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Andrew E. Toelle

Specialist

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Andrew E. Toelle

Orcid ID0000-0002-7620-4881

Specialist

Publications

thumbnail for publication: Save a Child: How to Identify and Report Child Abuse

Save a Child: How to Identify and Report Child Abuse

Andrew E. Toelle and Kate Fogarty

This publication discusses child abuse laws and procedures for reporting abuse. It also contains information about different types of abuse and ways to identify abused or neglected children. Characteristics listed in this publication are general and intended as guidelines. Written by Andrew E. Toelle and Kate Fogarty, and published by the UF/IFAS Department of Family, Youth and Community Sciences, revised June 2025.

thumbnail for publication: Engaging Volunteers through ISOTURES: Selecting for Volunteer Involvement

Engaging Volunteers through ISOTURES: Selecting for Volunteer Involvement

Andrew Toelle, Sophia Cooney, and Lori Wiggins

This is the Selection portion of the ISOTURE volunteer management model, part of the Engaging Volunteers through ISOTURES series. This 3-page publication discusses in detail the selection process for volunteers in Florida 4-H. Major revision by Andrew Toelle, Sophia Cooney, and Lori Wiggins.

thumbnail for publication: Understanding Volunteer Management in 4-H

Understanding Volunteer Management in 4-H

Andrew Toelle and Lori Wiggins

This is the first in a series of publications to address volunteer management. A 4-H agent must fulfill a number of functions to successfully involve volunteers in a county program. This 5-page article provides an overview of these functions, including a historical perspective of volunteer involvement in UF/IFAS Extension, the role of the 4-H agent as an administrator and trainer of volunteers, risk management, and a process for managing volunteers. Major revision by A. Toelle and L. Wiggins.

thumbnail for publication: My Intermediate 4-H Project Report

My Intermediate 4-H Project Report

Florida 4-H Awards and Recognition Action Team: Cash, L., Sachs, G.M., DeCubellis, C.D., Ward, M., Meringolo, D., Hensley, S.T., Toelle, A., & Valencia, L.

This report form is to be completed by intermediate (age 11–13) 4-H members as a record of their 4-H project completion. Project Reports should be turned in annually at the end of the 4-H year to their county 4-H agent. This 10-page major revision was compiled by the Florida 4-H Awards and Recognition Task Force; Geralyn Sachs and Laura Cash, chairs.

thumbnail for publication: The Extension Services-237: Everything You Need to Know

The Extension Services-237: Everything You Need to Know

Matthew Olson and Andrew Toelle

The Extension Services-237 (ES-237) is a report of University of Florida, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) Extension that consists of statistics for youth ages 5–18 participating in UF/IFAS Extension youth programs and the volunteers providing service to these programs. Family Nutrition Programs (FNP) are the only youth Extension programs that are exempt from ES-237 reporting. In Florida, an annual ES-237 report is completed for each UF/IFAS Extension County office based off total 4-H enrollments entered into 4-H Online. County reports are compiled into a single state report and submitted to the National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) at the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA).

thumbnail for publication: My 4-H Cloverbud Project Summary

My 4-H Cloverbud Project Summary

Florida 4-H Awards and Recognition Action Team: Cash, L., Sachs, G.M., DeCubellis, C.D., Ward, M., Meringolo, D., Hensley, S.T., Toelle, A., & Valencia, L.

The 4-H Cloverbud Project Summary is intended for youth ages 5–7 to complete at the completion of a 4-H educational project. This 7-page revision was compiled by the Florida 4-H Awards and Recognition Task Force; Geralyn Sachs and Laura Cash, chairs.

thumbnail for publication: My Junior 4-H Project Report

My Junior 4-H Project Report

Florida 4-H Awards and Recognition Action Team: Cash, L., Sachs, G.M., DeCubellis, C.D., Ward, M., Meringolo, D., Hensley, S.T., Toelle, A., & Valencia, L.

