America’s future, American’s gold!

The American Legion Auxiliary’s Children and Youth program provides care and strives to improve conditions for all children. The program works to preserve the integrity of the family unit and takes a realistic approach to the needs of children by considering the physical and spiritual as well as the emotional and educational aspects of each situation.

‘It takes a village,’ as former first lady Hillary Clinton said when speaking of helping our children. And so it is at our State Developmentally Disabled schools. The state, as an integral part of these "villages" provides these special residents their room and board. But these ‘villages’ have special needs that are met because of the caring deeds of the outside communities. American Legion Auxiliary Department of Washington projects involve helping to improve the lives of the residents of Lakeland Village and Fircrest Residential Habilitation Center. Please remember, the residents of these facilities many times have no family or outside support except for organizations like ours. No matter how busy your schedule, please check these sites as needs exist which any member can help meet.

The Children and Youth program cooperates with many other public, private community agencies and organizations and supports essential legislation for children at the national, state and local levels. National programs involve local time and donations to help in the lives of children both as home and across our nation.

In some cases, the program offers direct financial assistance and services to individual families with children. Many children have families who are in jeopardy of becoming homeless or are in need of temporary help. For them the American Legion has established temporary financial assistance.

Auxiliary members also contribute to The American Legion This foundation was established in 1954 to fund special programs and projects that emphasize preventative solutions to difficult children’s issues.

Do you or your Unit know a youth who has gone beyond the call, who has performed a heroic deed this Auxiliary year. Keep your eyes and ears open. We now have an outlet to honor these exemplary youth. The American Legion Auxiliary, Children and Youth,  Youth Hero Award is a very special way to recognize and have an important impact in the life of a local youth hero.

Our reports are an important part of all of our projects. They are the basis to let others know how we enhance to lives of our children and youth. That is how we get support and help for our projects. Please record your individual participation and share this information with your Unit Children and Youth chairman. This in turn will help when your Unit Children and Youth Chairman reports to Department.

This year as you decide which Children and Youth programs you may wish to become involved with, remember our Legion family. The American Legion and the Sons of the Legion members are good resources for help in your projects, just ask.

With involvement in Children and Youth programs ‘the Legion family is leaping forward in unity for America’. Our children are the future of our ‘America, pure gold’. Some of the American Legion Auxiliary focused programs include;

Children's Miracle Network The American Legion Family has been working together since 1997 to support their local Children's Miracle Network affiliated children’s hospitals with funding to assist with the treatment of children in need of medical attention. Fourteen million children with all types of diseases, birth defects, and injuries are treated annually at children’s hospitals, regardless of their ability to pay. No child in need of treatment is ever turned away.

100% of all funds raised within any Department remains within that Department for treatment of their children. Participating Washington hospitals at this time include Children’s Hospital and Regional Medical Center, Seattle; Casey Family Partners, Spokane; Deaconess Medical Center, Spokane; Deer Park Hospital, Deer Park; Holy Family Hospital, Spokane; Mt. Carmel Hospital, Colville; Northwest Med Star Air Ambulance, Spokane; Sacred Heart Hospital, Spokane; St. Joseph’s Hospital, Chewelah; and St. Luke’s Rehabilitation Institute, Spokane.

These hospital have agreed to follow each participating patient from the first time they are treated until the completion of their condition.

Please review the awards listing to see how your Unit may be recognized for your efforts in the Children’s Miracle Network program. The year-round activity can be as simple or involved as your Unit may desire. Continue reading to see ideas which may help you decide how this charity will work for your Unit.

A local organized walk-a-thon by members across our nation the Saturday before Flag Day is an option. If that date doesn’t work, select one that does. Solicit pledges and select a site that is conducive to the members….a park, high school track, hiking trail, or public street blocked off for the event. Maybe you could make this a family event with special awards for largest family, youngest family, first place stroller pusher/walker etc.

Another fund raising idea is to purchase Josh (a soft toy dog of non-allergenic material who is housed in a unique dog house). Included with Josh, is an animated children’s book entitled "I’ll Be OK". Through the words of the Golden Retriever who learns he is to have surgery, a child facing the fears of their own surgery can receive courage and hope. Your Unit can either purchase and present Josh to a child you know personally or give him to a local hospital for their use. Josh can also be purchased to use as a raffle item to raise funds for Children's Miracle Network. A percentage of the sale of each Josh kit is donated to the CMN hospital in the purchaser’s area. Single purchases are $32.87 plus $4.00 shipping; a case of 6 is $167.29 ($27.89ea) plus $9.00 shipping. You may wish to join another Unit when purchasing to receive the lower price.

