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Risk Management for 4-H Youth Development Work: Pre-Event Planning Guide and Matrix

Dale Pracht, Paula Davis, Stefanie Prevatt, Janet Psikogios, Marilyn Norman, Kate Fogarty, and Jean Hink

Risk Management for 4-H Youth Development Work, Risk Management for 4-H Youth Development Work, is intended to prepare UF/IFAS Extension County faculty, staff, volunteers, and youth for the important task of providing best practices in risk management strategies.

Our goal is to conduct educational events and activities that coincide with the 4-H mission and mandates while protecting the safety of participants, sponsors, property, finances, and the goodwill/reputation of the 4-H name. The inherent risk of events and activities can be mitigated through planning and preparation. This risk management guide has been created to outline ways to prepare for and deal with the specific risks associated with your program.

Early planning is key to conducting successful events and activities. This Pre-Event Planning Guide and Matrix as well as the Risk Management Checklist are tools used during event/activity planning to determine the amount of risk. The Guide can be used to assist with planning an event that creates a safe environment for all work with youth.

Planning Guide

Title of Event/Activity: ____________________________________________________

Individual(s) Responsible for Coordinating Event:

______________________________________________________________________

Name Position Email Phone Number

______________________________________________________________________

Name Position Email Phone Number

Event Level:

  • Club
  • County
  • Multi-County (District)
  • State
  • National

Event Occurrence:

  • New Event (First Time)
  • Reoccurring

Type of Event/Activity:

  • Fundraiser
  • Retreat
  • Competition
  • Conference/Seminar
  • Social Activity
  • Program
  • Camp School Enrichment Program
  • Organized 4-H Club
  • After-School Program
  • Other: _________________________

Scheduled Date(s)/Time(s) of Event/Activity (list all dates activity is planned to occur):

_______________ _______________ _______________ _______________

Start Date:

Start Time:

End Date:

End Time:

Location(s) of Event/Activity:

Primary: __________________________ Backup: __________________________

Number of People Attending: ________

How does this event/activity promote the mission of the 4-H program?

Provide a brief description of the planned event/activity.

Matrix

Step 1: List all activities that could cause illness, property damage, injury, financial loss, or negative publicity for the organization.

Step 2: Identify the type of risks associated with each activity. Is this activity associated with:

  • People—Youth, volunteers, employees, clients, donors, board members, and the public.
  • Property—Buildings, facilities, equipment, materials, copyrights, and trademarks.
  • Finances—Sales, grants, and contributions.
  • Goodwill/Reputation—Stature in the community and the ability to raise funds and appeal to prospective volunteers.

Step 3: Use the Matrix below to assess the current level of risk with each activity you listed in Step 1. Determine your initial score by finding the intersection of the probability that something will go wrong and the level of risk with the highest score. The lower the score, the lower your risk.

Figure 1. Chart listing the probability that something will go wrong. 
Credit: UF/IFAS 

 

Levels of Risk

I. Severe/Critical—May result in death.

II. Significant/Medium—May cause severe injury, major property damage, significant financial loss, and/or negative publicity for the organization and/or institution.

III. Minor/Low—May cause minor injury, illness, property damage, financial loss, and/or negative publicity for the organization and/or institution.

IV. Insignificant/Very Low—Hazard presents a minimal threat to safety, health, and well-being of participants.

Probability That Something Will Go Wrong

A. Likely to occur immediately or in a short period of time; expected to occur frequently.

B. Probably it will occur in time.

C. May occur in time.

D. Unlikely to occur.

_____ Initial Score _____ High _____ Medium _____ Low

Step 4: Brainstorm and list methods to manage risks and reduce the initial score.

Modifications to Event/Activity

  1. Reduce Risk—Change the activity or conditions to decrease the likelihood that a loss will occur.

  2. Avoid the Risk—Do not conduct the activity if the risks are too severe and the possibility of occurrence is high.

  3. Transfer the Risk—Find someone to share some of the risk. Ways to share the risk include carrying accident or medical insurance, using informed consent forms, or paying vendors for services.

  4. Assume the Risk—Accept the risk and prepare for the possibility of loss.

Step 5: Return to the Matrix to reassess the risk associated with each activity in Step 1 using the methods to manage risk.

_____ Final Score _____ High _____ Medium _____ Low

Step 6: Determine whether to conduct the event and/or modify activities.

After assessing the risk and making modifications, we have decided to:

_____ Conduct the activity _____ Not conduct the activity

Post-Event Assessment

  1. Was the event/activity a success? Why or why not?

  2. Did you encounter any unforeseen problems? _____ Yes _____ No

If yes, how can you better prepare in the future?

3. Are you going to continue this event? _____ Yes _____ No

If yes, what changes would you recommend for the future?

References

Herman, M. (2011). Ready or Not...A Risk Management Guide for Nonprofit Executives. 2nd edition. Leesburg, VA: Nonprofit Risk Management Center.

Nonprofit Risk Management Center. (2017). Nonprofit Risk Management Center. Accessed on December 10, 2017. https://www.nonprofitrisk.org/

USDA. (2017). EDEN: Extension Disaster Education Network. Accessed on December 10, 2017. https://extensiondisaster.net/

USDA. (n.d.). U.S. Department of Agriculture. Accessed on December 10, 2017. https://www.usda.gov/

Tables

Table 1. 

Activity/Task

Type of Risk

(Check all that apply)

Possible Risks of Activity

Ways to Manage Risk

Needed Changes

We Will ______ the Risk

(Check all that apply)

 

People

Property

Finances

Goodwill/Reputation

   

Reduce

Avoid

Transfer

Assume

 

People

Property

Finances

Goodwill/Reputation

   

Reduce

Avoid

Transfer

Assume

 

People

Property

Finances

Goodwill/Reputation

   

Reduce

Avoid

Transfer

Assume

Publication #4HFSV90.1

Release Date:August 7, 2023

Related Experts

Davis, Paula M.

County agent

University of Florida

Fogarty, Kate

Specialist/SSA/RSA

University of Florida

Pracht, Dale

Specialist/SSA/RSA

University of Florida

Fact Sheet

About this Publication

This document is 4HFSV90.1, one of a series of the 4-H Youth Development Department, UF/IFAS Extension. Original publication date August 2010. Revised March 2018 and July 2023. Visit the EDIS website at https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu for the currently supported version of this publication.

About the Authors

Dale Pracht, associate professor, Department of Family, Youth and Community Sciences; Paula Davis, Extension agent IV, 4-H Youth Development, UF/IFAS Extension Bay County; Stefanie Prevatt, Extension agent I, 4-H Youth Development, UF/IFAS Extension Leon County; Janet Psikogios, program assistant, 4-H Youth Development, UF/IFAS Extension Bay County; Marilyn Norman, retired 4-H program leader, associate professor emeritus; Kate Fogarty, associate professor, Department of Family, Youth and Community Sciences; and Jean Hink, Extension agent IV, 4-H Youth Development, UF/IFAS Extension Pasco County; UF/IFAS Extension, Gainesville, FL 32611. Revised by Candi Dierenfield and Arielle Pierce

Contacts

  • Candi Dierenfield
  • Dale Pracht
  • Sarah Hensley