Abstract
The University of Florida 4-H program evaluated volunteer perceptions of behavior adoption resulting from the completion of training focused on best practices that promote positive youth development. The evaluation effort was a quasi-experimental design that surveyed all enrolled volunteers electronically. The survey was designed to determine the types and frequency of training that 4-H volunteers participated in, their satisfaction with the training, the volunteer’s role of service, and outcomes of adopting best practices of program quality. A response rate of 27% (n = 340) provided a representative sample of the enrolled volunteers across demographic categories and geographical regions of the state. The results show that volunteers report practicing elements of positive youth development as categorized by the Essential Elements framework and that correlations between the type of training volunteers participate in and their implementation of quality practices are significant. Implications for volunteer trainings include the consideration of frequency, expanding opportunities beyond traditional delivery, and incorporating training elements that promote high-quality youth programming. This evaluation effort provides baseline data that informs future research for the Florida 4-H program.
Highlights
As efforts to evaluate Positive Youth Development (PYD) programs increase, one emerging thought is to focus evaluative efforts on program quality (Arnold & Cater, 2011)
Volunteers in 4-H are on the front line when it comes to delivery of youth programming, when programming is delivered through volunteer-led clubs
The findings of this evaluation are of practical benefit to Extension practitioners in the field of PYD
Summary
4-H Youth Development faculty at the University of Florida conducted a quasi-experimental study of all enrolled 4-H volunteers in 2017 under the approval of the University Institutional Review Board. The survey was designed to determine the types and frequency of training that 4-H volunteers participated in, their satisfaction with the training, the volunteer’s role of service, and to measure outcomes of adopting best practices of program quality. The team utilized an index of questions that represented each of the four Essential Elements: belonging, mastery, independence and generosity. The questions were designed to determine if volunteer leaders were implementing these practices in their volunteer role as a club leader. Reminders were sent through multiple means of communication (Dillman et al, 2014); utilizing email, SMS, and the 4HOnline enrollment system in order to increase the response rate. Statistical analysis to determine index means and correlations between types and degree of training (independent variable) to implementation of PYD practices (dependent variable) was provided by FSRC. An expert statistician provided the state 4-H leadership team with an in-depth understanding of the data in order to best understand programmatic implications
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