GFWC Juniors’ Special Program: Advocates for Children

The GFWC Juniors’ Special Program: Advocates for Children was adopted to give all clubs an opportunity to participate in projects that benefit children of all ages.

Our goal is to honor our roots and be a voice for children. It includes two special focus areas: (1) To advocate for art curriculum and outdoor activities at schools for all students, including those with disabilities, and to highlight the value of art and outdoor programs as therapy and enrichment for children with emotional, mental, and physical challenges, and (2) To advocate for education and training that helps parents and caregivers be the best advocate possible for a child in emergency and other health situations.

2024-2026 GFWC-NC Juniors’ Special Project: Advocates for Children Chairman: Molly Avery

COMMUNITY CONNECTION INITIATIVE: Be A Champion in the Lives of Children

Advocates for Children Week

To raise awareness for child advocacy efforts, we have declared the last week of October as GFWC Advocates for Children Week. All GFWC clubs are invited to participate by planning events related to the Juniors’ Special Project. Try a new project or a previously successful one. It’s up to you! Consider your club’s interests and community needs. OCT 20-26, 2024; OCT 19-25, 2025.

Project Ideas

• Create an art awareness social media campaign that spotlights student art and provides information on the benefits of art education
• Undertake projects that provide a sense of security for children in foster care, such as making or customizing duffle bags for carrying their clothes and/or creating overnight kits with hygiene and comfort items.
• Advocate for Big Brothers/Big Sisters and other programs that provide children with mentors and/or offer activities to help them develop positive social skills.
• Partner with a local school to build an outdoor classroom or school garden, using resources from Project Learning Tree such as School Site Investigation and Creating an Outdoor Classroom.
• Advocate for programs that directly benefit children at local and nearby state parks.
• Create “worry rocks” with children who are attending school for the first time.
• Advocate for support programs, such as Ronald McDonald House Charities, to establish a chapter in your community.

Project Tools

• GFWC-NC Juniors’ Special Program Handout-Summer Meeting- July2022
• GFWC NC Junior Programs zoom presentation – YouTube
• Community Service and Special Programs Dates to Remember
• GFWC Affiliate Organizations
• Project Worksheet – Fill in Form
• 2022 GFWC RESOLUTIONS for Juniors’ Special Program: Advocates for Children

Resource Organizations

• Advocacy for Healthy Children Child
• Big Brothers Big Sisters of America
• Boys and Girls Clubs of America
• Boy Scouts of America
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ACEs
• Council for Art Education
• Every Kid Outdoors
• 4-H
• FFA
• Girl Scouts of the USA
• Incredible @rt Department
• National Park Service
• National Park Foundation
• Outdoors Alliance for Kids (OAK)
• Project Learning Tree
• Save the Children
• Student Support and Academic Enrichment Grants
• The Dreaming Zebra Foundation
• 21st Century Community Learning Center Funding
• U.S. Fish & Wildlife Services Schoolyard Habitat Program