How volunteering with extension 4-H youth development contributes to public value

ABSTRACT

Volunteers add public value to the communities where they live and work leading to changes in community conditions. This study assessed volunteers’ beliefs about perceived public value in the Extension 4-H Youth Development Program (YDP). Research results document Extension

4-H volunteers take active leadership roles, which leads to public value in communities. There is a direct application of skills gained as a result of their volunteer experience. Results provide evidence of how volunteers make a difference building social capital in four areas: increased civic involvement, better-connected communities, stronger communities, and improved community health.

Contributions by 4-H volunteers not only make communities stronger; they benefit individuals beyond those involved in the 4-H program. Leaders are encouraged to further substantiate and communicate to stakeholders the public value of volunteer impact by assessing how volunteers contribute in public and private organizations throughout their communities.

KEYWORDS:

• Public value
• volunteers
• social capital
• community impact

Acknowledgments

This is a collaborative effort across multiple states as reflected in the authorship. We acknowledge NCR Volunteer Specialists: Eric Jackson, University of Missouri; Cathy Johnston, University of Nebraska; Jackie Krieger, Ohio State University; Aimee Landowski, South Dakota State University; Steve McKinley, Purdue University; Shane Potter, Kansas State University; Brenda Shafer, University of Minnesota; Jennifer Weichel, Michigan State University.

We thank Christian Schmieder, Data Specialist and Data Governance Leader, and Josset Gauley, Evaluation and Program Development Specialist - University of Wisconsin-Madison, for teaching us the qualitative data jam process utilizing MAXQDA software. Thank you Chloe

Krinke, doctoral student, North Dakota State University, for assisting with the literature review.

Disclosure statement

Disclosure statement: No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors