To uphold these commitments, we as NAE4-HA professionals affirm the following:

Our Commitment to Youth

• Provide safe, nurturing environments that allow youth to reach their full potential.
  Use developmentally and age-appropriate methods and materials to meet learning
  style differences.
• Maintain appropriate relationships with youth in all settings: never encourage,
  solicit or engage in a sexual or romantic relationship with youth; never touch
  youth out of anger or with intent to harm or in an inappropriate way for personal
  gratification.
  
• Manage youth behavior justly and fairly to avoid embarrassment and humiliation.
  Recognize achievement based on the performance, effort and ability of the
  participant.
  
• Value diversity and treat all youth as individuals in a fair, respectful and
  consistent manner.
  
• Set examples as positive adult role models.
  
• Hold in confidence information learned in a professional practice, except for
  professional reasons or in compliance with pertinent regulations or statutes.

Our Commitment to Volunteers

• Value the role of volunteers in the success of 4-H programs.
  
• Provide the orientation and training necessary to equip volunteers for success in
  their roles.
  
• Treat all volunteers in a fair, respectful and consistent manner.
  
• Acknowledge the efforts of volunteers.
  
• Provide incentives to volunteers to help them advance and excel as leaders of
  youth.

Our Commitment to our Partners

• Seek to understand the needs and interests of partners.
  
• Identify appropriate resources and develop effective relationships with partners.
  
• Maintain the integrity of the NAE4-HA mission and goals.

Our Commitment to the Extension System

• Ensure that 4-H is an integral part of the comprehensive Extension System.
  
• Recognize that research and knowledge supported by public universities provides the basis of our youth development and methods.
  
• Recognize that 4-H supports the positive youth development missions and goals of the land-grant universities.
  
• Recognize a responsibility to support all Extension professionals and staff.
  
• Recognize the responsibility for, and the importance of, accountability in the management of funds and other assets, both public and private.

Our Commitment to the Profession

• Value and encourage lifelong learning for all people.
  
• Pursue growth and development in the practice of the profession; use and share that knowledge to improve educational opportunities, experiences and performance of youth, volunteers and colleagues.
  
• Uphold and defend positive youth development.
  
• Uphold and defend the youth development profession.
  
• Recognize the importance of professionalism in dress, oral and written communication and behavior.
  
• Promote a clear understanding of the principles of professional ethics.

Our Commitment to Self and Family

• Recognize the need and right for professional, family and social development outside of the Extension role.
  
• Recognize the need and right to pursue emotional, physical and spiritual health.
  
• Actively seek to maintain a healthy balance within work and family.
  
• Advocate with peers, supervisors and administrators for consideration of personal and family needs within the work environment.