The mission of 4-H is to create supportive
learning environments for youth and adults to reach
their fullest potential as capable, competent and
caring citizens. The Youth Protection Policy
represents a code of ethics which all volunteers and
staff are expected to observe. Its purpose is to
protect the safety and well-being of all youth
participants, their families, volunteers and paid
staff.
Whether we are staff members or volunteers, teens
or adults, all of us who work closely with young
people have the potential to profoundly affect the
well-being of children. In addition to providing
safe and appropriate environments, we must also be
positive role models focusing on how we communicate
with children, our methods of discipline and
problem-solving, and how sensitive we are to the
individual needs of all children.
The responsibility for the well-being of children
lies with each and everyone of us. North Dakota
State University Extension Youth Protection process
is designed to help us carefully select people who
work with our youth development programs.
This policy provides an opportunity for all adults working in NDSU
Extension youth programs to:
A. Be screened and carefully selected for work
with youth.
B. Learn how to:
1) protect youth and all program participants.
2) detect and change situations that may be harmful.
C. Reaffirm their dedication to youth and their well-being.
D. Establish and follow policies that create safe environments for
all youth program participants.
Policy Applies To Volunteers,
Teens and Paid Staff
Paid Staff
This policy applies to all Extension paid staff
regardless of work assignment.
Volunteers
In North Dakota, volunteers with the NDSU
Extension Service are considered 'unpaid staff'
when they are functioning in an official capacity
on behalf of the NDSU Extension Service. Volunteers (age 18 and over) who want to work
directly with youth on a regular basis (more
than a one-time interaction), or when chaperoning
an overnight activity. Potential volunteers cannot
assume volunteer responsibilities and be enrolled
as a volunteer until the process is complete.
Teens and Teen Employees
Teens: ALL 4-H youth members who
turn 18 years old
during the year
are required to complete the adult volunteer
selection process because they will be interacting with youth on a regular
basis.
Teen Employees: Youth seeking employment in programs that include
overnight camping/chaperoning or ongoing child
care services will follow prospective employee
hiring procedures.
Confidentiality
1. All staff who have responsibilities related to
the screening and/or selection of paid staff and
volunteers will be
informed of the importance of confidentiality and
sign a Confidentiality Statement (Form H) agreeing
to protect the privacy of individuals.
2. Any person who permits or encourages
unauthorized disclosure of confidential information
obtained from the North Dakota Child abuse
Information Index can be charged with a class B
misdemeanor (up to $500 fine and 30 days
imprisonment.)
3. All information about applicants and why they
are accepted or rejected as a youth program
volunteer must be treated in a confidential manner.
Only authorized persons should be involved in
discussing questionable applicants. Discretion and
privacy must be used when screening and discussing
applicants.
4. According to North Dakota open records law,
anyone requesting information on an applicant may
have access to all information in that persons file
EXCEPT information from the North Dakota
Child Abuse Information Index.
Learning to Establish Safe
Environments
and Barriers to Abuse
The following guidelines for volunteer and paid staff, help establish
save environments and barriers to potential abuse.
A. To protect individuals, paid and volunteer staff need to work with
young people in reasonably open places where others are welcome to enter
(NOT behind closed/locked doors). Be aware that while spending time
alone with a single child can be positive and helpful, it may also
create reasons for concern.
B. There will be a minimum of one responsible adult (at least 18 yrs.
old) for every 8 to 10 youth, for any NDSU Extension Service
youth-related activities involving an overnight stay, as consistent with
national 4-H guidelines (12/1/93).
C. Respect privacy. Adults need to respect the privacy of youth, and
protect their own privacy. The privacy issue is especially relevant in
situations where changing clothes or taking showers may be in facilities
lacking privacy. In these situations staff (volunteer and paid) will
intrude only to the extent that health and safety requires.
D. Paid and volunteer staff need to be alert to the physical and
emotional well-being of youth under their supervision. Signs of injury,
suspected child abuse or neglect should be reported.
E. Tell parents and guardians that they are always welcome and
encouraged to attend Extension youth program meetings and events.
F. Extension paid staff and volunteers are reminded that their
behavior can have an impact on youth in many situations and
environments, during Extension programs and outside those
responsibilities.
G. An adult will not share a room with one minor child who is not his
or her child. Youth need to room with other youth at Extension events.
If the situation dictates that an adult and a youth share a room, there
should be several youth with a single adult. Preferably, unrelated
adults and youth will not share lodging.
H. Extension paid and volunteer staff will not, under any
circumstances, discipline children by use of physical punishment or by
failing to provide the necessities of care, such as food and shelter.
