Education

Fall Craft For Families – Turkey Windsocks

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Happy Fall, ya’ll! As the weather gets cooler, you might be wondering what kind of activities can keep your kids entertained indoors. Check out this fun and cost efficient craft for your family!

thanksgiving kids craft turkey windsocks

(Image from Happiness is Homemade)

What you’ll need:

  1. Recycled Aluminum Can
  2. Brown Paint
  3. Craft glue
  4. Orange Paint Pen
  5. Large Googly Eyes
  6. Ribbons-Fall Colors
  7. Feathers, Felt, and/or Construction Paper-Fall Colors
  8. Scissors
  9. Masking Tape (optional)

Directions:

  1. Start by painting the Aluminum Can with the brown paint. 
  2. After the brown paint is dry, use your orange painter’s pen to draw an upside-down triangle as the turkey’s “beak.”
  3. Then, attach the googly eyes using your craft glue.
  4. Using your choice of feathers or construction paper, create the turkey’s “tail” by gluing the feathers/construction paper to the top of the back of the can on the inside rim. The can will have sharp edges, you can apply the masking tape there to protect your fingers.
  5. Cut 10-15 pieces of ribbon at about 18” in length.
  6. Apply a thick layer of craft glue to the inside rim at the bottom of the can, and then place your ribbon streamers. Allow the glue to dry.
  7. Cut out a red waddle (in either felt or construction paper). Use your craft glue to attach it beside the beak.
  8. Attach ribbon to the inside rim of the top sides of the can using craft glue to create a handle.

Adapted from: Happiness is Homemade. For more fun, Fall crafts, check out their website:

https://www.happinessishomemade.net/thanksgiving-kids-craft-turkey-windsocks/ 

Embracing Pride: Support and Resources for LGBTQ+ Military Youth and Families

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June is a month of celebration, pride, and inclusivity as we honor Pride Month. At OMK we stand with and support our LGBTQ+ military youth and families. In this post we will highlight the experiences of LGBTQ+ individuals in the military and provide resources available for LGBTQ+ youth in Ohio.

Pride in the Military:

LGBTQ+ people have existed throughout history, including Ancient Greece and two-spirit people in Native American cultures. LGBTQ+ people are present in all parts of society – they are people we know and love, and even people who serve in our military.

In the United States less than 1% of citizens volunteer to serve in the armed forces, and 6.1% of military personal identify as LGBTQ+ according to research conducted in 2015 by Meadows, et. al.

LGBTQ+ individuals have been part of the military since its formation, with Lieutenant Colonel John Lauren being one of the earliest recorded in the Revolutionary War. Since then, many more LGBTQ+ individuals have served our country.

Despite their bravery, the stories of these individuals are often unknown or overshadowed due to the military’s history of anti-LGBTQ+ policies (Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell, Transgender Military Ban) which led to the less-than-honorable discharges of an estimated more than 100,000 service members due to sexual orientation or gender identity (The Williams Institute, 2010).

Recent years have brought policy advancements for our LGBTQ+ service members; but there is more to be done to achieve military inclusivity.

Resources for LGBTQ+ Military Youth & Families in Ohio:

  • Community Centers:
    • The LGBT Center of Greater Cleveland, Equitas Health, and Stonewall Columbus provide a wide range of support and resources for LGBTQ+ individuals, including youth. These centers often offer counseling services, support groups, educational programs, and social events to create safe and inclusive spaces for LGBTQ+ youth to connect, learn, and thrive.
    • Equitas Health along with PAPI work to offer PrEP (Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis), which prevents HIV, and STD testing free of cost to all Ohio residents with or without insurance.
  • Counseling Services and Safe Spaces:
    • Organizations like the Trevor Project provide mental health support, crisis intervention, and suicide prevention services specifically tailored to LGBTQ+ youth. They offer online chat and phone hotlines to provide immediate support and guidance.
    • Many insurance websites can assist in your search for counseling for LGBTQ+ individuals. OSU’s provider search can be found here.

Support for LGBTQ+ Individuals in the Military:

  • Modern Military Association of America offers legal services, advocacy, and community support to address issues faced by LGBTQ+ individuals in the military.
  • Military Equal Opportunity (MEO) Offices throughout Ohio are responsible for ensuring equal opportunity, diversity, and inclusion within the military. They provide support, guidance, and resources for LGBTQ+ individuals who may face discrimination or harassment.

Social Opportunities and Connection:

  • Black, Out, & Proud serves as a resource for Black LGBTQ+ people.
  • Rainbow Sisters meets the first Wednesday of every month for social events and outreach programs for lesbian women over the age of 40.
  • The Kaleidoscope Youth Center in downtown Columbus offers social events, a discord server, drop-in hours, movie nights, D&D groups, and more for LGBTQ+ youth.
  • The Prim Youth Initiative in Dayton plans and hosts events for LGBTQ+ youth. They also offer support groups and a library.
  • PFLAG (Parents, Families, and Friends of Lesbians and Gays) has chapters across Ohio that offer support and social groups for LGBTQ+ youth and their families.

References:

Meadows, S. O., Engel, C. C., Collins, R. L., Beckman, R. L., Cefalu, M., Hawes-Dawson, J., Waymouth, M., Kress, A. M., Sontag-Padilla, L., Ramchand, R., & Williams, K. M. (2015). Health Related Behaviors Survey: Sexual Orientation, Transgender Identity, and Health Among U.S. Active-Duty Service Members. RAND Corporation, RB-9955/6-OSD, 2018. As of May 26, 2023: https://www.rand.org/pubs/research_briefs/RB9955z6.html

The Williams Institute (2010). Discharges under the Don’t Ask/Don’t Tell policy. Retrieved from: https://williamsinstitute.law.ucla.edu/wp-content/uploads/Discharges-DADT-Women-Race-Sep-2010.pdf

OMK’s Declassified Back to School Survival Guide

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Ohio Suicide Prevention Campaign – Be Present

A resource for parents, teens, and young adults who want to learn more about supporting their peers. Be Present hosts a wealth of information for parents and students about establishing healthy routines, taking care of yourself, and having difficult conversations with people you care about. Youth who are struggling can also find support on this site, or by texting ‘4HOPE’ to 741-741

https://bepresentohio.org/

Developing a Growth Mindset – Learning Heroes

Developing and practicing a Growth Mindset sets us up to succeed! Try out this interactive website – bealearninghero.org/growth-mindset/ – to learn more about developing and using a growth mindset.

Healthy Living – Start Talking!

Across Ohio organizations are working to prevent drug use among some of our most vulnerable citizens – our youth. Start Talking! provides tools to start the conversation with our youth about the importance of living healthy, drug free lives. https://starttalking.ohio.gov/

Developing Financial Literacy – Money as You Grow

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau has a great set of tips and resources to help children develop important money management skills. The resources on this site are divided by age ranges from young children to teens & young adults. https://www.consumerfinance.gov/consumer-tools/money-as-you-grow/

Transition – From Elementary to Middle School

Is your young one preparing to take the huge step from elementary to middle school? Consider these tips from OSU:

 

Games and Apps – Educaplay and Photomath

This year, check out interactive games on Educaplay for content on subjects from Math, to English, to the Rivers of Europe. Educaplay.com

Could you or your student use assistance with math homework? Photomath was created by a father to help their children with math homework. Caregivers can review the step-by-step directions provided by the app with their children to solve almost any math problem! https://photomath.com/en/parents