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The American Legion works to improve the lives of all children by awarding grants to agencies and organizations that serve children and youth, promoting child safety, and championing the family as the center of a healthy community. The Legion has devoted millions of dollars to meet the needs of young people, so they might have normal childhoods and realize their full potential – what early Legionnaires called “a square deal for every child.” In 1947, The American Legion’s Child Welfare Committee became a commission, and in 1970, its name was changed to the National Commission on Children & Youth. In 2014, it returned to committee status.

child Welfare committee has three objectives:

• To strengthen the family unit in an increasingly more complex society
• To support organizations and agencies that provide services for children and youth
• To provide communities with well-rounded programs that meet the physical, educational, emotional and spiritual needs of young people

Temporary Financial Assistance

• American Legion members, which includes those deceased veterans whose service would have qualified them for membership in The American Legion; OR
• Members of the US Armed Forces who are serving on federal orders for active duty that are current under Title 10 of the United States Code – assistance to active duty servicemembers is provided regardless of their membership in The American Legion.
• The TFA program provides a non-repayable, one-time cash grant that is awarded to eligible families when it’s been demonstrated that a minor child is in need and that all other resources have been exhausted.
• All TFA applications originate at the post level. A local investigator visits with the family to determine the children’s needs. The application is forwarded to the department Children & Youth chairman or department adjutant. Once approved, the application is forwarded to the Legion’s national headquarters. Upon approval by the national adjutant, a check is sent to the department adjutant for delivery to the post or family.

Family Support Network

The American Legion’s Family Support Network (FSN), Legionnaires assist families of deployed military personnel in various ways: child care, yard work, car repairs, grocery shopping and routine household jobs. During the Persian Gulf War, National Guard and reserve units were activated without much notice, and the military wasn’t prepared to deal with the needs of families left behind. So they wouldn’t have to shoulder the burden alone, the Legion established a toll-free telephone number for families to call for assistance, and local posts responded to their needs. This mirrors the “community” post of the Legion’s early days, when members provided a network of comrades and friends.

FSN number, 1-800-504-4098, or ask for assistance online at www.legion.org/familysupport