Supporting Military-Connected Youth and Families During COVID-19
In these uncertain times, Boys & Girls Clubs are here to do whatever it takes to support America’s youth and communities, and that includes military families. In partnership with the U.S. Armed Services, Boys & Girls Clubs of America helps military youth access specialized opportunities, cultivate lifelong friendships and develop the resilience they need to build great futures.
April is Month of the Military Child, a moment where Boys & Girls Clubs celebrates the resiliency of military-connected youth. As the world continues to navigate COVID-19, Boys & Girls Club-affiliated Youth Centers and traditional Clubs who serve military populations, are adapting to meet the needs of their communities.
Boys & Girls Club-affiliated Youth Centers at Fort Meade in Maryland, and Fort Gordon in Georgia, have continued limited operations to provide childcare for mission essential military personnel and family members who must report for duty. Base leadership host virtual town halls via Facebook Live to communicate critical coronavirus information, including Youth Center updates that directly impact the military families they serve. For members that can no longer attend the Youth Centers due to the pandemic, online resources and activities such as MyFuture, have been provided. On MyFuture, youth are able to access digital resources to learn, create, play and gain valuable skills like coding and digital arts.
Boys & Girls Club of Hawaii is partnering with the Hawaii Foodbank to utilize their Clubhouses as Distribution Centers and provide food & supplies to their military families and communities that are most vulnerable. Eighty-three percent of Boys & Girls Club of Hawaii families come from low-income households. The Club has also provided on-going educational and parent resources via their website to help manage at-home learning and mitigate the stress that these uncertain times bring. Through live streams from their Instagram page, the Club hopes to create some sense of normalcy through engaging STEM projects and activities. “These are unprecedented times, calling for all of us to work together in unique and creative ways to ensure that we continue to serve all communities in Hawai’i, including our nearly 5,000 members on O’ahu and Kaua’i,” said Paddy Kauhane, president & CEO of the Boys & Girls Club of Hawaii.
Even though Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Washington had to close facilities due to COVID-19, Club staff quickly rallied together to create and implement “Clubhouse @Your House,” a virtual platform that will keep its members, including nearly 500 military youth, stay engaged while they are home. The platform offers homework help, creative projects and educational games. The platform also allows for dedicated time periods for Youth Development Professionals to engage with members to discuss their mental health and well-being during this crisis.
Now more than ever, Boys & Girls Clubs and affiliated Youth Centers are committed to supporting the unique needs of military youth and families. During Month of the Military Child and beyond, Boys & Girls Clubs of America celebrates and advocates for military-connected youth.
Learn more about how Boys & Girls Clubs help Military families.
