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Missouri's 4-H Youth Development
Programs are committed to offering the highest-quality educational
experiences available to young people. In order to achieve this,
faculty and staff from University of Missouri (MU) Extension work closely
with thousands of volunteers each year. These volunteers dedicate
their time, talents, and personal resources to work with Missouri youths. Because these
recognized volunteers contribute in so many ways to the work of 4-H as a
part of MU Extension, they are covered by the University’s Defense
and Protection Policy if they are sued for their good faith actions within
the scope of their volunteer service to the University.
All persons who work
with 4-H Youth Development Programs believe that the protection of young
people is essential. Since 1992, Missouri 4-H has employed a volunteer
protection policy that included a written application that was reviewed and
evaluated according to 4-H standards. Effective Fall 2003, this
review process includes annual screening of every 4-H volunteer applicant
to determine if the applicant has any substantiated charges of child abuse
or neglect or criminal convictions relevant to his or her service as a 4-H
volunteer. The steps in the process include:
- Completion of a Missouri 4-H Volunteer Application Form LG636 (PDF) by persons who wish to
serve.
- Submission of the
application information to the State 4-H Office at the University of Missouri.
- Screening of the applicant
data using two sources
- VolunteerSelect, a
national screening organization endorsed by the National
Collaboration for Youth, for felony or misdemeanor convictions.
- Missouri Department of
Social Services, Children's Division, for substantiated charges of
child abuse or neglect
- Notification of the
applicant and the county 4-H professional staff of the results.
- Action by the county 4-H
professional staff to activate the volunteer or reject the
application.
This process has been developed in consultation
with the University
of Missouri Office of
the General Counsel. The process has been designed for the purpose of
protecting the young people served by the Missouri 4-H Youth Development Programs
as well as the volunteers and MU Extension. The information obtained
in the application and screening process will be utilized for that purpose.
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