Website is www.joshandfriends.com

Specialty items are provided to Units free of charge to sell for $1.00 each as another choice of fund raising. There are Miracle Balloons and Flag Icon cards that can be sold at post homes, county and state fairs or other community activities. After being signed by the donors, hang them in a prominent community place or your post home to give recognition to those who show their support. All of these funds will go directly to the Children's Miracle Network hospitals. Please see attached order form.

The first weekend following Memorial Day, local television stations will conduct a telethon. Volunteer to help with this major fund-raising event. The American Legion Auxiliary will be publicly recognized for their efforts. If your Unit or you know of another Auxiliary Unit who has made an outstanding contribution, notify the Children’s Hospital so they may participate on the telethon.

And last but not least, use your own creative ideas to raise funds that will assist with this worthy project.

Prevention of Child Abuse and Internet Pornography Child abuse is any mistreatment or neglect of a child that results in harm or injury which cannot be reasonably explained. The abuse can include: physical, emotional or sexual abuse and neglect. According to studies, maltreatment in childhood increases the likelihood of arrest as a juvenile by 53%, as an adult by 38%, and for a violent crime by 38%.

How can you help STOP child abuse?

Reach out to those in need and raise awareness in your community.

Help stop child abuse… call the abuse/neglect hotline at 1-800-652-1999

The global Internet offers exciting opportunities for children to research their homework online, communicate with international pen pals, and build personal web sites to share their creativity with others. For today’s children to lead tomorrow’s world, they must acquire the skills to access the enormous benefits of the Internet. However, these skills must be acquired in a safe environment.

Teenagers are particularly at risk for Internet pornography because they often use the computer unsupervised.

Some risks include:

    - Exposure to inappropriate material

    - Physical molestation due to providing information or arranging an encounter

    - Harassing messages

    - Providing information which causes legal or financial consequences

Some online services allow parents to limit children’s access to certain services. Some software programs block web sites and chat areas that are known to be inappropriate for children. A directory to these filtering programs is www.safekids.com\filters.htm

If a child receives obscene messages or pornography, it should be reported to www.missingkids.com\cybertip  or to all National Center for Missing and Exploited Children at 1-800-843-5678

We must demand strong and decisive action and support legislation which will help protect our children. Many parents and care givers are not computer savvy and need to become educated. Schools and libraries should have clear policies regarding Internet access and those policies should be communicated to parents.

Your Unit can help educate parents and care givers by giving them the tools, the information to be vigilant.

Songs of Love is a non-profit organization that creates personalized songs, free of charge, for chronically and terminally ill children and teens with chronic or life threatening illnesses. The one of a kind compositions bring joy and laughter into the lives of these special children.

For more information, please contact Songs of Love Foundation

PO Box 750809

Forest Hills, NY 11375

Tel/Fax 800-960-SONG

Email: songsoflove@aol.com

Web site: www.songsoflove.org

Child Safety Children are our greatest resource. They are our future. Your Unit may wish to concentrate your time educating parents. Many resource materials are available from the American Legion and the American Legion Auxiliary for distribution within your local community to help stress awareness for child safety. National Children &Youth materials which can be ordered include:

        -    Warning Signs

        -    Gateway Drugs

        -    Halloween Brochures

        -    Play It Safe Booklet

        -    Delinquency Prevention

        -    Safety Tips for Outdoor Fun

        -    Children Beware!

        -    Warning Signs, Suicide Prevention

        -    Fire Protection/Prevention Program

        -    National Crime Prevention Program

        -    Parents: For Your Information

Just call 1-317-630-1323 for information on ordering or go to www.legion.org  Also, don’t forget to include your Unit information in the appropriate space on the back of each brochure.

Spinoza's Buddy Bear Project This is a community-based program created for children with a life challenging condition or crisis by a small for-profit company, The Spinoza Company. Spinoza teddy bears provide each child with a constant companion giving unconditional love. They are an effective therapeutic tool with a high quality cassette tape player and speaker hidden in their fur. The cost is $143.00 per bear, which includes nine cassette tapes in English or Spanish. Price includes shipping and handling. As with Josh the dog, there are many ways to raise the money for purchasing and giving a Spinoza bear. Also, your Unit may already have a child identified who is in need of a new friendly bear. If your Unit doesn’t have a child in mind, don’t let that stop you from raising and donating money for this project. There is always health care facilities who may be able to match a bear with a child.

