MN Child, Youth and School Services Program ANNUAL REPORT 2012

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1 MN Minnesota National Guard Youth & Teen Camps Camp Ripley, Little Falls, MN~ JUL 2012 and 29 JUL- 4 AUG, 2012 Photo Releases on File

2 MISSION: To foster resilience of military connected youth by providing them with TOOLS to successfully navigate the deployment cycle LEADERSHIP POSSIBILITIES that provide opportunities for personal growth RESOURCES to support them in their communities GOALS: Increase collaboration with vital partnerships especially those that reach out to our geographically dispersed military youth and families Train community and military partners on the deployment cycle, youth and family concerns and resources Utilize intentional, targeted programs to meet the current needs of military youth Prioritize families responses to programming by utilizing evaluations and feedback Use mixed media marketing techniques to disperse information Family Readiness Academy Roseville, MN, March 11, Photo permission Seeing pictures of her with other kids makes me realize more people need my mom I m kind of sharing my mom....it s nice that my mom is helping. Sierra Stenger, daughter of MAJ Jackie Stenger (deployed 2012, and MN SFPD) and 1SG Ron Stenger (deploying 2013) is a speaker to youth and families at Reintegration events. Sharing her story Deployment through a Daughter s Eyes An interview talking about her presentation on YouTube: VOLUNTEERS: Over 200 adult and teen volunteers from Child Care Resource & Referral, Target, Yellow Ribbon Communities, area schools, and National Guard members volunteered for Deployment cycle events, and camp 450 community service hours by MN 9-person Teen Panel YOUTH AND TEENS SERVED 1171 ARNG YOUTH at Reintegration events YOUTH SERVED at CAMPS: 285 TOTAL 12 Army Reserve 112 Army National Guard 1 Air Force Active 6 Air Force Reserve 143 Air Guard 4 Navy Active 5 Navy Reserve 2 Marine Laura Groeneweg MN Lead Child, Youth & School Services Coordinator and Diana Adamson,- Boys & Girls Club Twin Cities representative. Booth at Family Prep Academy 2011, at the River Center, St. Paul, MN. Photo permission

3 2012 HIGHLIGHTS: K-12 Tool Kit: Military Kids Peer Support Initiative launched, piloted in 7 local schools, and statewide distribution begun 2012 Teen Summit Price of Peace June 24-26, 2012, 39 attended 5 Teen news letters published on the Beyond the Yellow Ribbon website 2,538 Subscribers to the Youth online weekly E-postcard 28 Family Prep Academies, Reintegration Events, and Family Days 10,601 family, soldier, child trained, 3,000 Servicemembers mobilized, 1,171 youth served at deployment events 60 youth campers at Camp Voyager (NG Youth Programs, Boys & Girls Club and Operation Military Kids Collaboration) 230 campers attended National Guard Youth and Teen Camp at Camp Ripley Booth & Face Painting by Teen Panel at Military Appreciation Day: Minnesota State Fair 450 hours community service by Teen Panel 10 Speak out for Military Kids participants, 11 youth presented to 1,400 people 322 Hero Packs assembled and comfort pillows distributed to military youth 4 conferences hosted throughout the state in collaboration with Zero to Three and MCEC (Military Child Education Coalition) 4 professional conferences attended to disseminate resources and information Minnesota Teen Kiana Kelii chosen to represent RegionV on the National Guard Teen Panel COL (Ret) Jack Jacobs, Medal of Honor recipient and Kiana Kelii, MN Teen Panel and National Guard Teen Panel, Region V Representative Speak to 400 attendees November 17, 2011 Liam, Barb, COL (Ret) Jacobs, Kiana ARNG Major Bruce Kelii was deployed during the event. Photo release on file MN Teen Panel~ MN Teen Panel volunteering at the Minneapolis Crisis Nursery August 2012 Photo releases on file

