Florida 4-H Program Handbook
SECTION 2: The Organization and Structure of 4-H
4-H In the Land-Grant System and Cooperative Extension Service
To truly understand the organization in which you are working and the 4-H program, it is necessary to understand 4-H's place in Cooperative Extension and the total land grant system.
The land-grant system established three
interdependent components in carrying out its mission.
The land-grant system triad, diagramed on the right,
consists of teaching, research, and extension education.
The passage of the first Morrill Act of 1862 provided
for the establishment of the land-grant college system.
The second Morrill Act of 1890 established an additional 17 land-grant colleges to provide equal educational experiences for black students. [what about tribal colleges 1994].The need for continuing research was recognized by the new colleges and in 1887 the Hatch Act provided for the development of an experiment station in each state. Cooperative Extension forms the third component of the land-grant system.
Cooperative Extension Service
The Cooperative Extension Service (CES) was established by the passage of the Smith-Lever Act of 1914 to provide educational programs to people in settings beyond the university campus. It was established with the goal to transmit land-university and USDA-generated knowledge and experiences to rural people.
According to New Directions for the Cooperative Extension System, the Cooperative Extension System helps people improve their lives through an educational process that uses scientific knowledge focused on issues and needs.
The Cooperative Extension System is a vast
partnership made up of local residents, the state land-grant universities, the US Department of Agriculture,
and county governments. Extension has a unique
three-way funding partnership.
States receive federal grants, through their land-grant institution, to provide educational programs and must match those federal dollars from states funds. Counties contribute additional resources for facilities, programmatic and personnel support.
4-H in the Florida Cooperative Extension Service
University of Florida Cooperative Extension
In Florida, CES is administered through the University of Florida, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (IFAS). The programs of CES are open to all regardless of race, color, national origin, sex, or handicap. 4-H is the youth development program of the Florida Cooperative Extension Service. The educational programs available through CES include 4-H, Family and Consumer Sciences, Agriculture and Natural Resources, Community Development.
The 4-H Youth Development Office
3103 McCarty Hall
PO Box 110225
Gainesville, FL 32611-0225
Tel:(352)846-0996
Fax:(352)846-0999
On July 1, 1996 Florida 4-H experienced a major change in its campus-based organization and structure.
The Department of Family, Youth, and Community Sciences was formed by merging the faculty of the Department of Home Economics with the faculty of the Department of 4-H and Other Youth Programs. This new department with Extension, research, and teaching functions houses a multi-disciplinary faculty with assignments in areas of family and consumer sciences, youth, and community development. Youth Development Specialists who work with 4-H are faculty members of this department and report to the respective Department Chair.
A new organizational unit, the State 4-H Youth Development Office, was formed to support the 4-H Program. The office is headed by the Assistant Dean who reports to the Dean of Extension. The state office is responsible for overseeing the following functions:
- Leadership for statewide program development and evaluation
- Leadership for statewide program communications, marketing, and accountability
- Coordination for 4-H Youth Development in-service and volunteer development programs
- Development of public/private resources including management of the Florida 4-H Foundation, Inc.
- Management of four residential 4-H camp facilities and associated programs
- Management of state 4-H events, activities, awards and recognition programs, scholarships, publications and other teaching aids supporting State Major Programs and Core programs
- Encouragement and support for development of innovative programs that address emerging youth need.
The Florida 4-H Foundation
Incorporated in 1963, the 4-H Club Foundation is a tax-exempt non-profit educational foundation approved under section 501(c)3 of the Internal Revenue 170(b)(1) Code. The Foundation is governed by a volunteer board of directors elected from among 4-H friends, donors, and Extension representatives. The Foundation Headquarters are at the University of Florida, Gainesville.
The purpose of the Florida 4-H Club Foundation are to support the mission of the 4-H Youth Development Program; promote 4-H to potential partners; and provide stewardship in resource management. The Foundation also provides financial management for 4-H Camps: Timpoochee, Cherry Lake, Ocala, and Cloverleaf.
Designated a Direct Support Organization (DSO), the Foundation is operated according to State University system rules. The Foundation maintains a separate, not-for-profit status and is authorized to receive, hold, invest and administer property and make expenditures benefiting the University of Florida's 4-H youth development program.
The Florida 4-H Club Foundation does not serve as an umbrella organization to 4-H Clubs and
Foundation at the county level. County organizations
that collect or generate funds at the county level on
behalf of the 4-H program are independent from the
Foundation.
Each of these organizations is eligible to qualify for federal income tax exemption under the IRS letter of determination dated February 9, 1973.
The Florida 4-H Foundation is staffed by an Executive Director who is a member of the State 4-H Youth Development Office staff. Currently the Board of Directors consists of 30 members. The Foundation's fiscal year starts on April 1 and ends March 31.
Return to top
National 4-H Council & Centers
7100 Connecticut Avenue
Chevy Chase, MD 20815
http://www.fourhcouncil.edu
National 4-H Council is a private sector partner of the Cooperative Extension System supporting 4-H educational opportunities and resources for programming at the local, state, and national levels. It is headquartered in Chevy Chase, MD just outside Washington, DC. National 4-H Council helps provide programs and activities to young people nationwide in collaboration with the youth development education initiatives of the Cooperative Extension System of USDA, land grant universities, and county government. Activities include managing the National 4-H Center in Chevy Chase , conducting a national 4-H events, hosting conferences for teens, volunteers, and extension staff, providing grant opportunities, and raising funds for national and local programs.
National 4-H Council Supply Service
Items containing the 4-H logo are available through the National 4-H Council supply service. A catalog is available, or you can visit their website.
National 4-H Center
The National 4-H Center is operated by the National 4-H Council. It is located on a 12-acre campus in Chevy Chase, MD (suburban Washington, DC) with conference facilities for more than 600 overnight guests. The facilities and services are available for Extension, Extension-related, and non-profit non-Extension groups. The Center also offers family and individual accommodations for Extension and 4-H families who are traveling in the DC area on a space-available basis. The National 4-H Center provides a variety of educational programs for youth and adults. Many of the programs focus on our national Capital and our national heritage. Many of the national historical sites are on the itinerary for each program.
