Children & Youth Program 2012-2013 1. Three program objectives this year 2

Children & Youth Program 2012-2013

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Children & Youth Program2012-2013

Three program objectives this year

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Program Objective 1:

Develop, implement and monitor programs and activities that contribute to the physical, mental and emotional health and wellness of military children and youth.

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A. Convene community groups to identify ways to address the needs of military children.

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Participants could include:

• Give an Hour• Military parents• Boys and Girls Clubs• Big Brothers & Sisters• School counselors, teachers, etc.• Guard/Reserve Family Readiness Group Reps• Operation: Military Kids Representatives• Others from your community

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Give an Hour

Give an Hour program has created a network of nearly 1,200 mental health professionals nationwide who literally give an hour of their time each week to provide free mental health services to military personnel and their families.

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Give an Hour

The mental health professionals participating in the Give an Hour program offer a range of services including individual, marital, family therapy, substance abuse counseling, treatment for PTSD and counseling for individuals with traumatic brain injuries.

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Give an Hour

While the focus is to provide much needed counseling from the Give an Hour program volunteers, another aspect is a “pay - it - forward” idea where those who have or are receiving services will in return volunteer to ‘Give an Hour’.

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B. Develop and implement public awareness to increase community support of military children

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• Participate in or create an event in your community for National Children’s Mental Health Awareness Day.

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Sponsor community events and gatherings that bring military and non-military families together.

• unit-hosted dinners• game nights • community fairs• charity walk/runs, etc.

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Implement public awareness campaigns

• newsletter stories • news releases• discussions on social networking sites

(i.e., Face book, Twitter, blogs, website postings), etc.


Host fairs to introduce military families to mental health and social support resources and services in your community

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Introduce military children to the Auxiliary Junior program and American Legion youth programs.

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Assist the military families in utilizing the ALA Gateway to Services website and American Legion site for assistance

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Recruit Auxiliary, Legion, SAL and Rider members to participate in:

Big Brothers/Big Sisters of

America Military Mentoring Program

Boys and Girls Club of

America Military Programs

Operation Military Kids

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Big Brothers/Big Sisters of America Military Mentoring Program:

offers one-to-one mentoring to children and youth of military families.

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Boys and Girls Clubs of America (BGCA) Military Programs:

provides services to military children and youth at youth centers on military installations and through outreach to traditional community centers

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Operation: Military Kids (OMK):

is the U.S. Army's collaborative effort with America's communities to support children and youth impacted by deployment and to help them connect with local resources.

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Other suggestions???

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Department or Unit Innovative Activity

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Auxiliary Departments and Units, along with

their Legion Family can undertake a military

Children & Youth program or activity other

than a national supported program. The

activity should be innovative in nature or

responsive to an explicit unmet need among

military children and youth.

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Some activities might include:

• Sponsor a “You’re My Hero” event

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• Host a movie and popcorn night for teens or a board game activity

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• Collect and distribute movie passes

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• Provide prom dresses for military teens

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• Determine if there are homeless veterans in your community and plan activities for their children

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Other suggestions???

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OPERATION PURPLE

Offers a free week of summer camp fun to military kids with parents who have been, are currently, or will be deployed

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OPERATION PURPLE

Began in 2004 - with 12 camps

serving 1,000 children

Now serving over 45,000 military children

and teens

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OPERATION PURPLE

2012 Camps were held in 15 states

Host camps chosen annually

Locations change from year to year

Website: www.nmfa.org

Click on Operation Purple link on right

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Support the implementation of Children &Youth programs of The American Legion

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Visit The American Legion website for information on Missing Children, Halloween Safety, Gateway Drugs, Suicide Warning Signs and other Legion youth programs

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What are activities being done in your unit or post with American Legion programs?

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The Auxiliary is still promoting

Youth Hero Award and Good Deed Award

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Youth Hero Award

•A national award for youth, under 18 years of age, who perform a heroic act of physical valor.

•Awarded 33 in 2011-2012.

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Good Deed Award

An award for youth, under 18 years of age, who do not meet the Youth Hero Award criteria but who are great examples of community service.

139 given in 2011-2012

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• Thank you for this opportunity….Do you have any questions?

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Documents

Children & Youth Program 2012-2013 1. Three program objectives this year 2