Call 1-800-282-2327 or check the web site for additional information www.spinozabear.com

Teen Court provides a community based alternative which focuses on youth development and accountability. This program is available to offenders ages 10 to 18 years old with parental or guardian consent. Juvenile offenders are sentenced by a jury of their peers. The goal of the Teen Court is to implement a program using youth and adult volunteers, as an alternative to a formal arrest and trial of first time juvenile offenders.

Detailed information is available by writing:

Coordinator, Teen Court

201 N. Grant St

Odessa, TX 79761

Or call (915) 335-3352

Court Appointed Special Advocate Casa trained volunteers are assigned to a child abuse or neglect case by a judge. They conduct thorough research on the case and make reports to the court. The CASA’s role is always to represent the best interests of the child. Visit their website for more information www.nationalcasa.org

Youth Hero Award This is a new award this year. It focuses on youths under the age of 18 who have performed a heroic deed. As a Unit you can nominate by writing a description of the act of heroism on the appropriate form. Newspaper clippings may be included to substantiate the information. Two members of your Unit must certify the act and MUST send the application to the Department Secretary for her certification. The award is free of charge and will be shipped within 7 weeks of receipt. The

1 ¾" circular medal hangs on a red/white/blue ribbon. This award may be used to honor a youth who performed actions such as; rescue of someone from a burning building, attempted to stop a mugger attacking an elderly person, saved a drowning victim, rescued a child from a potential kidnapper, called 911 when observing child abuse, notified school officials after observing a probable theft, etc. The Unit may make the presentation of the Youth Hero Award at a special ceremony or at an Auxiliary meeting.

Contact your Department Children &Youth chairman for additional information.

Temporary Financial Assistance Do you know a veteran’s family in need? The veteran does not have to be a Legionnaire for the family to be eligible for assistance but the Veteran needs to have served during the same times as those eligible for membership in the American Legion. Also the family must have a child under the age of 18 living in the home or a physically handicapped child to the age of 20 who may need special schooling. There are two types of assistance, Maintenance and Medical. Contact your any service officer for referrals.

Reports and Awards Many incentives are offered in the form of awards. Below are the various awards for your hard work on the many programs available;

    Children’s Miracle Network Unit Chairman Award: An award will be presented to the Unit Children & Youth Chairman in each Division promoting the most outstanding, all around Children’s Miracle Network program. The entry must include the names of the Department, Unit and name and address of the Chairman. Entry should be in narrative form not exceed 1000 words. Deadline is  May 1st postmark. Entries shall be sent to the Department Children & Youth Chairman. The winning entry will then be judged at the National level.

    Unit Chairman Award: An award will be presented to the Unit Children & Youth Chairman in each Division promoting the most outstanding Children & Youth program. The entry must include the names of the Department, Unit and name and address of the Chairman. Entry should be in narrative form not to exceed 1000 words. Deadline is May 1st postmark. Entries shall be sent to the Department Children & Youth Chairman. The winning entry will then be judged at the Division level. Please do not include pamphlets, clippings, scrapbooks, etc in the above entries. Entries will not be returned.

    American Legion Child Welfare Foundation Legacy Award;

These awards are based on total donations to the Child Welfare Foundation.

            To qualify: Awarded to organizations for their cumulative donations made during the current contribution year.

            Type: Awarded in the following categories;

            Guardian - $1,000 Gold Plaque

            Advocate - $750 Silver Plaque

            Caretaker - $500 Bronze Plaque

            When: Plaques mailed by September 1.

            To qualify: Awarded to individuals for their cumulative donations made during the current contribution year.

            Type: Awarded in the following categories

        Foundation Ambassadors $1,000

            Dated gold die-cut logo pin with fie (.03ct.) Diamonds

        President’s Circle $ 500

            Dated gold die-cut logo pin with (.03 ct) Diamonds

            Dated gold die-cut logo pin with blue Sapphire

            Dated gold die-cut logo pin with Amethyst

            When: Pins mailed by September 15.