Hi Everyone,

National 4-H Council is discontinuing ACCESS 4-H mid-year on March 31, 2015. Thus, we are introducing 4HOnline, a new enrollment and data management system to Virginia 4-H. We are pleased to discover many advantages that the new system has over ACCESS 4-H, listed below. We believe that 4HOnline will increase our efficiency and save time at the local level and that 4HOnline will better serve the needs and interests of today’s 4-H youth and families and enhance their 4-H experience. Learn more about 4HOnline here: https://www.4honline.com/ .

ACCESS 4-H will be used for the ES-237 for 2014, which is due October 17, 2014. We will use 4HOnline for the 2014-2015 club year enrollment (October 1, 2014 – September 30, 2015). Since, you can’t transfer existing ACCESS 4-H data to 4HOnline, we will not enter our new club year enrollment into ACCESS 4-H.

We will first roll out, the 4HOnline enrollment package, but as you will see in the advantages, 4HOnline has many other options that we will introduce once we are up and running.

Advantages of 4HOnline:
4HOnline is designed for families to enroll themselves. Families set up their account, create a password and enter and manage their own data thus increasing efficiency and saving time on the local level.
4HOnline works well with a dial-up connection. It also works well on iPads, tablets, and smart phones.
Once the data has been entered by the families, Extension agent/staff review the records for accuracy and accept or request changes on the enrollment records.
Volunteer development opportunities through online training modules (orientation and project/curriculum content training) that includes assessments and tracking system with certificates;
4-H age and age divisions automatically calculate for specific projects, events, and competitions based on state guidelines;
Ability to communicate with 4-H members, families, and volunteers (individually and groups) through one-way messaging (text and email);
Volunteer screening tool that will maintain background screening information and document status in the screening process from the State 4-H Office;
Event registration (Congress, camp, competitions, etc.) integrated into system;
Database for online enrollment forms (health history, member enrollment, volunteer enrollment, code of conduct, standards of behavior, equine waiver, adapted forms for youth of military families);
Project animal identification database for qualifying animals, finances, and storage of applicable measurements;
Ability to track 4-H member and volunteer project enrollment, event participation, and award for portfolios and resumes completion;
Online 4-H calendar that promotes county, district, and state events in one integrated system;
Integration of online curriculum, publication, and resource hyperlinks based on project enrollment;
Customizable reports (exportable for Excel, PDF, mailing labels) with grouping and sorting features for individuals, clubs, groups, or events;
· Multiple people can access data at the same time and make appropriate changes;
· Families will be able to enter and manage their own information, look up projects, read newsletters, receive announcements for 4-H events, register for events, and more;
· Very user-friendly;
· Highly customizable to meet our needs;
· Is a proven program which has been used by numerous state 4-H programs.

Things we are working on now:

A transition timeline which will be available within the next two weeks;
Setting up the structure for Virginia 4-H. We are creating the state platform with unit and district information, organized club information, projects, delivery modes, activities and awards so they can be uploaded into the new system.
Setting up a “demo county” for you to go in and enter data and see how the system works.
Adapting materials and resources for face-to-face and online training for Extension professionals and office professionals. Materials include a manual, PowerPoint presentations and video for local units to use when creating their own customized platform.
Creating a 4HOnline webpage in which all messages, links to resources, conference call and training dates will be posted.
Creating a forum, blog to support the local units.
Adapting a brochure and a web-based video that provides step-by-step instructions for leaders and families to enroll.

We appreciate everyone’s patience and cooperation as we make the best of this unexpected transition. In the end, we are confident that we will have a data management system which increases our effectiveness and builds the quality, capacity, and sustainability of the Virginia 4-H program.

Thanks,
Cathy

Cathy M. Sutphin, PhD
Associate Director, 4-H
115 Hutcheson Hall
Blacksburg, VA 24061
540-231-6372