ANR and FCS RPD & 4-H Specialist
Month 1 (First Month in Home County)
Agenda “E” for New County Extension Agent Onboarding
Revised 6/15/11
Overall Guiding Expectations of RPDs throughout the two year onboarding experience:





Teamwork at all levels
Be honest, caring, sincere, and offer suggestions
Be flexible whenever possible
Set meeting dates as far in advance as possible; send agendas
Have a supportive role in helping agents to become successful
New Agent Information:
Name: ________________________________
County: _______________________________
Position: ______________________________
Start Date: ____________________________
Date of this meeting: ____________________
Agenda ANR and FCS RPD & 4-H Specialist, Month 1 (first month in home county):
Intended
Outcomes
Professional
Relationships
Extension
Philosophy
Program
Development
Roles and
Responsibilities
Notes:
RPD (ANR and FCS)
 The RPD – The appropriate RPD (ANR or FCS)
should explain that all agents have 4-H
responsibilities and the RPD’s role in supporting
4-H programming.
 Discuss the Mission/Vision of Texas AgriLife
Extension related to 4-H and Youth Development
program area.
 Discuss Texas AgriLife Extension Service Strategic
Plan relating to specific 4-H and Youth
Development program areas.
 RPDs should discuss professional development
opportunities related to the region.
 Program Resources
4-H Specialist
ANR and FCS RPD & 4-H Specialist
Months 2-5 Agenda “F”
for New County Extension Agent Onboarding
Revised 2/20/10
Overall Guiding Expectations of RPDs throughout the two year onboarding experience:





Teamwork at all levels
Be honest, caring, sincere, and offer suggestions
Be flexible whenever possible
Set meeting dates as far in advance as possible; send agendas
Have a supportive role in helping agents to become successful
New Agent Information:
Name: ________________________________
County: _______________________________
Position: ______________________________
Start Date: ____________________________
Date of this meeting: ____________________
ANR and FCS RPD & 4-H Specialist Agenda, Months 2-5:
Intended
Outcomes
Professional
Relationships
Extension
Philosophy
Roles and
Responsibilities
RPD (ANG and FCS)
4-H Specialist
 Agents in other counties: Explain to the new
agent how they might collaborate with other
agents. Take this a step further and seek to
connect the new agent with these fellow agents
 Discuss parties that will be involved with
programs: Youth Board, key stakeholders, media
relations, and how they impact the 4-H program.
 Set up 4-H orientation with new employee. The
primary purpose is to develop a relationship between
the agent and specialist as a part of the CEA
orientation in the district office.
 Associations/organizations: Help agent understand
associations and organizations available to them and
the purpose of those organizations.
 Texas 4-H Rules and Guidelines
 Declaration of Eligibility
 Excused Absences
 Adjunct Faculty Status
 4-H Clover
 Define Specialist roles and responsibilities to support
CEA
 Specialist should discuss district based 4-H
professional development opportunities.
 Calendar Management (county, district and state).
Review upcoming events to ensure the new agent is
aware of trainings and opportunities.
 4-H website
 Media: 4-H newsletters, news articles, blogs,
website – development and distribution.
 Coordinate with CEA’s on providing leadership for
 RPDs should discuss professional development
opportunities related to the agent’s program
area, on the regional level and program
development dates (program planning, reporting
due dates, etc.)
each 4-H project.
 4-H Projects
 What is a project
 Resources (where to find them)
 Support for project work (agent vs. volunteer)
 Training leader
 Event Management
 Livestock Project Management:

