Becoming a 4-H Volunteer

Step 1: Complete an Application

The application process helps volunteer match with the right opportunity for their skills and interests. Each county manages its own process, with many including a written application, interview and reference check.

  • Do not proceed further in the volunteer process until someone from 4-H has contacted you.

Step 2: Background Checks

Why we do this:   The safety of 4-H youth is the primary concern as the University of Arizona Cooperative Extension assigns volunteers to the program.  We require all 4-H regular volunteers to clear a fingerprint-based background check.  By requiring this clearance, we know that our 4-H youth are safe.  Parents and communities know that youth are safe in our program.  Volunteers know that their colleagues are united with them in the effort to keep youth safe. 

The background check standard for University of Arizona Cooperative Extension is the Arizona Department of Public Safety Level One Background check card (DPS card). 

How you do this:  

First, gather the necessary information and items 

  • Credit/debit card to pay the fees
  • Specific instructions from your local office if they are providing funding
  • Personal information (driver license, social security number) 

Second, find a site where you can have digital prints taken.  Businesses and organizations that collect and transmit digital fingerprints.

Third, start your application with Arizona Department of Public Safety

  • A prompt will ask if you will volunteer in schools; select yes
  • Leave the school / employer information blank if possible
  • If an address is required, enter your county Cooperative Extension office address
  • Follow the prompts
  • The fee is $65 and must be paid online
  • Log back into the AZ DPS portal and check messages 
  • Record the 10-character application/documentation/reference number in your message; you will need it to set an appointment

Fourth, wait 5 to 30 minutes (depends on volume of business) for the AZDPS site to transmit your information to Arizona FieldPrint, then pay the fee to get your digital prints taken

  • Go to Fieldprint's portal at https://arizona.fieldprint.com
  • Select "Fingerprint Clearance Card" from the list of reasons
  • You need the 10-character documentation/reference number from AZ DPS message center
  • Fee is $8.25
  • Fee must be paid online with credit/debit card
  • Take your receipt to the fingerprinting site of your choice from the options available
  • ALL sites require an appointment, NO walk-ins.

Fifth, Arizona Department of Public Safety will notify you of the status of your clearance card

  • You should get an email verifying that they are processing your card
  • The AZ DPS site says it may take up to 8 weeks
  • Many people receive their card within a week of the date the prints were taken
  • The card comes directly to you
  • Replacement of lost cards costs $65.00

Sixth, submit the complete Background Check Packet to your county office

  • Digital copy of the front of your DPS card
  • Digital copy of the front of a government-issued photo id (driver license)
  • Filled in and signed copy of the authorization (see below) which gives University of Arizona permission to check status of the DPS card
  • UArizona checks the status regularly as long as the card is valid and you are a volunteer with UArizona 

FIngeprint Authorization Form

Step 3: Register as a Designated Campus Colleague

The Designated Campus Colleague (DCC) relationship is the legal agreement between the volunteer and the University of Arizona.  UArizona provides guidelines and training.  Volunteers set up growth opportunities for youth.  4-H youth are encouraged to learn about themselves and their community.  These same youth do activities to develop the skills they need to create positive change in their lives and communities.

The legal relationship says that volunteers will follow university guidelines and that the university will back the volunteer's efforts with guidance and legal support.  Additionally, active DCC status provides access to university resources such as email, Google apps, and Zoom.

How to become a DCC

  1. Your local office enters your information into the University of Arizona Workforce database, UAccess.
  2. Second, you will receive several emails from FSO at arizona.edu
    1. These emails have important information
    2. Be sure to check your spam, junk and unwanted folders in your email.
  3. We can help if you haven't received emails. Reach out to your local office and ask for
    1. The dates emails were sent.
    2. Emails to be sent again.
    3. Step-by-step instructions from emails in pdf or video form
  4. Set up your NetID, password and 2-factor authentication. 
  5. Finish your DCC registration following these instructions.
  6. Set up your university Microsoft Outlook account for email and calendar.

Step 4: Create a ZSuite Profile

ZSuite allows leaders to track their own records, track membership of the club, send emails to club members and the parents of club members, monitor project status, and view project books.  Trainings for such things as equine helmet safety are available in ZSuite.  County staff maintain records of volunteer credentials in this database.  Youth can enter information and generate project books in this database.

Step 5: Preventing Harassment Training 

This training helps maintain equitable and legally mandated opportunities for all residents of Arizona by helping volunteers, staff, and students learn:

  • How to recognize behaviors such as implicit bias, discrimination and harassment, including sexual harassment, sexual violence, relationship violence, gender discrimination, and stalking.
  • Skills for encouraging respect and civility in the workplace, creating positive and productive workplaces and building positive organizational culture.

All members of the university community are expected to complete this training every two years.  Changing duties may require volunteer, staff, or student to complete the training more frequently.

Step 6: Complete Youth Safety Training 

As part of the effort to provide appropriate environments for all youth in our programs, The University of Arizona provides a training on Youth Safety.  This training explains Arizona laws that cover abuse and neglect.  It sets out the signs that would tell you that a youth is at risk of abuse or neglect, as well as signs that another adult is grooming a youth for an inappropriate relationship.  It also includes best practices for helping an endangered youth, and explains the legal responsibilities for 4-H leaders who discover any of these signs.

  • This training requires NetID and NetID+.
  • Every volunteer and staff person should complete Youth Safety training every year to make sure they have the most current information on the Arizona law, The University of Arizona regulations, and best practices.
  • Log in at https://d2l.arizona.edu/d2l/loginh/ 

NOTE:  Cooperative Extension requires an additional step in the reporting process as outlined in the training.  If a volunteer recognizes signs of abuse, neglect, or grooming, the information should be reported to local law enforcement (city, county, or tribal) as well as to their county office and the University of Arizona Youth Safety office.  

University Youth Safety Policies

Youth Safety Training Instructions

Step 7: Complete 4-H Orientation

The 4-H orientation helps volunteers understand the guiding principles of the 4-H program, positive youth development, and the expectations for leaders engaged in the program.  The full orientation required by the Western Region 4-H Program is currently under revision.  When available, it will be accessible through ZSuite to all volunteers and parents.

At this time, an overview of the 4-H program is available in ZSuite in the Clover Academy.