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Adult 4-H Volunteer Leader Development

Plan Goal

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

Situation Statement

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.

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:
• Begin University mandated screening process in October 2006 for adult 4-H leaders.
• Revise 4-H Policy and Procedures Handbook annually or as needed, and post on web site.
• 4-H Specialists serve as a resource to counties for leader education, subject matter expertise, and general support.
• Develop 4-H leader lessons for web site to support leader education from a distance (western region effort).
• Develop updates for Staff Handbook on Volunteer Development.
• Develop and distribute lesson plans and other resource materials at 4-H In Service.
• Facilitate planning of adult workshops at statewide youth events with the NM Leaders’ Association Executive Board.
• Facilitate planning of annual Leaders’ Forum with NM Leaders’ Association Executive Board and the planning committee.
• Facilitate planning of 2010 Western Region 4-H Leaders’ Forum hosted in New Mexico.

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 and initial education lessons (can use 4-H web site lessons or the “Welcome To The World of 4-H video”), provided a copy of or the web link to the “4-H Policies and Procedures Handbook”, provided a copy of the “Club Leaders’ Handbook”, and will understand 4-H enrollment procedures and the communication linkage to county office and other 4-H volunteers, resulting in an involved 4-H club membership.
3. By September 15 of each year, 100% of new special interest and school enrichment key group leaders will be offered an orientation about their role, responsibilities and enrollment procedures, resulting in youth actively learning and having fun.
4. By September 30 of each year, 15% 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.
5. Each year, 4-H Specialists will serve as a resource to counties, including instructing at 4-H leader education programs delivered at county, multiple county, district or state levels upon request.

Medium-Term Objectives

6. By spring of 2010 the Western Region 4-H Leaders’ Forum will be conducted in New Mexico.
7. By the 2010-2011 4-H program year there will be a 3% increase from the 2007-2008 program year of 4-H volunteers recruited, screened, and enrolled statewide.
8. By the October 2010-2011 4-H program year there will be a 3% increase in the retention rate of first year 4-H club leaders from the 2007-2008 program year.
9. By October 2010 there will be defined options for how volunteers can be involved in the 4-H program and at least 10 job descriptions developed to assist in this endeavor.
10. 4-H Specialists will serve as a resource to counties, including instructing at 4-H leader education programs delivered at county, multiple county, district or state levels upon request.
11. Each year, 4-H Specialists will develop materials to support counties in leader education programs and distribute at 4-H In Service.

Long-Term Objectives

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.
13. New Mexico 4-H Leaders’ Forum will have representation from each of the 33 counties.
14. New Mexico 4-H Leaders’ Association Executive Board will maintain its role in providing adult leader workshops at statewide events and upon request from counties.
15. Each year, 4-H Specialists will serve as a resource to counties, including instructing at 4-H leader education programs delivered at county, multiple county, district or state levels upon request.
16. 4-H Specialists will develop materials to support counties in leader education programs and distribute at 4-H In Service.
17. Web based leader lessons will be updated and new resources added.

Evaluation Plan

 Leaders’ Forum class and overall evaluations: Class evaluations are designed to measure knowledge gained, usefulness of information and quality of presentation. The overall Forum evaluation measures what was most useful and how they plan to use it when they return to their county. (May apply to objectives 4, 5, 6,10, 13,15)
 Follow up survey to Leaders’ Forum will be conducted three-six months following the event. (May apply to objectives 4, 5, 6,10, 13,15)
 Adult Volunteer Workshops: Evaluations conducted at statewide youth events by members of the Executive Board measure knowledge gained, usefulness of information and quality of presentation. (May apply to objective 14)
 Adult Volunteer Workshops: Evaluations conducted at county, multi-county, district, state and the regional level by 4-H Specialists measure knowledge gained, usefulness of information and quality of presentation. (May apply to objectives 5, 10, 15)
 Agent Reports: Provide information on leader education conducted in their county and topics addressed. Specific evaluation data available from county agent. (May apply to objectives 1-17)
 Annual 4-H Enrollment: The report will include statistics on adult volunteer leader enrollment. (May apply to objectives 1, 7, 8)