UF IFAS Youth Protection Policy

1. UF IFAS Youth Protection Policy

2. Overview The IFAS Youth Protection Policy applies to all IFAS sponsored activities for youth

3. What is Required? Volunteers who directly supervise youth attending IFAS sponsored events and activities must be 435 LEVEL 2 Screened Examples: • 4-H Club Leaders • Overnight Chaperones • Camp Counselors • Other volunteers that serve 10 hours or more per month UNSUPERVISED

4. Who is Exempt from 435 LEVEL 2? • Teachers screened under Florida Statue 1012 standards with no more than a 90 day lapse in service • Volunteers previously screened with 435 Level 2 prior to this policy (within 5 years) • State faculty and staff until notified by UF HR

5. What is Required of Volunteers who Directly Supervise Youth? • Application, references and interview • Online Youth Protection Training (YCS800) • Affidavit of Good Moral Character (notarized) • Request for screening to UF HR • 435 Level 2 Live Scan Fingerprinting • Letter of Appointment

6. Supervised Volunteers • Volunteers who are supervised by faculty, staff, or other volunteers who have been 435 Level 2 screened who serve more than 10 hours/month must be LEVEL 1 SCREENED • Examples: • Project leaders • Resource leaders • Parent helpers

7. What is Required for Supervised Volunteers? • Volunteer application, references, and interview • Level 1 screening • Check Sexual predator’s website • Use background check agency such as Lexis Nexis, Global HR, or local sheriff's office • Letter of appointment

8. What must be done in 4-H Online? • Registration of Events ( see 4-H online handout) UF’s mandate related to the registration of Organized Youth Activities under the Office of Youth Conferences Service (OYCS) scope. • All UF/affiliated youth activities where UF staff or volunteers are providing direct supervision of children are required to register.

9. What must be done in 4-H Online? • This does not include events where UF staff are strictly providing  a service, but are not responsible for the oversight of minors.

10. No Need to input in 4-H Online if… • ·Staff or Volunteer visits an elementary school to present to students and he/she is never alone with children and is always in the presence of school teachers or designated chaperones responsible for the care of the children, it would not be considered an event we would register in our database. • Events open to families are another example to consider. Events like “Night out at the Museum”, where children attending the event are accompanied by their parents, legal guardian, or an associated adult, would not be asked to register attendees in the database. However, if parents were to drop off their children and UF Staff were responsible for their care, the event would need to register.

11. What must be done in 4-H Online? • ·, if a UF faculty member visits an elementary school to present to students and he/she is never alone with children and is always in the presence of school teachers or designated chaperones responsible for the care of the children, it would not be considered an event we would register in our database. •    Events open to families are another example to consider. Events like “Night out at the Museum”, where children attending the event are accompanied by their parents, legal guardian, or an associated adult, would not be asked to register attendees in the database. However, if parents were to drop off their children and UF Staff were responsible for their care, the event would need to register.

12. Implementation • Volunteers in unsupervised roles must be 435 Level 2 Screened • Volunteers in supervised roles must be Level 1 Screened • Avoid screening volunteers who are exempt • Start with 4-H Club leaders and work outward • Faculty do not have to be screened, but must take the OYCS online training before working with youth https://oycs.ufsa.ufl.edu/compliance/training/

13. 4-H online • All youth in IFAS sponsored events must be registered in 4HOnline • Best practice is to register all volunteers in 4HOnline • Youth supervised by IFAS volunteers or staff must have individual profiles in 4HOnline

14. Test your Knowledge 4-H Tropicana Public Speaking Judge

15. Test your Knowledge Master Gardener teaching a school garden program

16. Test your Knowledge Ag Awareness Field Day Station Presenter

17. Test your Knowledge Sewing Day Camp Volunteer

18. Test your Knowledge • Livestock Judging Coach

19. Resources • IFAS Youth Protection EDIS Factsheet- dated 10/13 • Youth Protection FAQ page- http://florida4h.org/about/policies/faqs/. • OYSC Online Training for volunteers https://oycs.ufsa.ufl.edu/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/YCS800-simulated-version1.swf • OYCS Online Training for state staff/faculty- https://oycs.ufsa.ufl.edu/compliance/training/

20. Credits • Kent, H.C., 2014. Youth Protection Policy. University of Florida /IFAS Extension: Gainesville, FL. • Terry, B., 2014. • Bender, G.M. 2014. Youth Protection Policy. University of Florida / IFAS Extension: Gainesville, FL. Edited.