A l a b a m a N a t i o n a l G u a r d C h i l d, Y o u t h & S c h o o l S e r v i c e s

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1 A l a b a m a N a t i o n a l G u a r d C h i l d, Y o u t h & S c h o o l S e r v i c e s A n n u a l R e p o r t Photos from left to right: Alabama National Guard State Family Program Director, LTC Compton, talks with Lyndon Dempsey about military radios during OMK Fort Clover at Camp Chandler in Wetumpka, AL. Several youth celebrate Wacky Wednesday with our Challenger Sports Soccer Coaches during our third annual Sports Camp at the Joint Force Readiness Center in Montgomery, AL. The Vinson Family rides the city trolley in New Orleans, LA during our first OMK Family Reintegration Camp. Note: Photos in this annual report have been released by said participants to be used by Alabama CYSS and is currently on file with the Child Youth Program Coordinator

2 A L A B A M A N A T I O N A L G U A R D H I L D, Y O U T H & S C H O O L C H I L D A N N U A L R E P O R T 2014 M i s s i o n C H O O L S E R V I C E S "To promote and sustain the quality of life and resiliency of National Guard families by providing secure, timely, flexible, high-quality support services and enrichment programs to National Guard children and youth." G o a l s Create community support networks for all National Guard children and youth. Deliver recreational, social, and educational programs for national guard youth living in civilian communities. Collaborate and educate schools systems within Alabama to ensure that teachers and staff are equipped with resources for the unique needs of their military students. Volunteers 16 volunteers assisted with the planning and execution of 20 events with a cumulative of 1680 hours served in camps, Yellow Ribbon Events, and CYSS events. Youth and Teens Served in FY 13* 617 ARNG Youth ages ARNG Youth ages ANG Youth ages ANG Youth ages Army Reserve ages 6-12 Kalen Kennedy plays a game of flour bomb tag during OMK Fort Clover at Camp Chandler in Wetumpka,AL. 7 Army Reserve ages Navy Reserve ages Navy Reserve ages Army Active Duty ages Army Active Duty ages Air Force Active Duty ages 6-12 * These numbers reflect approximately 5% of youth who have attended multiple events.

3 H I G H L I G H T S Supported 13 Yellow Ribbon Reintegration Program Events that served 174 ARNG 6-12 year olds, 87 ARNG year olds, 25 Air National Guard 6-12 year olds, and 8 Air National Guard year olds. Hosted annual Sports Camp for Army National Guard youth at the Joint Force Readiness Center in Montgomery, AL for ages 6-17 with the Challenger Sports Program that included three soccer coaches from Great Britain. Youth served included 28 Army National Guard and eight Air National Guard. Helped in coordination with Operation Military Kids to host annual Fort Clover Camp at YMCA Camp Chandler in Wetumpka, AL for 68 Military youth ages Those served included 25 Army National Guard, 10 Army Active Duty, eight Active Air Force, 11 Air National Guard, nine Army Reserves, and five Navy Reserves. Helped in coordination with Operation Military Kids to host first annual Dauphin Island Sea Lab Camp for National Guard and Reserve Youth ages Those served included 17 Army National Guard, three Air National Guard, and nine Army Reserves. One Speak Out for Military Kids Event held in coordination with Maxwell Air Force Base that served 6 Army National Guard teens, five Air National Guard teens, one Army Active Duty, one Army Reserve, three Navy Reserve, and seven Civilian Teens. Child, Youth, & School Services with the support of the Family Assistance Centers, and the Family Readiness Support Assistants distributed Christmas Toys to 254 Alabama Army National Guard children ages 0-12 during the holiday season. Held our third annual Winter Leadership Retreat for Alabama National Guard Youth Leadership Team at Auburn University with 19 Army National Guard Teens where they participated in our first Youth Forum on citizenship and communities with the David Mathews Center for Civic Life. These teens also serve as volunteers within our Yellow Ribbon Program. In support and partnership of Month of the Military Child, Operation Military Kids and the Greek Life organization at Auburn University made and distributed over 500 Military Kid Strong purple buttons. Hosted first mini Youth Symposium that included the 7 Habits of Highly Effective Teens training to 10 Army National Guard Teens. Took on an active roll within the Joining Community Forces team by setting up and operating the Alabama JCF Facebook page and actively participating in meetings and community outreach opportunities.

