GFWC Juniors' Special Program:  Advocates for Children

GFWC Juniors’ Special Program: Advocates for Children is designed to encourage all Women’s, Junior, Juniorette, and International Affiliate clubs to make a difference in our world by being an advocate. The Program was envisioned as a way for clubwomen to provide a voice for children and to teach and encourage parents and other caregivers to advocate for children at the grassroots level.

Clubwomen can become advocates by working to:

• Ensure that children are protected from harmful situations • Encourage healthy physical and emotional lifestyles

• Impact policy to improve children’s lives

The Juniors’ Special Program: Advocates for Children also encourages advocacy and projects that will assist and protect children in crisis, including those experiencing child abuse, depression and suicide, foster or residential care, homelessness, human trafficking, life-threating illness, and/or poverty.

GFWC ADVOCATES FOR CHILDREN WEEK

To raise awareness for GFWC’s child advocacy efforts, GFWC has declared the fourth week in October as GFWC Advocates for Children Week. All GFWC Women’s, Junior, and Juniorette clubs are invited to participate by planning events related to the Juniors’ Special Program with an emphasis on collecting personal hygiene items, clothing and blankets for local organizations for children removed from homes due to unsafe conditions.

Contact your Governor/Mayor to request they proclaim this week as “GFWC Advocates for Children Week” for your state/city.

GFWC AFFILIATE ORGANIZATIONS

GFWC has established a formal relationship and mutual understanding with the listed Affiliate Organizations. Our partners offer unique and customized services: materials, speakers, kits, and/or additional information specifically designed for GFWC clubs. They are aware of GFWC clubs’ specific needs, our organizational structure, and have a signed Memorandum of Understanding with GFWC. GFWC partners will assist in monitoring the donations generated by GFWC members. To ensure that donations to GFWC Affiliate Organizations at the individual, club, district, or state level are reflected toward GFWC’s collective impact, make sure to write GFWC in the memo line on your donation check.

GFWC is partnered with these organizations that believe in the future of our children:

MARCH OF DIMES

OPERATION SMILE

ST. JUDE CHILDREN’S RESEARCH HOSPITAL

UNITED NATIONS FOUNDATION SHOT@LIFE CAMPAIGN

UNICEF USA

Visit GFWC.org for project ideas that support our Affiliate Organizations and/or other activities to meet our common goal of advocating for children!