4-H Military Partnerships

4-H Military Partnerships create opportunities and provide support to military connected youth whether they live on or near a military installation, in our communities, or on overseas installations. 

Why

• The Extension 4-H Military Liaison serves as a link between the State Cooperative Extension System, Military Service Branches, and the National Institute of Food and Agriculture 4-H Program at USDA.  
• Research based curricula is provided for military youth
• 4-H clubs provide quality educational experiences to military youth ages 5-18. 4-H clubs have been established on nearly every Army, Navy, and Air Force installation worldwide. , Military youth may also belong to 4-H clubs and groups. 4-H provides a consistant, welcoming place for military youth to gather, no matter where they may move.

Ways

• 4-H partners with military branches across Massachusetts

o    4-H at Hanscom Air Force Base

o    4-H at Joint Base Cape Cod/Otis Air National Guard Base

o    Westover Air Force Base and Barnes ANGB Western MA

o    National Guard Youth & Families Program

o    Military members also connected to 4-H Clubs in Communities across the State

• Incorporate resources and programs such as SET Challenge & Babysitting Training
• For more resources visit https://www.4-hmilitarypartnership.org/

o    4-H 101
o    Camps/Events
o    DoD-USDA Partnership Tech Discovery Curriculum
o    Up for the Challenge: Lifetime Fitness, Healthy Decisions

• For more information visit https://www.4-hmilitarypartnership.org/
  • Professional Development
  • Family Resources
  • Staff & Volunteer Resources
  • State Liaison Contacts
  • Marketing Toolkit and Branded Materials

How

The UMass Extension 4-H Youth Development Program works with military partners across the nation to partner on events which support youth whose parents are part of active or reserve components of the military branches. 

• The Massachusetts 4-H Babysitting program was used as the template for the Army Babysitting program. 4-H staff have been involved in content revisions.
• 4-H Clubs provide educational opportunities and conduct community service projects.
• 4-H members join in wearing purple for "Purple Up" in Honor of April, the Month of the Military Child
• 4-H Programs support Military families in your community.  November is the Month of the military family.
   

“Thimbles 4-H Club has donated nearly 1,000 masks to more than 22 different groups, including hospitals on Cape Cod, Nantucket and Martha’s Vineyard, assisted living facilities, local fire departments;,and the Joint Base of Cape Cod. Candy LeBlanc (pictured on next page), the Youth Program Coordinator on base, received 220 children’s masks from Thimbles.”
https://www.mass4hfoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/2020-Compas…

The 4-H Military Partnership is a collaboration of Land Grant Universities and military partners.  Working together, these partners integrate research-based programs and other resources for military-connected youth, families, and communities, helping them to thrive. The 4-H Military Partnerships focuses on positive youth development by providing opportunities for youth to engage in intentional hands-on learning experiences.  As military families move frequently and experience the difficulties surrounding deployment and reintegration, 4-H provides predictable programming and a safe and nurturing environment for military connected children and youth to excel.  The 4-H Military Partners website provides links to curriculum resources, camp listings, events, and other resources for military families and others.

Month of the Military Child (MOMC), April

The month of April provides an opportunity to recognize and honor the service of our youngest heroes, military children. Established by former Secretary of Defense Caspar Weinberger in 1986, the designation of April as the Month of the Military Child acknowledges the significant role military youth play in our communities.  Children in school and youth groups, employees in businesses and organizations, and everyone in the community is encouraged to wear purple on a specific day in April in honor of military kids. Why purple? Purple is the color that symbolizes all branches of the military, as it is a combination of Army green, Marine Red, and Coast Guard, Air Force, and Navy blue. The goal of “Purple Up!” is for military youth to actually SEE the support in their school, youth groups, and the community!  So gather your office, school or group to show their support and share your pictures with us by sending them to Vashon Wallace Hiltpold at vwallace[at]umext[dot]umass[dot]edu (vwallace[at]umext[dot]umass[dot]edu)

Resources from MFRI (Military Family Research Institute at Purdue University)

How to Help Military and Veteran Families is a series of publications that offer valuable information to various audiences to help them assist and support members of the military, veterans and their families.  Each issue provides evidence-based guidance on how a particular group can help, with short, practical suggestions and links that point to additional resources.  Each issue has been carefully reviewed both by subject matter experts and military family support organizations.

Military OneSource is available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Go to www.militaryonesource.mil or call at 1-800-342-9647. You can also consult with Massachusetts Military OneSource specialist, Kailee Valliere at Kailee[dot]Valliere[at]militaryonesource[dot]com.