CES Manuals
CES Manuals

Contact Information

Laura Stephenson
Associate Dean & Director of Extension

S-107 Ag Science Building-North Lexington, KY 40546-0091

859-257-4302

laura.stephenson@uky.edu

Client Protection Handbook

Client Protection Handbook

The Client Protection Handbook is complete and finalized. Please use the links below to navigate the handbook. It is recommended to head first to the contents to navigate to your desired sections. Each section of the handbook which contains forms, has links to PDF versions of the form for download and printing. This allows us to maintain the integrity of the forms as they were designed.

Client Protection Frequently Asked Questions

The University of Kentucky CES Client Protection Policy:
All individuals who have unsupervised contact with a vulnerable, at-risk, or special needs audience at any time must complete the entire screening protocol. 
Vulnerable audiences include, but are not limited to: youth, home-bound, immigrant, physically, mentally or emotionally challenged, disadvantaged and underprivileged.

One-on-One Contact (2015)
There shall be no one-on-one contact (personal, unsupervised interaction) between a program leader or program staff (paid or volunteer) and a minor (a person who has not reached their eighteenth birthday), a 4-H program participant, or a member of a vulnerable audience without at least one other program leader, program staff (paid or volunteer), parent or legal guardian present.  (One-on-one contact includes email, texting, and social media.)

Kentucky 4-H Volunteer Eligibility Policy
Adopted April 2023

Eligibility to Volunteer:

Individuals are eligible to apply to become an accepted volunteer with Kentucky 4-H in the county in which they live, work, or their dependents live or attend school. Individuals who are accepted volunteers and wish to volunteer outside of the county in which they are accepted must receive approval from the County 4-H Councils and Extension Agents with 4-H responsibilities in both counties. Exceptions to this policy should be submitted to both County 4-H Councils and Extension Agents with 4-H responsibilities. Volunteers that have been dismissed or are not in good standing in a county will generally be ineligible to volunteer in another county.  Exceptions may be requested through the Extension Agent with 4-H responsibilities by contacting the Area Extension Director and the state Volunteer Specialist.

Eligibility to Volunteer for Kentucky 4-H State Program:

All individuals (both youth and adults) serving in volunteer roles on the state level for any 4-H programs, projects, events, or activities, must have completed the entire screening process and been accepted as a volunteer in their county, must have an active volunteer file, be in good standing, and must not have been released as a volunteer in any county or from any state-level 4-H program, project, event, or activity. All individuals serving in a volunteer role on the state level must receive approval from their local county 4-H program.

*These policies are intended for use in University of Kentucky 4-H Programs.

  1. Background, History and Purpose in Client Protection & Risk Management
    Kentucky Client Protection Standards & Risk Management Strategies Design Team
    Kentucky Client Protection Standards & Risk Management Strategies Review Team 

2. The Agents’ Role in Client Protection & Risk Management

3. The Client Protection Committee (CPC)
     Client Protection Committee member Volunteer Position Description
     Client Protection Committee chair Volunteer Position Description
     Client Protection Committee secretary Volunteer Position Description
     Kentucky CES Volunteer Services Confidentiality Statement

4. Volunteer Application Process
     Age 18 4-H Member Clarifications
     Who must undergo the screening process?
     The “litmus test” for volunteer screening
     Screening Protocol Exemptions
     Incomplete Volunteer Files

5. Volunteer Application Packet
     Volunteer Application
     Motor Vehicle Record (MVR) Release & Information Form
     Criminal Record Check Request Form
     KY Cabinet for Health and Family Services Central Registry Check (CAN Check)
     Kentucky CES Expectations for Volunteers
     Criminal Record (Background) Check Results
     Reference Request Form
     Reference Request Form
     Interview Notes 
     Interview Notes & Reactions from Interviewers
     Child Abuse & Neglect Check Results
     Sex Offender Registry Results
     Volunteer Position Description
     Volunteer Position Description template
     Kentucky CES Volunteer Reference Form

(5a.) School Volunteer Application Packet
     School Volunteer Application
     Kentucky CES Expectations for Volunteers
     4-H School Club Leader Volunteer Position Description

