Hero packs are given to military kids whose parent is deploying. Kids are recognized for serving their country along with their deployed Service Member.
The backpacks have things that help kids cope with the
separation of the deployment.
Parents as Teachers
The Parents as Teachers - Heroes at Home program provides parent education and family support through pregnancy until their child enters kindergarten, usually about age 5. By understanding what to expect during each stage of development, parents can capture the teachable moments in everyday life to enhance their child's development. See flyer
here.
The goal of Daddy Dolls is to provide your family with quality products that will ease the stresses of separation due to deployments. These products are the perfect way to keep any distant loved one close to the heart.
The First Tee offers free golf instruction combined with character and life skills education to children of National Guardsmen and Reservists living in communities across the country. Trained coaches and staff at over 200 Chapters of The First Tee offer a progression of lesson plans that create a fun and safe learning environment. The curriculum fosters curiosity about the game of golf and teaches how the positive values inherent in the game can be used at home, in school and in other areas of everyday life.
Operation Military Kids offers grants for Children aged 3 years through 12th grade of National Guard or Reserve military personnel either deployed overseas or severely injured may apply. From A to Z, acting to zoo camp, they fund activities that keep children strong and honor their family’s service. Application can be found
here
.
Through Project Backpack, you can register for a free Hero Backpack or apply for a Scholarship.
Minnesota Veteran Family Support (MVFS) supplies Backpacks and Scholarships to the families of deployed, recently returned, wounded/disabled, MIA and KIA military families. 2009 Backpacks have already been distributed.
CHOMP (Child Heros Of Military Personnel) is a social group for children of different ages who are going through deployment or have already gone through deployment. We want to support these kids in a fun, informal atmosphere where they can connect with other kids who understand what they are experiencing.
A non-profit organization created by enlisted soldiers in the spirit of keeping hockey alive for the children of our Service Members. Contribute gear, make a donation, or offer a "Ride to the Rink" for children of deployed troops.
The OMK Deployment Cycle Youth Outreach Activity guides provide easy to use activity plans for volunteers and Military Child & Youth professional staff working with youth kindergarten through 12th grade from all Service Branches; keyed to grade appropriate life skill development and developed for 2 hr and 4 hr settings. Curriculum includes 60 fun, quality experiential learning experiences linked to four phases of the deployment cycle (pre-deployment, during mobilization, 30 & 60 days after reunion). There is a toolkit which provides the durable equipment needed to conduct all of these activities. The Toolkits are available through your State's OMK Project Director. The curriculum also includes a Training Guide to equip volunteers for implementing youth activities. This curriculum supports the Joint Family Assistance Program.
The Youth Medal Program is dedicated to acknowledging the children of MN Soldiers who have been deployed. Our goal is to present each child with a medal in recognition and appreciation of the sacrifices the child has made during deployment.
Apply for a free family membership at your local YMCA while your Service Member is deployed. Membership applications are available on the
Military OneSource Web site, the YMCA website or at your local YMCA.
The Mentoring Partnership of Minnesota (MPM) is the driving force in the mentoring movement. Our efforts translate into more caring adults mentoring a generation of children and youth at every level of our community. Our mission is to lead the state in building and sustaining quality mentoring for every child. The Mentoring Partnership of Minnesota formed in 1994 as a community initiative to promote mentoring for Minnesota youth.
This club offers a free membership nationwide. Youth members, ages 5-18, will participate in educational, cultural, and social activities.
Flat Daddies are full-size printed posters (waist and up) of parents who are serving overseas in the military as a way to help families stay connected to their loved ones serving in Iraq.
This is a resource that sends free care packages to the families of deployed Service Members. It also assists military spouses with employment, scholarships, financial assistance and childcare.
Counties offer free immunizations for all children ages 2 months through 18 years of age.
Free SAT/ACT prep courses are offered for all active duty and retired military members and their dependents.
Provides children of deployed Service Members a free teddy bear with parents' voice message inside to provide extra comfort.
A non profit organization that advocates for, supports and provides information and resources to people raising their grandchildren or children of other kin and friends.
The newest phase of Sesame Workshop's "Talk, Listen, Connect" initiative
helps children cope with the death of a loved one. The workshop will
consist of bilingual (English and Spanish) multimedia materials for young
children and adults starring the Sesame Street Muppets. The Sesame Workshop
staff will produce and distribute materials at no cost through organizations
that provide services to military families and the general public. The kit
materials will also be available online at the Sesame Street website.
http://www.sesamestreet.org/tlc
New SAT/Act PowerPrep for Free
In alliance with the DoD and supported by a group of patriotic NFL players, eKnowledge is donating the latest version of their SAT/ACT Test Prep Programs FREE to Military Servicemembers and their extended families. The donated SAT/ACT PowerPrep software retails for $200. The advanced eKnowledge PowerPrep features special SAT/ACT test prep content in a highly personalized virtual learning environment. The new SAT/ACT software gives the student access to over 20 hours of Virtual Classroom instruction and 3,000 files of supplemental test prep material. Thousands of interactive diagnostic tools, sample questions, practice tests and graphic teaching illustrations are indexed for easy use. The new PowerPrep software is MAC and Vista compatible. To order, visit
eKnowledge.
"Eager-to-Learn" is an innovative, community based, e-learning program of the Minnesota Child Care Resource & Referral Network. They are offering FREE courses now through April. Visit their website to register for any of the courses listed below at no charge to you.
Supporting Children and Families During a Military Deployment: 2/17/10-3/3/10
Supporting Children and Families During Military Reunions: 3/10/10-3/24/10
Impact of Grief, Loss, and Trauma on Children and Youth: 4/14/10-4/28/10
For more information visit their
website or click
here.
More "Youth" pages:
For Youth
Youth Camps
Youth Retreats
Free Child Care
Child Care Subsidies
Youth Educator Resources
Please contact Beyond the Yellow Ribbon Youth at: youthprograms.mn@ng.army.mil with any questions.
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