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4-H Military Partnership: The Case for Advocacy

4-H Military Partnership: The Case for Advocacy. Dr. Candace Bird HQ USAF/A1SOC Feb 2013. Roadmap. Military Child & Youth Programs The Case for Advocacy Take Aways Questions. Military Child & Youth Programs. CYP Mission….

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4-H Military Partnership: The Case for Advocacy

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  1. 4-H Military Partnership: The Case for Advocacy Dr. Candace Bird HQ USAF/A1SOC Feb 2013

  2. Roadmap Military Child & Youth Programs The Case for Advocacy Take Aways Questions

  3. Military Child & Youth Programs

  4. CYP Mission… "To assist DoD military and civilian personnel in balancing the competing demands of the accomplishment of the DoD mission and family life by managing and delivering a system of quality, available, and affordable programs and services for eligible children and youth birth through 18 years of age."

  5. What’s Happening? • Background Check Audits • Military Transitions • Deployment • Realignments • PotentialSequestration • Reduced Funding • Furlough • Professional Staff Development • Travel Limited / Conferences Cancelled • Web-based Training • Privatized Housing • More families moving off base and into the community

  6. We’re more than just a number …

  7. We need Y-O-U

  8. Why Bother? Advocacy: To persuade others to support your cause

  9. Our collective goal…

  10. Getting through the door Advocacy

  11. 4-H Military Partnership Success Stories • Military Teen Councils – Air Force, Army, Navy • Joint Services Teen Council • Increase awareness of military teen issues • 4-H National Youth Science Day • Ramstein AB won the STEM Pathways Innovation Award • Various Initiatives • “Purple Up” for Military Youth • BurpeeSeed Welcome Home Garden • Yellow Ribbon Events • Robust camping programs

  12. Soliciting Support for Youth/Teens Effective 4-H Miiltary Partnerships provide resilience building opportunities for out-of-school hours when youth are more likely to engage in risky behaviors • On Installation: Neighborhood-basedprograms include recreation, sports and fitness, instructional classes and other youth resilience activities • Deployment support/outreach: Support geographically separated members and their families in Joint Service programs including Boys & Girls Clubs and YMCA; national partnerships greatly expand capability to provide quality programs and reach youth not living on/near an installation • Youth Resiliency Camps: • Specialty: cooking, performing arts, fitness, problem solving, technology, life skills • Residential: Space, Leadership, Aviation • ANG and OMK Camps

  13. State of Community Youth Programs (CONUS) • What we know about our AF installations: • 27% do not have a BGCA/YMCA in their local community • 30% in communities that do not offer teen programming • 40% have no public transportation option between base and community youth programs • Estimated 65% are located in states facing youth services budget cuts • Known Barriers: • Distance to access programs ranged from 5 to 100 miles • Costs can be prohibitive (e.g. YMCA sports in some locations $200/sport compared to typical fee of $40/sport) • Bases with community access issues are also high deployment bases: • Parent may not be available to provide transportation • Families need resiliency building options (e.g. sports, summer camps and year-round activities for older youth) • Families are likely to view on-base youth program options as safer and more capable of understanding of military-related stressors

  14. How 4-H Can Help: Military Partnership Land Grant Universities Research Based Curriculum Military Club Grants Professional Extension Staff Accessible in Every County In Every State

  15. Translation…PLEASE!?! FREE Resiliency Suicide Prevention Sexual Assault Prevention Transition Support Accessible in Every County In Every State

  16. 4-H Study of Positive Youth Development* Effective Youth Development Programs • 4-H members do better in school • 4-H members are more motivated to help others • 4-H members develop skills in leadership, public speaking, self-esteem, communication and planning 4-H Key Components: • Positive, sustained adult-youth relationships • Skill-building activities for youth • Youth leadership opportunities in every facet of the program * Lerner, R.M. (2004). Liberty: Thriving and civic engagement among America’s youth.

  17. YOUR Take Aways

  18. Have You Considered? Partnering / interacting with the Teen Council on base? Having a 4-H and/or Teen Council member brief leadership and community support functions? Identifying teen “volunteers” to mentor/support programs? Trying new marketing strategies? On board with social media? Contacting PA office or local newspaper to do an article regarding the partnership? Nominating youth/staff for awards? Partnering with other installations to offer an activity/event? Conducting a parent/youth/staff survey and analyze results to identify program needs/interests?

  19. Where the Military Youth Are ... EVERYWHERE! Possible On / Off Base Partners: School Age Programs Teen Centers Family Child Care Homes Schools Home School Community Community Centers Housing Areas (On/Off Base) Recreation & Sports Programs Airman and Family Readiness Chapel / Community Churches BGCA / YMCA / 4-H

  20. Twelve Things Every 4-H Professional Should Know Where are the military families in your community / state? How many youth live on-installation? What transportation options exist in your community for those who do not live on-installation? Who is the Flight Chief , CYS Coordinator or CYP Director at the active duty installations in your community / state? Who is the SLO? Who is the Family Readiness Program Manager? Guard/Reserve POCs? What partners are available on & off installations? What extracurricular activities are currently being offered? Not offered? What military camps and community camps are being offered for military youth? What activities are being offered on Guard/Reserve training weekends (UTA)? Who are the Teen Council representatives? Do you have a JSTC rep in your state? What are the social indicators in your community (e.g. teen pregnancy, suicide, graduation rates, divorce rates, domestic violence)? What are the needs – of families, youth, teens and staff? What resources are available from USDA, LGU, 4-H to support family needs?

  21. Be “in the know” • Military Kids Connect • Defense Centers of Excellence • Congressional Medal of Honor • Let’s Move! • Kids Included Together (KIT) • Military One Source • Clearinghouse for Military Family Readiness • Kick Butts Day • Facebook pages • Military Family & Community Policy • Mission: Readiness - Military Leaders for Kids • Congressional Military Family Caucus

  22. Parting Thought “If you believe in great things, you may be able to make other people believe in them too.” ~Oliver Wendell Holmes

  23. Questions?

  24. Contact Information: Dr. Candace M.E. Bird Chief, Air Force Child & Youth Programs Phone (240) 612-4889

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