Children & Youth

Child Welfare Foundation

“To contribute to the physical, mental, emotional and spiritual needs of children and youth through the dissemination of knowledge about new and innovative organizations and their programs.”

“To make wider, more effective use of the knowledge already possessed by well established organizations to the end that such information will benefit youth and be more adequately used by society.”

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Temporary Financial Assistance

Since 1919, The American Legion has remained committed to the health and welfare of our nation’s veterans and families. Born out of this desire to serve, the National Commission on Children & Youth established a form of direct aid to veterans’ children in 1925 — Temporary Financial Assistance (TFA).

This program is intended to keep children of veterans from becoming homeless.  It is also used to aid in an advancement for medical costs that are critical to the life of the child. The grant may also assist for food and clothing.  Those eligible to apply is anyone in custody of children that have been born to a veteran.  Whether it be the veteran or a family member with custody or guardianship of veteran children, you must have legal proof with birth certificates, guardianship, and/or adoption papers.

This benefit is not intended as a long-term safety net and is meant to resolve a situation that places the veteran, guardians of veteran children, in good standing due to hardships that may occur.

One of the main reasons for denial of the grant is that all local resources have not been exhausted.  Page two of the application provides a list of “Other Assistance” that must be documented as either pending, denied, approved, or not eligible.  The applicant must also first receive assistance from their County Veteran Service Commission of which they reside. You can locate those resources by clicking on this link:  http://dvs.ohio.gov/HOME/County_Veterans_Service_Offices

You can apply for this TFA at any of The American Legion Department of Ohio offices located at the Columbus OPC, Dayton VAMC, Cincinnati VAMC, Cleveland VARO, Cleveland VAMC, and Toledo CBOC, or Department HQ in Delaware, north of Columbus. You can also apply with the assistance of your local County Veteran Service Office.  All applications will be routed to The American Legion Department HQ via mail or fax.  We encourage you not to email due to the sensitive information required in the application packet.  You will be required to provide the following documents:

• DD-214
• Marriage Certificate (if married)
• Birth Certificates of children in custody who are under age of 18
• Current past due or shut off notices for utilities
• Eviction letter, or past due notice of rent/mortgage, with copy of lease
• Proof of income
• Personal statement of current situation with a clear resolving solution
• Copy of recent denial of assistance from the County Veteran Service Commission

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Special Olympics

Active Supporter for Over 25 Years

The Department of Ohio provide support in donations to the Special Olympics State Winter Games and State Summer Games, and also hosts a breakfast for over 400 Special Olympics athletes and coaches at the Special Olympics State Winter Games.

At the Summer Games, the Department of Ohio provides the funding for “Tent Town” booths, a very popular attraction operated by the Franklin County Legionnaires with assistance from several other districts, American Legion Auxiliary, and the Sons of The American Legion. The American Legion Department of Ohio’s operation of “Tent Town” is the largest among all corporate and organization sponsors.

» Visit Ohio Special Olympics Home Website

Our amazing friends at Special Olympics Ohio have teamed up with Homage to create a shirt just for them! Please consider purchasing their “Let me be Brave in the Attempt” shirt. A proceed of all shirts will be donated back to Special Olympics.

» Click Here to order your ‘Be Brave Shirts’ and help support the Special Olympics of Ohio

Please help our athlete friends continue doing what they love, we are VERY proud of their accomplishments!

Click HERE to download this Special Olympics upcoming events flyer

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Click HERE to download the full 2024 Special Olympics of Ohio Calendar of Events

Family Support Network

The American Legion’s long demonstrated support and commitment to our men and women in uniform and their families has never wavered.  The American Legion’s family Support Network is ready to provide immediate assistance to service personnel and their families, whose lives have been directly affected by the ongoing global war on terrorism.

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April Children & Youth Month

In 1938, April was formally designated as Child Welfare Month (now called Children & Youth Month) and has continued on an annual basis.
During this special time, we urge each of you to show your community that The American Legion family is committed to Children… Our most precious natural resource!

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National Family Week

To demonstrate our resolute belief of the importance of strong families, The American Legion’s National Commission of Children & Youth, by mandate, advocates the passage of federal legislation that would establish the Thanksgiving holiday week as National Family Week. All members of The American Legion Family are encouraged to initiate and engage in local activities during National Family Week that promotes, encourages, and celebrates the center of a healthy community: the family.

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CHILDREN AND YOUTH COMMISSION