Integrating Volunteer Risk Management into All Aspects of Youth-Serving Organizations

Format

Workshop

Presenters

Al Parker, University of GeorgiaFollow

First Presenter's Institution

University of Georgia

First Presenter’s Email Address

N/A

First Presenter's Brief Biography

N/A

Second Presenter's Institution

University of Georgia

Third Presenter's Institution

NA

Fourth Presenter's Institution

NA

Fifth Presenter's Institution

NA

Location

Session 7 Breakouts

Strand #1

Hands: Safety & Violence Prevention

Strand #2

Home: Family & Community Engagement

Relevance

Volunteers are an important asset to any organization. In youth-serving organizations, they may serve as mentors, support student achievement, foster youth-adult partnerships, and more. However, when working with the vulnerable population of youth, staff and volunteers must follow risk management policies and procedures to make sure children placed in our care are properly protected. Without these regulations in place, disaster can happen. Examples in the media spotlight include the Boy Scouts of America and Jerry Sandusky, who approached his victims through “The Second Mile,” a nonprofit organization that served underprivileged and at-risk youth.

We must continue to update, streamline, adhere to, and enforce volunteer leader risk management policies and procedures. This is imperative to guarantee the safety of the youth we have been entrusted to serve. Wuertele (2012): “Youth service organizations’ staff and volunteers must never forget…with greater power comes greater moral responsibility to protect youth in their care” (p. 2451). Fortunately, a recent study of UGA Extension volunteers revealed that volunteers found mandated youth-protection training important, prepared them for their service role(s), and increased their understanding of protocols for service with youth (Hobbs & Dorn, 2020). This session primarily supports “Hands” and “Home” conference strands. While safety and violence prevention is the primary intention of risk management procedures, we will also integrate a discussion of the importance of utilizing best practices and policies when engaging community volunteers in youth-adult partnerships, that ultimately support youth resilience and positive youth development.

Brief Program Description

With the prevalence of child abuse stories in media, coming from youth-serving organizations, we must work to keep our children safe while in the custody of youth-building programs. This workshop will describe the importance of youth-serving volunteers and explain the need for risk management policies and procedures for adults. Volunteer recruitment, utilization, and retention, as well as, screening, training, and disciplinary processes will be discussed.

Summary

Volunteers are an integral component of capacity building in any youth-serving organizations. In programs, such as 4-H, volunteers can serve a vital role in creating positive change in youth (Lerner & Lerner, 2013). However, risks are associated with utilizing volunteers, especially when working with minors. With increased exposure of child maltreatment through media, such as the Boy Scouts and Jerry Sandusky’s “The Second Mile”, parents are more sensitive and sometimes hesitant to allow their children to participate. We have an obligation to protect children. In fact, administrators at institutions across the nation have taken a closer look at protective measures for youth (Chupak et al., 2019). These measures are needed to also enhance public trust, increase volunteer satisfaction, and to continue working with youth in the future (Fox et al., 2008).

When preparing to enroll volunteers, it’s imperative to consider recruitment efforts. Research shows there is a change in volunteer habits between each new generation (Rochester, Paine, Howlett, and Zimmeck, 2010 ). We will discuss volunteer generational behavioral and attitudinal differences/similarities. Demographic identifiers for volunteers will be addressed which will help with volunteer recruitment approaches. We will present tips for recruiting and interviewing volunteers.

In Parker’s (2020) survey of Extension specialists across the country, national trends in risk management policies and procedures in youth-serving organizations was assembled. We will discuss these and how to integrate risk management policies, procedures, protocols, and practices into all aspects of programs, with specific attention given to the recruitment and selection of volunteers to increase the protection of youth-at-risk and the benefits of mandated volunteer training.

Specifically, we will share the onboarding approach of UGA Extension and the mandated-training study of volunteers across 4-H and Master Gardener programs. Hobbs and Dorn (2020) found the training to enhance volunteer preparedness for their service role(s) and to increase understanding of protocols for service with youth. Majority found mandated training important. We will discuss best practices of delivering mandated training.

This presentation will be interactive and hands-on with heavy participant involvement, having attendees share risk management questions in their organization and compare their practices to national responses.

Evidence

Citations in Application: Chupak, D., Weaver, S., & Bond, L. M. (2019). Protection of minors in higher education programs: emerging programs, policies, and practices. Change: The Magazine of Higher Education, 51(2), 34-42.

Fox, J. E., Hebert, L., Tassin, M., & Hebert, C. (2008). Using risk management tools and training to protect youth and adults in overnight settings. Journal of Extension, 46(6), Article #6RIB6. http://www.joe.org/joe/2008december/rb6.shtml

Hobbs, K. & Dorn, S. (2020). Attitudes and preferences of 4-H and Extension Master Gardener Volunteers following an online mandated training: A cross-program evaluation. [Manuscript submitted for publication]. UGA 4-H Extension, University of Georgia.

Lerner, R. M. & Lerner, J. V. (2013). The positive development of youth: comprehensive findings from the 4-H study of positive youth development. National 4-H Council. https://4-h.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/4-H-Study-of-Positive-Youth-Development-Full-Report.pdf

Parker, A. (2020). Best Practice Recommendations for Risk Management of 4-H Volunteers. Athens, GA: The University of Georgia.

Wurtele, S. (2012). Preventing the sexual exploitation of minors in youth-serving organizations. Children and Youth Services Review 34, 2442 - 2453.

