McGruff Safe Kids Program
A nationwide child safety program which features distribution of a child I.D. booklet, personal safety promotion and direct community involvement.
Child Health
Our new alliance with the Children's Miracle Network (CMN) under-scores The American Legion's mission and reputation as a care-taker of America's future, - its children. C.M.N. affiliated hospitals provide quality health care to all children, regardless of condition or ability to pay. Teenage Suicide Prevention
Teen suicides have shocked communities throughout the country. The American Legion actively supports programs of prevention and awareness and has published the brochure "Warning Signs: Suicide Prevention." Drug Abuse
Drug and alcohol abuse are robbing this nation of our youth. Legion Posts have expressed their concern over this devastating problem through sponsorship of speakers and support of other anti-drug organizations. Temporary Financial Assistance
This Legion program started in 1925 and provides cash assistance for needy children of eligible veterans. American Legion Child Welfare Foundation
The Foundation is unique, in that all contributions are awarded in grants to non-profit organizations for projects designed to assist children.
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The National Commission on Children and Youth
2007 Spring Meeting
by Ann Marie Pina-Brown, National Children and Youth Representative
The National meeting of the Children and youth commission on Children and youth met in Indianapolis on May 7th and 8th with representation from 26 states attending. Guests from the Children’s Organ Transplant association presented their program ., and urged the assembled group to take the inform nation to their respective departments. California has been the recipient for 5 children with organ transplant in the previous year. Special Olympics was presented , and a young lady who will be entering the National program, spoke passionately on the program. The national commission urges involvement in the program, and of the 26 states represented 20 were involved in the program. Project Safe Place presented information on their program. This is a nation wide program , which will provide businesses to be established as a interim have for young people in crisis, and is designated by a Safe Place logo in a conspicuous site. Youth seeking aid will be immediately placed in a designated shelter sustained by qualified agencies ,trained volunteers and business establishments. California has sites in S. Lake Tahoe, Sacramento, Martinez, Fresno, San Jose, Riverside, Glendale, and San Diego. More are needed in all Large cities throughout the country. An update was given on the Children’s Miracle Network Program. This program have shown activity in every State , and 4.1 Million Dollars was raised last year. A program is to be presented that will be beneficial to every department. Support is urged for all Children’s Hospitals, and each hospital has a CMN Representative. A National Children and Youth Conference is scheduled for September 21-23, at The Radisson Hotel in Indianapolis. Each Department Chairman throughout the country will be funded by the National organization , to attend this function. This will become a yearly event , and the purpose is to give Chairmen and Children and youth committees the tools to implement their programs. The meeting is open to all children and youth workers but funding will be provided only for Department Chairmen.
The commission is trying to revitalize the “Chairman of the Year “program for department chairmen. Information will be sent to department officers on this program. A summary of Grants made by the CWF Foundation were presented. Twenty seven organizations working with Child Safety, Health Issues, Adoptive parents, Anti Violence in the schools, and programs for “Military Kids “ were approved. The meeting Adjourned with an interactive question and Answer program, and commissioners shared information on their programs. |