4 T e s t i m o n i a l S t a t e m e n t s Taken from the Cognitive Professional Services Customer Service Satisfaction Survey unless identified. Outstanding programs and Yellow Ribbon activities. The Child and Youth Coordinators are so knowledgeable about the things affecting our Guard children. While being experts, they also provide a fun and interactive learning environment a their camps and yellow ribbon events. The child and youth program has made a tremendous impact on not only my children but many children in this state. We have been impacted through camps, yellow ribbons and leadership activities. My daughter really enjoyed the Soccer camp program and thought it was wonderful. She said she felt it really improved her skills as well. The impact is positive of course. Opportunities have been provided that the children otherwise may not have been afforded. The interaction with other service members and their children is also healthy for them. O M K F a m i l y R e i n t e g r a t i o n C a m p Through coordination with Operation Military Kids, we hosted our first Soldier and Family Reintegration Camp. The returning Soldier and their youth were able to spend time during a week long trip to New Orleans, LA and included nine Alabama Army National Guard Families. We traveled by Amtrak train from Birmingham, AL to New Orleans, LA. Soldiers and their youth were given the opportunity to explore a culture steeped in history and culture. We participated in a community service project working with the New Orleans Urban Development by helping to rebuild a school garden. We also took a tour on the New Orleans Steamboat and visited the World War II Museum where families were given the opportunity to watch a World War II 4D memorial video. The time these families spent working together in the garden and touring the city provided Soldiers and teens the opportunity to spend quality time together reconnecting and making new memories. Y o u t h L e a d e r s h i p F o r u m Our annual Youth Leadership Summit is held at Auburn University and features activities on community service, teambuilding, citizenship, and leadership. This year s summit featured the Dave Mathews Center for Civic Life. Nineteen students of the Youth Leadership Team, ages came together to learn about and discuss the rights citizens have and how they can individually make a difference as a military connected citizen and youth, while also learning about and visiting a college campus. They then participated in a Youth Forum on how deployments have affected teens and ideas and methods on ways to support military youth in their communities. Teens also participated in a community service project for the Jean Dean Reading is Fundamental Program, where they were given the opportunity to sort and label children s book for Alabama Head Start Programs throughout the state. Teens also had the opportunity to attend the Auburn University Girls Softball game one evening.

5 A l a b a m a N a t i o n a l & S t a t e The Alabama National Guard Child, Youth, & School Services together with youth, adults, schools, civic groups, military and private organizations have created a statewide support network. This collaboration has provided much needed support for our amazing military kids and families. Building Community Capacity Operation Military Kids and 4H partnerships provided community activities as well as summer camping opportunities. They hosted the annual Speak Out for Military Kids event in conjunction with Month of the Military Child, distributed Hero Packs, and provided use of the Mobile Tech Labs. They hosted several volunteer trainings throughout the year. The MCEC Supporting Children of the National Guard and Reserve Institute (GRI) focuses on information needed to raise community awareness about the issues faced by children when a parent is deployed. Through a combination of direct instruction, group work and interactive activities, participants develop strategies and the framework of an Action Plan to support these children of the suddenly military. American Red Cross provided Hurricane and Tornado preparation plans and assistance to Alabama National Guard Families. Local Red Cross offices develop and maintain relationships with key community partners and help Families by responding to emergency needs for food, clothing, and shelter, referrals to counseling services, respite care for caregivers, and other resources that meet the unique needs of local military members and their families in the community. National Boys & Girls Clubs of America provided Building Resiliency in Military Con nected Youth Training and provided the curriculum for the Alabama National Guard to use. They also provided us with the Cal Ripken curriculum on Healthy Lifestyles, Healthy Choices. Through this training we were also provided with the Cal Ripken Quick Ball set and curriculum. Big Brothers Big Sisters of South and East Central Alabama are providing mentors specifically for military youth in those regions free of charge. The David Mathews Center for Civic Life is a 501(c)(3) non-profit, non-partisan, tax-exempt corporation. Its purpose is to foster infrastructure, habits, and capacities for more effective civic engagement and innovative decision making.

6 A l a b a m a C h i l d, Y o u t h & S c h o o l S e r v i c e s A n n u a l R e p o r t Like us on Facebook! Go to: facebook.com/alngyouth Follow us at twitter.com/alngyouth For more information please contact: K e l l i H i l l - L e a d Y o u t h C o o r d i n a t o r C o n g D i c k i n s o n D r M o n t g o m e r y, A L ( o f f i c e ) ( c e l l ) k e l l i. r. h i l l. c t m a i l. m i l C h r i s s y V o s s - Y o u t h C o o r d i n a t o r C o n g D i c k i n s o n D r M o n t g o m e r y, A L ( o f f i c e ) ( c e l l ) Teens work together during our Mini Youth Symposium featuring the 7 Habits of Highly Effective Teens in Birmingham, AL. c h r i s t i n a. j. v o s s. c t m a i l. m i l Youth Leaders Cole & Annie volunteer during the Youth Leadership Summit at Auburn University for a local organization that donates children books to schools.