Stock Show deadline

Quality Counts

Validation

Calendar

Cash Management related to livestock projects
Program
Development
Accountability
and Reporting
Expectations
Working with
Volunteers
(training and
developing)
Managing 4-H
Events (your
role)
 Plan, implement, market, evaluate and interpret
one major 4-H or youth development program
event (Youth Board needs to be involved) Agent
should be on the program agenda to teach.
 How to use TExAS
 Learn the basic skills to use TExAS, adopt new 4-H
Agent plan and begin reporting.
 Assist with required plans/tasks
 Introduction to 4-H outcome and output Program
Plans
 Review examples of outcome and output plans in
specified program areas with new agents. This
will take their awareness and basic knowledge of
outcome and output plans a little deeper, and
will allow them to see what these plans look like
in their program area.
 Expectations on when they need to report and
how to develop reports.
 Review reporting content in the 4-H area.
 With RPD - Review Youth Board and other
committees and task forces needed for 4-H and
Youth Development program.
 Cash Management/Fundraising
 Provide information on 4-H program resources. This
includes materials, curriculum, evaluation, target
audiences, ways to implement, etc.
 The CEA should meet with all 4-H clubs to get
acquainted with 4-Hers and the 4-H leadership (and
discuss with the Specialist).
 Youth Protection Standards - Review county’s status
of screening volunteers
 Task forces
 Club Managers /Club Ed
 Adult Leaders Association
 Communicating with 4-Her’s and leaders
 4-H Ambassadors/Leadership groups
 4-H Council
 4-H club/council officers
 Clover Kids
 Managing 4-H Events-this includes the Agents roles
and responsibilities and understanding of age
divisions in the 4-H program (covers ones needed at
the time):

Roundup

Food Show

Fashion Show

Food Challenge

Quiz Bowls

Judging Contests






Professional
Development
Sources of
Support
Ethics/
Work Habits/
Policies
Notes:









County Camps
Gold Star Banquet
Livestock Shows and Fair Boards
Leaders 4 Life
Swine Skill-a-thon
Leadership Opportunities
 Healthy Lifestyle Advisory Board
 4-H Technology Team
 District/State Council
 Clothing Board
Review 4-H and youth development professional
associations
CEA and volunteer liability
Event Insurance
American Disability Act
Review website http://texas4-h.tamu.edu/
Support of 4-H & Youth Development project areas
Follows rules regarding age and entry deadlines
(county, district and state)
Spends equal time with 4-H families
Remember that 4-H youth development first, then
winning contests
ANR and FCS RPD & 4-H Specialist
Months 6-12 Agenda “G”
for New County Extension Agent Onboarding
Revised 2/20/10
Overall Guiding Expectations of RPDs throughout the two year onboarding experience:





Teamwork at all levels
Be honest, caring, sincere, and offer suggestions
Be flexible whenever possible
Set meeting dates as far in advance as possible; send agendas
Have a supportive role in helping agents to become successful
New Agent Information:
Name: ________________________________
County: _______________________________
Position: ______________________________
Start Date: ____________________________
Date of this meeting: ____________________
ANR and FCS RPD & 4-H Specialist Agenda, Months 6-12:
Intended
Outcomes
Extension
Philosophy
Roles and
Responsibilities
RPD (ANR and FCS)
Accountability
and Reporting
Expectations
 Emphasize reporting all data collected from
evaluations and personal contacts
 Review current program plans and reports
 Help identify and develop plans in specified program
areas
 Review progress of new agent plan
 Review New Agent Newsletter #6, Evaluation
 Review New Agent Newsletter #7, Evaluation Level
 Review New Agent Newsletter #8, Accountability
and Interpretation
Program
Development
 Discussion of educational methods, and explaining
to the new Agent how to utilize these various
methods within their programming efforts.
 Discuss program evaluations- Customer Satisfaction
vs. Formal Outcome
 Review New Agent Newsletter #5, Levels of Intended
4-H Specialist
 Brief overview of 4HYD Strategic Plan
 RPDs should discuss professional development
opportunities related to the agent’s program area,
on the regional level and beyond.
 Leader training for youth and adults
 County Profiles/Goals related to 4-H and youth
development (this needs to be established yearly
and shared with the DEA/CED).
 Assist agents in updating plans and refining
outcome and output plans
 4-H Connect
4-H Enrollment

Zero-based enrollment

Enrollment forms

Importance of reporting numbers and where
they should be reported.
 4-H Management system and navigation of online
4-H resources
 Introduction to packaged programs/4-H One
 Risk Management


Interpretations


Sources of
Support
Notes:
Outcomes
Confirm that agent seeks assistance from specialists
and others
Self-study/reads technical journals, research
publications, books, periodicals, etc. RPD should
ensure that Agent is aware of these information
sources.
Interprets program to key leaders, collaborators,
county agencies and organizations
Interprets program to Extension volunteers and
program participants
 4-H FCS 101 Resource Guide
 4-H Livestock 101 Resource Guide
 Basics of working with volunteers in Extension Review County’s status of screening volunteers.