Kentucky National Guard Youth Programs Annual Report 2 2 0 Operation Military Cheer 2013 0 1 4 1 4 Kentucky National Guard Youth Camp 2014 QDMA Youth Deer Hunt. Operation Homefront Backpack Distribution Event
Mission Statement To provide resources and programming to our dispersed population of military youth. Our programs are designed to build resiliency during peacetime and also through the deployment cycle. Goals for 2015 *Reach out to each MACOM Commander to explain how we can provide support for youth within their units *Continue to coordinate resiliency building events throughout the state that will support Military youth *Recruit and train Volunteer Youth Coordinators *Reach out to organizations within the community to market opportunities to support our military families *Continue to serve as a resource referral for all military families *Continue to support all Yellow Ribbon events with structured child and youth activities *Market Youth Programs so that we can get maximum participation from every unit Volunteers Over 225 adults and teens volunteered to support over 43 events that were held throughout the state. Approximately 6540+ hours served. They served as mentors, Platoon Leaders at camps, camp counselors, and adult supervision. Youth and Teens Served Adult Participants: Volunteer Information: 772 NG 117 4 1 4 1394 O th er 225 # Volunteers in execution of event 816 Air NG 14 3122 29+ # Volunteer hours execution of event 1141 NG 351 272 Air NG 14 674 NG 250 Youth Ages 6-12: 6540 3 4 Youth Ages 13-18: 1 6 Total Vol. Hrs. O th er Community Partners: Programming Hours: 1785 10 Resource and Referrals: O th er 19 415+ 107 Air NG 3 1041
2014 Child and Youth Programs Highlights 8 Yellow Ribbon events 75 youth attended 1 Deployment ceremony 40 youth attended 206 youth attended Kentucky National Guard Youth Camp 454 youth were supported through Operation Military Cheer 2 Department of Defense Deployment Support Camps 63Youth and 19Adults attended 8 Military-Extension Adventure Camps 67 Youth and 45Adults attended 32 youth attended the Quality Deer Management Association Youth Deer Hunt 40 OMK Hero Backpacks distributed 84 OMK Reintegration Family Backpacks distributed 7 Month of the Military Child events that reached approximately 635 youth 4 Survivor Outreach events 475 Youth 800 Adults 25 youth attended the Life After High School Workshop at Morehead State University 275 youth attended Keeneland Military Appreciation Day 275 youth attended the Air Guard Family Day Partnered with Operation Military Kids (OMK) for a Ready, Set, Go Training 80 backpacks distributed at Back to School Brigade backpack giveaway with Operation Homefront Supported 4-H Shooting Sports State Competition Tyrone Atkinson received the NGB 2014 Youth Development Volunteer Award Life After High School event held at Morehead State University 24-27 June 2014 Testimonial Life after high school was cool because along with the educational experiences we had fun activities. It was an opportunity to meet new people and have new experiences you wouldn t have if you hadn t gone to the camp. Hailey Stinnett, Sophomore at Mercer County High School I ve been coming to youth camp since I was 9 years old. I remember my Platoon Sergeants teaching me the 7 Values. That impacted me so much that I came back to camp as a volunteer and now I am in The Kentucky National Guard and hopefully someday I will impact a camper the way I was impacted. PV2 Samantha Jacobs, HHC 103rd BSB
Best Practices Military Child Appreciation Day in Lawrenceburg, KY Our 3rd Annual Military Child Appreciation Day was intended to honor all youth from all branches of the military for their sacrifices that they make for their loved ones serving in the military. It is tailored to provide a fun filled day with their families with lots of fun activities and food that is free for all families. This event is hosted by the American Legion Post 34 and American Legion Auxiliary Anderson Unit 34 and is supported by businesses within the community. This year we had 178 youth attend. BCB and Company Kentucky National Guard Youth Camp Our 12th Annual Kentucky National Guard Youth Camp had a record breaking number of 206 military youth in attendance. Youth from across the commonwealth enjoyed a fun and educational week at the 4-H Lake Cumberland camp site. The camp offered the youth a variety of unique experiences such as zip-lining, archery, shooting sports, caving, canoeing, team building, survival along with age-old summer favorites like swimming and fishing. The Kentucky National Guard teamed with Operation Military Kids, 4-H, and Department of Fish and Wildlife to offer a Variety of activities to insure everyone had a camping experience that would make a lifetime of memories.
Kentucky Partnerships We have a strong OMK state team that is not only considered a team but a family as well. Operation Military Kids hosted 2 DoD Deployment Support camps that reached 63 youth. They have partnered with us for our Kentucky National Guard Youth Camp for 8 years. Kentucky s OMK is now providing family Reintegration Family Backpacks for families that are just returning home from deployment. This year OMK distributed 84 backpacks to military families that returned from deployment. Kentucky National Guard Youth Programs works close with 4-H and County Extension Agents. They support our Yellow Ribbon events by providing child and youth activities that are focused around deployment and reintegration. 4-H continues to allow us to host our Kentucky National Guard Youth Camp at their camp site at Lake Cumberland. Military Child Education Coalition hosted at training for military youth with exceptional needs at Fort Knox, Kentucky. Their target audience was educators, social workers, community professionals, and military parents who were interested in learning more about children with exceptional needs. We will continue to work together to provide trainings that increase awareness for military children. Zero to Three is one of our resources that we give to families that have younger children. Their goal is to educate adults so that they understand that being part of a military family affects everyone in the family even those under the age of 3 years old. Operation Homefront supports us throughout the year by providing us with school supplies and Christmas toys from Dollar Tree and Deals across the state. We use these items for Hero Packs and Holiday packages for military families. They coordinated Back to School Brigade school supply and backpack giveaway for our National Guard families where we handed out 80 backpacks. The American Legion and The American Legion Auxiliary have supported us by letting us use their grounds for our Month of the Military Child Event that we held in Lawrenceburg. They also get the community involved by asking for support by donating food, drinks, and other items to make the event a success. They are also there throughout the year to support our military families that need financial assistance. Big Brothers Big Sisters plan and organize events such as a bowl-a-thon and family days that our military families can participate. The VFW is a resource that supports our military families by providing financial assistance when needed. They also support our Yellow Ribbon events by providing food and drinks for attendees. The local YMCA provide structured programming support during our Yellow Ribbon events such as hands on crafts that focus on deployment and reintegration. The kids love this as this prepares them for an upcoming deployment and reintegration.
Kentucky National Guard Annual Report 2014 Like us on Facebook Kentucky National Guard Child and Youth Programs https://www.facebook.com/pages/kentucky-national-guard-child-and-youth/113130435406387?ref=hl Kentucky National Guard Family Programs http://kentuckyguard.com/family-programs/child-youth-services/ Links to 2013-2014 Youth Events on You Tube: http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=plvjxqc2qhukvawf2gdjcni22ipt7zsvas FOR MORE INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT: Cindy Culver-Lead Child and Youth Programs Coordinator 128 Minuteman Parkway Frankfort, KY 40601 502-607-1751 Office 502-219-8023 Cell Cynthia.r.culver.ctr@mail.mil Linda Jones-Child and Youth Programs Coordinator 128 Minuteman Parkway Frankfort, KY 40601 502-607-1593 Linda.s.jones36.ctr@mail.mil