WI National Guard Child, Youth and School Services Program

Transcription

1 October 2012 WI National Guard Child, Youth and School Services Program Wisconsin National Guard Child, Youth and School Services Program 2400 Wright St. Madison, WI Tina Jeffords WI NG Lead Child, Youth and School Services Program Coordinator (608) (office) (608) (cell) Shawna Wyman WI NG Child, Youth and School Services Program Coordinator (608) (office) (608) (cell) Diane Leffler WI NG Child, Youth and School Services Specialist (608) (office) Steven Jopek WI NG Outreach Specialist (608) Table of Contents Congratulations 2 Bullying Resources 2 Save the Date 2 Trick-or-Treating Safety 3 Word Scramble 4 Chill and Spill Group 5 Helpful Resources 6 UW Colleges and UW-Extension Chancellor Ray Cross honors Operation Military Kids The Wisconsin Operation Military Kids Team is the recipient of the 2012 Excellence in Community Engagement Award from the University of Wisconsin Colleges and University of Wisconsin- Extension. UW Colleges and UW -Extension Chancellor Ray Cross presented the award at the institutions Chancellor s Awards Reception, Sept. 20, in Madison. The annual Chancellor s Awards recognize UW Colleges and UW-Extension partners, supporters and employees for their outstanding contributions to the quality of life in Wisconsin. In giving the award, Cross praised Operation Military Kids for developing a strong community support network for military families and children dealing with challenges encountered when a loved one is deployed. Over 14,000 children in this state have parents in the military. These children and their families face many challenges. The cycle of military deployment has an enormous impact on youth from the day the parent learns about the deployment through the reintegration when they return home. Operation Military Kids (OMK) provides opportunities for these kids to connect with RESILIENCE IN A TIME OF WAR other youth in similar situations, and provides adults who can empathize and help them cope with their new world. Operation Military Kids is made possible through the strong partnership and hard work of many individuals including: Department of Public Instruction (DPI), Wisconsin Association of School Boards (WASB), Wisconsin National Guard, Army Child Youth and School Services, 115 th Fighter Wing, Fort McCoy, Navy League, Supporting Families Together, 4-H Youth Development, UW-Platteville, and University of Wisconsin Extension, Cooperative Extension. Continuing with our 10 tips on Resilience in a Time of War, from the American Psychological Association, this month we would like to share tips 4 and 5. Tip 4. Realize that the stresses of war may heighten daily stresses. Your child might normally be able to handle a failed test or teasing, but be understanding that he may respond with anger or bad behavior to stress that normally wouldn t rattle him. Reassure him that you just expect him to do their best. Tips 5. During a time of war, map out a routine and stick to it. Children are reassured by regular schedules. If homework is completed at a certain time, make sure you keep that time for homework. Your child may be less able to handle change at home when the world situation is unstable.

2 Answer: Frostbite WI National Guard Child, Youth and School Services Program October is Anti-Bullying Month 30% of Children in grades 6-10 report having been the victim of Bullying. ~Journal of the American Medical Association Bullying is a growing epidemic in the United States and world wide. Unfortunately, there are many different types of bullying that today s youth have to contend with. What is bullying? Bullying is a form of emotional or physical abuse that has three defining characteristics: Deliberate, Repeated, and Power Balanced. There are three types of bullying: Physical, Verbal and Indirect. Physical Bullying is when a bully inflicts harm on their victim. This can be hitting, punching, kicking or the use of a weapon. Verbal Bullying is when the bully yells, teases, insults or threatens harm against the victim. Even though this form of bullying doesn t leave visible scars, it is just as harmful as physical bullying. Indirect Bullying is when the bully ignores, excludes, and spreads lies or rumors about the victim. Indirect bullying also includes convincing others to hurt the victim. Don t be a Bystander A bystander is someone who watches or hears the bullying going on but does nothing to stop it. Since bullies often do it for the attention, by acting as a bystander you are helping feed their needs and wants. If you see someone being bullied, get an adult, don t continue to spread rumors, and if you can safely stop the bully do so. Victims No child should have to face any bullying, but if they do it is important for them to know they are not alone and there are resources out there for them to get help. Victims can go to a trusted adult, teacher, counselor or friend for help. For more information and helpful tips on combating the bullying cycle, please check out stopbullying.gov for more information. *Please note we do not endorse the website but find it helpful. Joke of the Month: What do you get when you cross a snowman and a vampire? Interesting Fact: Red and purple leaves are actually caused by the presence of sugars from sap that is trapped inside of the leaves. Page 2

