Volume 18, Number 1, Fall 2007

4-H Overnight Housing Policy Helps Ensure Safety

Janet Olsen

Michigan 4-H has always been committed to keeping young people physically and emotionally safe, and this commitment continues with the upcoming implementation of the new youth-adult housing policy for 4-H overnight events.

Beginning January 1, 2008, the mandatory youth-adult housing policy will apply to all Michigan 4-H-sponsored state, regional, multi-county, county and club level overnight events where adults are housed with youth. This includes workshops, events, fairs, camps, exchanges, overnight trips and lock-ins. The core policy focuses on instances where young people are housed with unrelated adults and states that “youth can be housed with unrelated adult chaperones aged 21 and over (age as of date of event) at 4-H overnight events as long as the youth-adult ratio is at least two youth to one adult and the adults have been through the Michigan State University Extension Volunteer Selection Process.”

“This policy was developed to help ensure the well-being of both youth and adults involved with Michigan 4-H,” said Betsy Knox, 4-H program leader. “The policy aligns with our second 4-H Guiding Principle that states we will provide programs in which youth are physically and emotionally safe.”

Once the policy is in place, parents and guardians will need to sign and return a “4-H Overnight Housing Parent/Guardian Permission Form” before their child can attend any 4-H overnight event. This form will provide information about the overnight event and states that a child may be sharing lodging with at least one other youth and an unrelated adult (21 and older) who has been through the MSU Extension Volunteer Selection Process.

“As we move toward the policy’s implementation date, it’s important for people to understand that the policy will apply to all 4-H-sponsored overnight events,” Knox said. “This includes any event that has an affiliation with 4-H through the use of the 4-H name or emblem and that involves a representative of 4-H – this could be a 4-H staff member or a 4-H volunteer. It will be important for 4-H club leaders to keep this in mind as they plan overnight experiences for their groups.”

Information on additional aspects of the policy, including guidelines for youth-adult ratios and housing unrelated older and younger youth, is available through your county 4-H office or at the Michigan 4-H home page (http://web1.msue.msu.edu/cyf/youth/).