4 BEST PRACTICES: K-12 Tool Kit: Military Kids Peer Support Initiative In 2012, MN Child, Youth & School Services Coordinators (CYSS) began a statewide educational program, the K-12 Tool Kit: Military Kids Peer Support Initiative. Minnesota Guard families have reported that their local schools would benefit from resources to support military youth, especially during Deployment and Reintegration. In response, the MN CYSS coordinators created a curriculum to be used by counselors or social workers in an educational setting, providing a 6 lesson curriculum on navigating the deployment cycle, coping with stress, and bouncing back. At the same time the curriculum educates the teachers on the deployment cycle and the unique needs of military students. Curriculum key components: 3 age appropriate versions (K-3 rd ; 4 th -6 th, 7 th -12 th Grades) military deployment and the effects on children data collection regarding numbers and schools utilizing the program follow up with educators while curriculum being used in the school The program was piloted in six area schools in Spring 2012 and in Fall 2012 became available for educators for free via the internet. Currently, Coordinators are promoting the curriculum by reaching out to independent school districts, presenting a monthly webinar, managing the distribution, partnering with MDE (Minnesota Department of Education), and also engaging with Yellow Ribbon Community leaders to effectively advocate for military connected youth in Minnesota schools...i think they [students] found it nice to hear that other students experience a lot of the same worries and feelings that they do. I also think it helped start a good conversation about how they can support each other. ~ School Social Worker 2012 Teen Summit: Price of Peace In June 2012, 32 teens attended the second annual Teen Summit in Minnesota, entitled Price of Peace. The Minnesota Teen Panel members planned, organized, and implemented the summit by choosing daily workshops, evening speakers, and recreational activities over the three day event. The aim of the summit was to build leadership, community, and resilience among military connected youth. Many of them had experienced a deployment, at least 5 of them currently, so the recognition and thanks for their sacrifice and strengths, were also a part of the summit. Service Project at Teen Summit: Fleece blankets made to be donated to the VA. St. Cloud MN. June 24-26, 2012 Mitch Howe & Sean Gill. Photo permission on file I learned I have the ability and inclination to be a leader in my community. ~ Military Teen Highlights of the summit included; Keynote address that incorporated elements of hip hop culture into leadership; an appearance and speech by The Enlisted Senior Advisor, CSM Cynthia Kallberg, workshops on teambuilding and communication; community service project; teen panel presentation to the Veteran s Association; resource fair for teens and family members; fun and laughter.

5 BUILDING COMMUNITY CAPACITY The Minnesota National Guard youth program depends on collaborations with corporations, state and national organizations to best support military connected youth throughout the state. The support network is comprised of youth, adults, schools, community and military groups. 1. The Youth Coordinators collaborated with the Minnesota Department of Education with to promote the K-12 Tool Kit: Military Kids Peer Support Initiative and distribute information on the resource to all Minnesota public school districts. 2. Yellow Ribbon Community networks collaborate to share resources. Youth Coordinators provides training, educational materials, and support at the community level for military families. 3. The Youth Coordinator served on Advisory Board for MCEC's statewide Public Engagement, a coming together of community leaders of faith, business, education, medical, and city Representatives. 4. Youth Coordinators worked together with OMK and Boys and Girls Club to provide summer camp program for 60 military youth with MN CYC s coordinating a special military experience day. 5. In collaboration with the State Family Programs, Governor Dayton proclaimed April 2012 Month of the Military Child and sent 433 letters to Minnesota s military youth, thanking them for their service to MN, and the country. Also Youth Programs collaborated with Operation Military Kids to promote Purple UP Day as shown by MN s deploying OMLT VI (OMLT 50 FWD). PHOTO: APRIL 2012 MONTH OF THE MILITARY CHILD Purple UP Day with OMK MN OMLT VI (OMLT 50 FWD) At Camp Shelby, MS Pre-deployment Train-Up For Afghanistan BEHNE JAMES RONALD,SIK TROY MATTHEW,JENSEN KYLE WILLIAM, COHRS JACOB NOA, HANGGI MATTHEW JOSEPH, RODGERS JUSTIN WAYNE, WALKER ADAM ALLAN, MCNIESH CHAD MICHAEL, MILLER JEREMIAH JONATHON, RUEDEBUSCH MIKELL ANDREW SULLIVAN DENNIS ROY, CURL RYAN THOMAS National & State PARTNERS Beyond the Yellow Ribbon Project YES Operation Military Kids Big Brothers Big Sisters Boys & Girls Clubs of the Twin Cities Target Volunteers Minnesota State Colleges & Universities MN National Guard Youth Camp MN Veteran Family Support U of M Extension office Military Child Education Coalition Military One Source MN State Fair Defending the Blue Line Childcare Resource & Referral Minnesota Military Family Assoc. MN Department of Education Zero to Three The State of MN American Legion Minnesota Military Hour Radio VFW Parks & Recreation Marines Navy Army Air force Coast Guard 4 H

6 MINNESOTA National Guard VISIT the MN Youth Program on the internet WEBSITE Click Family & Wellness tab or Click any Youth tab on the right margin OR Click on the Military Kids Toolkit bar *Sign Up for an online E-postcard keeping you up-to-date on the latest Youth and Family Opportunities Teen FACEBOOK page Teen QUARTERLY NEWLETTER Watch very entertaining, yet informative videos inviting you to the Teen Summit! YellowRibbon.org Click Family & Wellness at the top Scroll down to Teen Panel on right MN State Family Programs 8180 Belden Boulevard Cottage Grove, MN State Family Program Director: CPT Marian Belinski Lead Child, Youth & School Services Coordinator: Laura Groeneweg Child, Youth & School Services Coordinator: Kirsten Fisher