3 WI National Guard Child, Youth and School Services Program Hey WI Military Kids! Save the Date!!! Who: WI Military Kids ages 7-10 yrs The WI National Guard Child, Youth and School Services Program presents the Military Kids: Champions of Character Summit. The Summit is a weekend long event for military children that will provide a fun and active character building experience for your child. The Summit will focus on Trustworthiness, Respect, Responsibility, Fairness, Caring and Citizenship. Registration is now available to the first 50 kids at Please contact Tina Jeffords at or tina.m.jeffords@us.army.mil with questions or for more information. What: Military Kids: Champions of Character Summit Where: Sheboygan, WI When: November 16-18, 2012 Trick-Or-Treating Safety Halloween is just around the corner. Are your kids planning on dressing up and heading out to partake in the festivities? If so, please take a minute to review the following safety tips to help ensure your children have a fun, safe evening. Swords, knives and similar costume accessories should be short, soft and flexible. Avoid trick-or-treating alone; walk in groups with a trusted adult. Fasten reflective tape to costumes and backs to help drivers see you. Examine all treats for chocking hazards and tampering before eating them. Page 3 Never walk near lit candles or luminaries. Look both ways before crossing the street. Use established crosswalks whenever possible. Wear well-fitting masks, costumes, and shoes to avoid blocked vision, trips and falls. Enter homes only if you re with a trusted adult. Only walk on sidewalks whenever possible, or on the far edge of the road facing traffic to stay safe. *Tips are from the CDC. For more helpful tips, please check out their webpage. HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

4 Answers: 1. Pumpkin 2. Costume 3. Leaves 4. Candy 5. Apples Bonus: Trick-Or-Treat Fall Word Scramble 1. K M P N U I P 2. S C U T O E M 3. V A E L S E 4. C Y D N A 5. E A P L S P BONUS: - - T O K I R A T R E C R T

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6 WI National Guard Child, Youth and School Services Program Helpful Resources Wisconsin s Service Member Support Division website. Visit this website often for information on resources, programs, camps and activities available for military youth. You can also find information on the entire Service Member Support Division including the Family Program and more. Military Parent information with education and family links. Contains child and student programs which include contests, early literacy, space camp and scholarships. A collection of information and fun activities for kids K-8. It includes arts, career, fun stuff, math, money, science and more. Some of the Hot Topics include Our YouTube Channel, Activities, Games, Government, American History and More. Our Military Kids provides substantial support in the form of grants to the children of National Guard and Military Reserve personnel who are currently deployed overseas, as well as the children of Wounded Warriors in all branches. The grants from Our Military Kids pay for participation in sports, fine arts, camps, and tutoring programs that nurture and sustain children while a parent is away in service to our country or recovering from injury. Zero to Three is a national, nonprofit organization that informs, trains, and supports professionals, policymakers, and parents in their efforts to improve the lives of infants and toddlers. Their mission is to promote the health and development of infants and toddlers. The Scholarships for Military Children Program was created in recognition of the contributions of military families to the readiness of the fighting force and to celebrate the role of the commissary in the military family community. Education, relocation, parenting, stress you name it Military OneSource is here to help you with just about any need. Available by phone or online, this free service is provided by the Department of Defense for active duty, Guard, and Reserve service members and their families. This service is completely private and confidential, with few exceptions. If you have a concern start solving it today using Military OneSource. Our mission is to promote national policies and partnerships to advance the development and learning of all children and to provide vision, leadership, and support to community Child Care Resource & Referral. Get the right time for a timeline, make homemade postcards on In Touch at deploymentkids.com. Use a distance calculator and get time zones at Where in the World. Get free downloads for Thank You and I am so proud cards. Print out and color an American Flag on Downloads. Learn more about journaling or get ideas for Home & School. Page 6 Operation We Are Here s mission is to create an awareness of the challenges of the military community and to provide a comprehensive list of resources for the military community and its supporters. Resources include: organizations that offer support, counseling, crisis numbers, encouragement, military life information and kids info. The USO of Wisconsin offers free or discounted tickets, offers funds for outreach programs, horse camp for youth, military teen resilience weekend, Wisconsin National Guard Annual Youth Camp, deployments, homecoming and much more. We continually adapt our programs to meet the changing need of our troops and their families. Please contact the USO of Wisconsin at (414) to donate or obtain further information. More resources can be found on Please look under Programs then Youth Program then Youth Resources.