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American Legion Auxiliary - Department of New York | |||
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Auxiliary Emblem Thanks to
the American Legion
Department President's Project Juanita Lochner 112 State Street, Suite 1310, Albany, NY 12207
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Children_&_Youth
Children & Youth Drive Carefully School is Open
Department President Ann’s project this year is Children’s Organ Transplant Association, also known as COTA. All funds raised this year will be used to assist children in New York State. Remember, we need to continue to cultivate a new attitude, and if we Dream it, Believe it, we will Succeed at it. In a message from the National President, Kris Nelson, she quotes “In the spirit of God and Country, we serve veterans, military and their families.” She also states “This is what the Auxiliary was founded to do.” These are the words that she is asking all members to use when asking our family, neighbors, and community members to join us in service. Her theme that we will be using throughout the year is “Honor Their Service,” always remembering that we are Auxiliary members because of a veteran in our family. Everything we do is to honor the service of our veterans. America’s heroes. Again this year, The Department of New York will follow the guidelines of The National Organization for this committee. PURPOSE: To protect, care for and support children and youth, particularly those of veterans’ families and military families. There are three main objectives:
The American Legion Auxiliary needs to be a strong source of care and support for military families.
Host a family resource and service fair to introduce military families to mental health and social support services in the community, as well as military family support by the American Legion Family. Have the Juniors and Sons involved so they could meet the military children and parents. Familiarize them with the programs of the American Legion Family, along with the scholarships offered. ALA KIDDS- Kids in Danger of Depression and Suicide. This is an Auxiliary project that builds referral networks of public and private support at the community level for the social and mental well-being of military children. Some activities that are suggested are: meeting with the military parents, volunteers from the mental health sector for Give an Hour, representatives from Boys and Girls Clubs, Big Brothers Big Sisters of America, Operation Military Kids, school counselors, teachers, guard and reserve family readiness group representatives etc. BIG BROTHERS / BIG SISTERS OF AMERICA MILITARY MENTORING PROGRAM (BBBS) (MMP) – offers one-to-one mentoring to children and youth of military families. Some activities suggested are: work with the local BBBS to create educational or recreational group events for unmatched military children. BBBS focus activities on recreation, educational and career, arts and culture, civic engagement, and health and fitness. BOYS & GIRLS CLUBS OF AMERICA MILITARY PROGRAMS (BGCA)– provides services to military children and youth at youth center on military installations and through outreach to traditional community centers. Some ideas include: joint service projects and peer mentoring for Juniors and BGCA military children. Operation
Military Kids
(OMK) –
supports military children and youth through community awareness, community
capacity building and outreach support services. Some activities under OMK
include assembling hero packs; this is a great opportunity to get the youth
of the organization involved with. Hero packs are age specified and can
include a wide variety of items from school supplies to small toys, hair
barrettes etc. There are also parent pouches that can include brochures and
information important to military parents regarding services available to
them through the American Legion Family and Veterans Affairs. The Program
Coordinator for New York State is Barbara Kessler, 203 North Hamilton
Street, Watertown, NY 13601
Some suggestions are:
April is Children & Youth Month Child Welfare Foundation – The main objective of the Child Welfare Foundation is to provide financial assistance to the American Legion in their efforts to award grants to non-profit organizations whose primary function is to educate the public about the needs of children across the nation. For more information on this program, visit http://www.legion.org/childwelfare Family Support Network – The American Legion’s Family Support Network is ready to provide immediate assistance to service personnel and families whose lives have been directly affected by Operation Iraqi Freedom and America’s war on terror where there are minor children involved. Hotline- 1 -800-504-4098. Website www.legion.org/fsn Temporary Financial Assistance is also available from the American Legion it assists veterans with children that are in need of temporary financial assistance. The program has specific guidelines. To learn more contact the American legion, Department of New York. Children’s Miracle Network – The American Legion Family is a sponsor of CMN. It was founded in 1983. As of 2011, CMN hospitals has raised more than 4.3 billion dollars, most of which is donated a dollar or two at a time.
Health & Safety Programs – Publications for information on Gateway Drugs, Suicide Warning Signs, Halloween Safety and Missing Children are available from the American Legion. Visit http://www.legion.org/youth
American Legion Children’s
Home –
is located in Ponca City, OK. Mercy Medical Airlift – Accepts donations of air miles for children in need of air medical transportation. For more information visit http://mercymedical.org/ All of the above objectives and programs can be held in your Post home with the help of the entire Legion Family. Whether you host a fun night, Halloween party, Safety Seminar for the children and youth, pack Hero Packs or simply welcome military families and give them information that may be of importance to them. Whatever you and/or your unit do, it is important that you report it to your County Chairman who will then report it to this Chairman. Watch for future newsletters and bulletins regarding Children and Youth and share them with your unit and county members. Sharing is Caring. Bulletins will be full of ideas and important information. REPORTING PROCEDURE: Note, there are only two reporting dates this year. Reporting-How-When-Why
Unit Chairmen: Please send
Unit report form to
reach
your County Chairman by November 1, 2011, March 1, 2012 Note: Forms are in PDF Format and can be filled out using your computer keyboard. However, you cannot save data typed into any forms unless you have the Full Version of Adobe Acrobat software! Please print at least 2 copies of your completed form, mail one to the chairman, and save one for your records. If you try to e-mail it without the Full Version of Adobe Acrobat software, the chairman will receive a BLANK PAGE... Barbara Corker NOTE: For Chairman's physical address, contact Barbara or Department Office Click here for Children & Youth continued. ( Department and National Awards) |
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