisory committee meetings.