This report form is to be completed by junior (age 8–10) 4-H members as a record of their 4-H project completion. Project Reports should be turned in annually at the end of the 4-H year to their county 4-H agent. This 10-page major revision was compiled by the Florida 4-H Awards and Recognition Task Force; Geralyn Sachs and Laura Cash, chairs.

thumbnail for publication: My Senior 4-H Project Report

My Senior 4-H Project Report

Florida 4-H Awards and Recognition Action Team: Cash, L., Sachs, G.M., DeCubellis, C.D., Ward, M., Meringolo, D., Hensley, S.T., Toelle, A., & Valencia, L.

This report form is to be completed by senior (age 14–18) 4-H members as a record of their 4-H project completion. Project Reports should be turned in annually at the end of the 4-H year to their county 4-H agent. This 10-page major revision was compiled by the Florida 4-H Awards and Recognition Task Force; Geralyn Sachs and Laura Cash, chairs.

thumbnail for publication: 4-H Agent Guide for Managing the Approval, Denial, and Releasing of Volunteers in Florida 4-H

4-H Agent Guide for Managing the Approval, Denial, and Releasing of Volunteers in Florida 4-H

Andrew Toelle, Heather Kent, and Sophia Cooney

The purpose of these Volunteer Management Guidelines is to provide Extension faculty assistance with approving, denying, and releasing volunteers. This document contains several example letters that may be used and other useful tools to assist you with this process. It also demonstrates steps in approving, denying, and releasing volunteers. Written by Andrew Toelle, Heather Kent, and Sophia Cooney; 7 pp.

thumbnail for publication: Action Research: A Methodology for Organizational Change

Action Research: A Methodology for Organizational Change

Dale Pracht, Andrew Toelle, and Brent Broaddus

Change is inevitable. When working within an organization, figuring out what needs to change can be a big issue. Having quality information available for use can make the decision process clearer and more effective. Action research is a methodology that can be used by people internal to an organization to identify what changes need to be made. This new 3-page publication of the UF/IFAS Florida 4-H Youth Development Program was written by Dale Pracht, Andrew Toelle, and Brent Broaddus.

thumbnail for publication: 4-H School Enrichment: A Guide for 4-H Faculty and Staff

4-H School Enrichment: A Guide for 4-H Faculty and Staff

Andrew Toelle

4-H School Enrichment can give youth and parents a picture of the benefits of a longer commitment to 4-H. The purpose of this revised 8-page publication is to support 4-H agents as they plan, develop, and evaluate school enrichment programs. Written by Andrew Toelle.

thumbnail for publication: 4-H Volunteer Training Series: Recognizing Young People

4-H Volunteer Training Series: Recognizing Young People

Originally written by Georgene Bender. Revised by Geralyn Sachs, Sarah Hensley, Andrew Toelle, Kelsey Cook, Marnie Ward, Shayla Reighter, Dallas Meringolo, Courtney Quirie and Christopher Decubellis.

Developing a sense of belonging is one of the Essential Elements of a positive youth development experience. Creating an inclusive environment in your 4-H club programs and activities can help you achieve this goal. Providing many forms of recognition for all, not just for those who excel in competition with other youth, supports this sense of belonging.

thumbnail for publication: 4-H GROW: A Path for a Successful 4-H in School Program

4-H GROW: A Path for a Successful 4-H in School Program

Michael Shawn Jackson and Andrew Toelle

4-H in School programs can reach large groups of youth in a narrow age range, yet they are difficult for many 4-H agents to implement. Building on Ask IFAS publication 4H324, the GROW model is a practical guide for agents to follow to increase the likelihood of beginning and sustaining a successful 4-H in School program. This model addresses who agents can reach out to when in the initial phases of beginning a 4-H in School program and steps to follow as it is being developed.  The model also outlines an organizational plan to eliminate miscommunication and unexpected mishaps by offering a clear understanding of expectations for all participants involved.  Finally, the model identifies tips to make a school enrichment program operate smoothly based on feedback from teachers and 4-H Agents with experience working with 4-H school enrichment programs.