Other Sources:

Abel, G. G., Wiegel, M., Jordan, A., Harlow, N., Hsu, Y.-S., & Martinez, M. (2012). Development and validation of classification models to identify hidden child molesters applying to child service organizations. Children and Youth Services Review, 34(7), 1378 - 1389.

Beck, A., Harrison, P., Guerino, P. (2010). Sexual victimization in juvenile facilities

reported by youth, 2008 - 2009 (NCJ Report No. 228416). Retrieved May 10, 2017, from http://bjs.ojp.usdoj.gov/content/pub/pdf/svjrfy09.pdf.

Crary, D. (2020, February 19). Boy Scouts seek bankruptcy, urge victims to step forward. Associated Press. Retrieved February 29, 2020, from https://apnews.com/d65e98062be130ceeb73a2581cc21d3f.

Felch, J., & Christensen, K. (2012). Boy Scouts' opposition to background checks let

pedophiles in. National Association of Adult Survivors of Child Abuse. Retrieve December 12, 2019, from http://www.naasca.org/2012-CrimeNews/11NOV12-5-RecentCrime.htm

Freeh, Sporkin, Sullivan, LLP. (2012) Report of the Special Investigative Counsel

Regarding the Actions of The Pennsylvania State University Related to the Child Sexual Abuse Committed by Gerald A. Sandusky. University Parker, PA: Penn State University, Board of Trustees.

Gallagher, G. (2000). The extent and nature of known cases of institutional child sexual

abuse. British Journal of Social Work, 30, 795 - 817.

Saul, J., Audage, N. (2007). Preventing Child Sexual Abuse With Youth-serving

Organizations: Getting Started on Policies and Procedures. Atlanta, GA: U. S. Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Shakeshaft, C. (2004). Educator sexual misconduct: A synthesis of existing literature.

Washington D. C.: U. S. Department of Education.

Shattuck, A., Finkelhor, D., Turner, H., Hamby, S. (2016). Children Exposed to Abuse in

Youth-Serving Organizations: Results from National Sample Surveys. JAMA Pediatrics, v7, n2, p. 1 - 4.

Smallbone, S., Marshall, W., Wortley, R. (2008). Preventing child sexual abuse:

Evidence, policy, and practice. Portland, OR: Willan Publishing.

Trocme’, N., & Schumaker, K. (1999). Reported child sexual abuse in Canadian schools and recreational facilities: Implications for developing effective prevention strategies. Children and Youth Services Review, 21(8), 621 - 642.

Yardley, W. (2010). $18.5 million in liability for Scouts abuse case. The New York Times. Retrieved May 5, 2018, from http://nytimes.com/2010/04/24/us/24scouts.html?_r=1.

Learning Objectives

1. Investigate risk management processes in place across the nation (such as screening applications, background checks, training, code of conducts, disciplinary processes, and consequences of violations)
2. Consider how to integrate youth protection measures into all aspects of their volunteer program, for increased youth safety.
3. Explore tips and best practices for delivering a mandated youth protection training.
4. Identify processes for enhanced protection, including recruitment strategies and dealing with termination of volunteers for disciplinary actions.

Learning Objective 1

N/A

Learning Objective 2

N/A

Learning Objective 3

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Biographical Sketch

Dr. Al Parker serves as the Northeast District 4-H Program Development Coordinator for the University of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences Cooperative Extension Program and the Georgia 4-H Program. Dr. Parker provides leadership for the 75 staff members, 1272 volunteers, and 30,000 4-H members in the 40 counties of Northeast District in Georgia. He is a member of the UGA CAES Extension Leadership Team, Co-PI for the Georgia 4-H AmeriCorps Program and Co-Coordinator of the State of Georgia Centers for Disease Control Obesity Grant. Dr. Parker recently completed his Doctor of Philosophy from the Mary Frances Early College of Education Department of Lifelong Education, Administration, and Policy. His dissertation “Best Practice Recommendations for Risk Management of 4-H Volunteers” surveyed risk management professionals in 4-H Programs in all 50 states. Dr. Parker has been recognized for his accomplishments on the national level with the Meritorious Service Award and the Distinguished Service Award from the National Association of Extension 4-H Youth Development Professionals.

Keri Gandy Hobbs serves as Extension 4-H Specialist for the University of Georgia and Georgia 4-H. In this public service role, she provides leadership to a corps of more than 5,700 adult volunteers annually, manages the Georgia 4-H AmeriCorps VISTA (Volunteers In Service To America) project that focuses on eliminating persistent poverty, and leads the Extension 4-H Risk Management Team that coordinates mandated youth protection training. Keri is the statewide MyPI Georgia coordinator, a four-time national award winning youth preparedness, leadership, and educational outreach program and has been recognized with the Distinguished Service Award from the National Association of Extension 4-H Youth Development Professionals.

Keyword Descriptors

At-risk youth, child abuse, law, policies and procedures, risk management, screening, volunteers, youth serving organizations

Presentation Year

2021

Start Date

3-9-2021 3:00 PM

End Date

3-9-2021 4:00 PM

Recommended Citation

Parker, Al, "Integrating Volunteer Risk Management into All Aspects of Youth-Serving Organizations" (2021). National Youth Advocacy and Resilience Conference. 42.
https://digitalcommons.georgiasouthern.edu/nyar_savannah/2021/2021/42