Councils

The California 4-H Youth Development Program creates supportive environments utilizing experiential educational experiences for culturally diverse youth and adults to reach their fullest potential. 4-H councils support these efforts. Through these 4-H structures, adult volunteers, members, and the 4-H YDP staff work together to extend the California 4-H YDP to youth and to set and achieve the goals of 4-H.

County 4-H Councils

4-H county councils are organized to assist the University of California Cooperative Extension in planning, promoting, and carrying out 4-H youth development work. County councils are chartered by the UCCE and operate in compliance with UC policies and the core values of the 4-H YDP.

The specific purposes for which the county councils are organized shall be to:

Help implement programs and projects based upon the educational framework of the 4-H YDP and the educational goals and standards as identified by the county and state 4-H YDP staff.
Help ensure that all county 4-H YDP programming is consistent with the 4-H YDP mission and direction, guiding principles, core values and 4-H program criteria checklist.
Build mechanisms to achieve affirmative action goals and develop a management body whose membership is representative of the diversity of the community.
Include involvement of members in county council operations and decision-making.
Set limitations on term length and succession of adult volunteers to distribute more service opportunities.
Develop mechanisms to recommend solutions to problems and disputes within the county 4-H YDP.
Facilitate mechanisms for providing training and support of adult volunteers and youth.
Facilitate community involvement to contribute to program focus and direction.
Facilitate the expansion of programs into new communities.

Sectional 4-H Leaders' Councils
contribute to the growth and development of 4-H by strengthening the work of the county councils and by promoting constructive thinking among adult volunteers.

State 4-H Leaders' Council
assist in the planning of educational and leadership training programs and advises the State 4-H Office on matters of program and policy.