I have been collecting links to sites with resources that are specifically targeted to support military children. April is the month of the military child, and I am posting something weekly (or a little more) in conjunction with this month where we recognize America’s youngest heroes. Today I want to direct you to Our Military Kids a resource for Children of National Guard and Reserve Service Members. Children of wounded warriors are also eligible for services as they deal with the life changing injuries a parent has sustained. Below is an excerpt about the site, the program, eligibility criteria and a link to apply.
Comfort. Stability. Routine. Fun!
All children need these ingredients to thrive but especially those who have a parent deployed in military service to our country or recovering from injury at home.
Along with the sacrifice of having a parent away in service for months at a time, many Guard and Reserve families are so financially stretched they cannot afford the fees for sports, fine arts, or tutoring programs so crucial to their children’s sense of well-being. Children of severely injured service members face similar financial difficulties along with the challenges of learning to adapt to the physical, mental, and emotional changes in a loved one.
Our Military Kids, founded in 2004, stepped in to fill these gaps with a simple grant program that pays for children’s activities. Eligible families apply for a grant and within days of receipt in the Our Military Kids office, a packet is sent to the child thanking them for their service to our country and notifying them of the award, then a check is sent directly to the service provider.
Our Military Kids helps families who often fall outside the parameters of established support programs – the families of National Guard and Reserve service men and women who have been and are continuing to sacrifice so much for our country.
Working with a team of volunteers, a dedicated staff, Board of Directors and Advisory Board, Our Military Kids has distributed grants to children in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and most U.S. territories. From its pilot program in March 2005 in Winchester, Virginia, Our Military Kids has extended its reach to families nationwide.
Severely Injured Program Guidelines and Criteria
Our Military Kids supports the children of severely injured military personnel (Guard, Reserve, and Active Duty) through grants for sports, fine arts, or academic tutoring programs. Such activities help nurture and sustain the children during a parent’s lengthy recovery and/or rehabilitation.
Children of severely injured military personnel between the ages of 3 and 18 are eligible for a grant. Grant awards average $390 with a $500 limit per child. Qualified families complete a simple one page application and submit it along with the following documentation: 1) a brochure, flyer, or letter documenting the cost of the activity, 2) a copy of the child’s military dependent ID, OR Form 1172, OR birth certificate, 3) a letter from a case manager certifying the service member’s status as severely injured, and 4) the most recent copy of the service member’s military orders. Our Military Kids evaluates each request and, provided all requirements are met, awards a grant paid directly to the organization providing the activity.
The following criteria are required for families of the severely injured to be eligible for an Our Military Kids grant:* service member must be a veteran of either OEF or OIF
* service member must be classified as severely injured in one of the six categories designated by the Department of Veteran Affairs (burns, amputation, mental health, spinal cord injury, traumatic brain injury, or PTSD)
* service member must have a case manager who certifies the above information and recommends the service member’s family for the grant program
You can go HERE to learn more about how to apply for a grant.