(5b.) Screening Volunteers for Environmental Camps     
     Environmental Camps as 4-H Events
     Environmental Camps as collaborative ventures between 4-H and School
     Environmental Camps as School Events
     Questionnaire for Environmental Camps
     Questionnaire for Environmental Camps (with hints for the interviews) 
     Accepted School Volunteers for Environmental Camp
     Accepted 4-H Volunteers for Environmental Camp
     School References for Environmental Camp Volunteers
     Extension References for Environmental Camp Volunteers
     Environmental Camp Counselor Volunteer Position Description

6. Volunteer Files & Records Management   
     Checklist for Processing New Volunteers
     Records Management
     File Maintenance
     Classifying Volunteer Files
          Green
          Yellow
          Red
     Tracking Volunteer Screening with a Roster Template
     Tracking Volunteer Screening with 4-H Online
     Incomplete Volunteer Files
     Client Protection File Checklist for County Review
 

7. Obtaining a Criminal Record Report (Background Check) in Kentucky
     Procedure for obtaining a Criminal Record Report
     Obtaining a Background Check from another State
     Interpreting Background Check Results
     Updating Background Checks in Volunteer Files
     Interpreting Background Check Results

8. Interviews
     Interviewing: A Tool to avoid Poor Volunteer Placement Decisions
     Why Interview?
     Conducting Effective Interviews
     Preparing for an Interview
     Who should conduct the Interview?
     Red Flag / Warning Sign Interview Responses for Youth Volunteers
     Interview Documentation
     Ineffective Interviewing Principles
     Volunteer Questionnaire (required of all applicants)
     Volunteer Questionnaire (with hints for the interviewers)
     Volunteer Questionnaire II (required of new applicants)
     Volunteer Questionnaire II (with hints for the interviewers)
     In-depth, Secondary Interview Questions (for “yellow” applicants)
     In-depth, Secondary Interview Questions (with hints for the interviewers)
     Criminal History Questions (for “yellow” applicants)
     Driving History Questions (with hints for the interviewers)

9. Volunteer Acknowledgement Letters
     Thank-you for your interest
     Acceptance
     Decline
     Disengage (Failure to sign volunteer position description)
     Renew 

 

10. Volunteer Orientation
     Orientation Benefits
     Sample Extension Volunteer Orientation Agenda

11.Behavioral Guidelines
     Disciplinary Guidelines for Youth
     Kentucky 4-H Event and Activity Conduct Management Guidelines

12. Child Abuse and Child Abuse Neglect (CAN) Checks
     Recognizing and responding to a child’s disclosure of abuse
     Instructions for reporting child abuse

13. Evaluating Volunteer Performance & Contributions
     Agent’s Evaluation of Volunteer
     Co-Volunteer’s Evaluation of Volunteer
     Parent’s Evaluation of Volunteer
     Teen’s Evaluation of Volunteer
     Volunteer’s Self Evaluation
     Management Volunteer’s Evaluation of Volunteer
     Documentation
     Documenting Behaviors and Actions

14. Coordinating Volunteers
     Causes for Redirecting or Disengaging Volunteers
     Mediation Process
     Alternatives to Disengaging a Volunteer
     Probation
     Procedure for Disengagement of a Volunteer
     Procedure for Disengagement of a Volunteer: Volunteer Disengagement Checklist
     Causes for Immediate Dismissal
     Procedure for Immediate Dismissal
     Appeals Process
     Dismissal of Volunteers in Difficult Situations

15. Search and Seizure Involving Youth

16. Insurance
     American Income Life Insurance
     UK Risk Management

17. Liability Shields
     Permission Slips
     Informed Consent Forms
     Waivers or Releases
     Indemnification Agreement
     Sample Liability Shield

18. Incident Reports
     Incident Report Form
     Documentation

19. Risk Management
     Specific Risk Management Situations
     Five Strategies for managing Risks and Reducing Liability in Volunteer Programs

20. Risk Management Glossary

Contact Information

Laura Stephenson
Associate Dean & Director of Extension

S-107 Ag Science Building-North Lexington, KY 40546-0091

859-257-4302

laura.stephenson@uky.edu