4‐H Dual Enrollment for SAFE & Horse Programs

Dual Enrollment offers current 4‐H members additional SAFE and Horse Club opportunities that are not available in their home county. In most situations, 4-H youth should compete as members in the county where they attend school or live full time (referred to as home county). In situations where 4‐H’ers would like to enroll in 4‐H in a county other than the home county, a Change of Membership request may be made for positive youth development principles and not for competitive advantage. However, there are situations in which a currently enrolled member of one county may desire to participate in a SAFE (Shooting Awareness Fun Education) or Horse program that is not offered in their primary county of membership.

Policy Points

• Requests for Dual Enrollment Membership are submitted to the state 4‐H office using the Dual Enrollment Membership request form. Please contact your current County Extension Office to access and complete the form. Submit to: ga4hrequest@uga.edu.

• The Georgia 4‐H Membership Review Committee will meet and communicate the decision to both the home county and the county for proposed membership. Dual Enrollment requests should be submitted four weeks prior to a 4‐H’er registering for dual county membership or participating with new county program.

• County 4‐H programs with SAFE and/or Horse clubs are not required to offer Dual Enrollment. Each county 4‐H program will determine if they have space, volunteers and other necessary resources to offer 4‐H members from surrounding counties the opportunity to apply for Dual Enrollment.

• If Dual Enrollment is approved, the 4‐H’er will be required to meet all program rules, requirements and expectations of the additional county program including fees, forms and other participation expectations.

• County Extension staff (Agents, Educators, Program Assistants) from the home county and requested county to be added will sign the form along with the parent/guardian(s) and 4‐H’er. Signatures designate acknowledgement of request. An additional statement may be submitted in regards the request of change.

• When a 4‐H’er is granted dual enrollment, the change is in effect for the duration of the 4‐H’ers career or until a change in circumstances occurs. A change in circumstances occurs when a 4‐H’er moves to a different county or if the home county starts the program for which dual membership was requested. If a 4‐H’er moves to a residence in a different county and that county offers the 4‐H program for which the youth was dually enrolled, the dual enrollment may be terminated. Or, an additional Dual Membership request form may be filed or a “deactivation“ form may be filed, and the 4‐H’er will no longer have dual enrollment.

• Failure to complete (and receive approval for) Dual Enrollment requirements may result in disqualification from participation and/or removal for any and all individual and team awards received while competing without proper approval.

Frequently Asked Questions

If a young person is not a current member of 4‐H in their home county, can the youth apply for Dual Enrollment? No. The young person must first be currently enrolled as a member of 4‐H in their home county before applying for Dual Enrollment.

If a 4‐H’ers home county has a SAFE archery or Horse program, is it ok for the 4‐H’er to apply for Dual Enrollment to join a SAFE archery program in a neighboring county? No. If a 4‐H’ers home county offers the program for which the member is interested, then s/he should follow the procedures required of the home county in order to participate.

If a 4‐H’ers home county does not have a Horse Club but takes care of registration for 4‐H’ers to compete in the State 4‐H Horse Show, is the 4‐H’er still required to have dual enrollment in a county with a Horse Club? No, if the 4‐H’er can participate in horse activities in their home county, there is no need to apply for dual enrollment.

If a 4‐H’er is involved in forestry and project achievement in their home county but joins a Horse Club in a neighboring county, what paperwork does each county need? The 4‐H’er must be enrolled in both counties. Both counties (home county and county where dually enrolled) need all forms required for any activity/contest/competition for which they register the 4‐H’er.

Who is on the Dual Enrollment or Change in Membership Committee? The committees are selected to include a 4‐H Program Development Coordinator and two members of state 4‐H staff with at least one having an expertise in an area the 4‐H’er has interest in participating. In the case of the change being across district lines, both 4‐H PDC’s serve and one state staff member.

I moved in the middle of the 4‐H year. Do I need a change in membership to finish out the year in my former counties where I was dually enrolled? 4‐H’ers who have begun competing in their county of residence and then move or change schools may remain in the former county for the duration of that 4‐H year without a form on file. However, if s/he would like to remain in the former county after August 1, a change in membership is needed first, then dual enrollment may be considered.

I competed in a 4‐H contest in August with my home county. The county where I go to school has a SAFE Team or Horse Club I want to compete with now. Can I do both? Yes, but only if the Dual Enrollment request has been approved.

If my county 4‐H program starts a SAFE program or Horse Club, will the 4‐H’ers who are dually enrolled be required to deactivate membership from the second county of membership? Deactivation from the second county and participating in the home county’s SAFE or Horse program is preferred. County staff members in those counties will consult with PDCs and state 4‐H staff for guidance.

Is it ok for a parent to become a SAFE or Horse program volunteer in the county their child is dually enrolled? Yes. An adult’s volunteer certification can be shared with any county 4‐H program in Georgia. However, it is highly encouraged that the parent serves as a volunteer in both counties. County 4‐H staff in both counties should agree on their expectations for youth and volunteers.

I have never had a Change in Membership form and have always competed in “Clover” County even though I don’t live there now or go to school there. I don’t do any other 4‐H activities. Why do I need to do a new form?
Change in membership forms have been required for several years and from the situation described, you should have completed a Change in Membership prior to participation after you moved. In order to continue to participate in “Clover” County you will need to complete a Change of Membership request.

What if I am a Florida (or South Carolina, Tennessee, North Carolina, Alabama) 4‐H’er in a county that neighbors a Georgia County, can I enroll in Georgia 4‐H? If you attend school in Georgia, it is like any other 4‐H’er who lives in one county and attends school in one county. You can pick the county to compete in. If you do not live or go to school in a Georgia county, you will follow the Change in Membership and Dual Enrollment guidelines like any other 4‐H’er.

What if I have a SAFE and/or Horse program in my county, but my head coach(es) and I do not wish to take on 4‐H’ers from other counties. Is my county required to offer Dual Enrollment? No. Each county with SAFE and Horse programs will choose whether or not they have space to add 4‐H’ers from surrounding counties.