Points of Light and our many Community Blueprint Network partner organizations have developed a set of online support tools to help communities who are implementing the Blueprint.
ONLINE COURSES
Take online courses to learn how to mobilize and lead others in service!
Do-it-yourself tools
- Build a Community Garden at a Veterans Home or School that Serves Military Families
- Make and Donate Fleece Blankets to Shelters that Serve Veterans
- Conducting a Mock Interview with a Veteran
- Mom’s Time Away, Kids Get to Play Day
- Organize a Cleanup Day at a Veteran Facility
- Organize a Food Drive for Veterans and/or Military Families
- Organize a “Read-a-Thon” for Military Children
- Organize a Recurring Sports Game for the Military Community
- Organize a School Supply Drive for Children of Veterans or Active Service Men and Women
- Resume Preparation Workshop for Returning Veterans or Military Spouses
- Skills-Based Volunteering Projects
- Veterans Oral History Project
- Welcome Home and Thank a Veteran or Military Family
ACTION PLANNING TOOLS
Access the Community Blueprint Action Planning Tool
This tool will assist leaders in assessing the military community’s needs, selecting impact areas, selecting and implementing promising practices, and measuring the impact to the community.
Take online courses to learn how to mobilize and lead others in service!
FUND DEVELOPMENT, MARKETING & COMMUNICATIONS
Tools in these sections provide strategies and templates for raising contributions to support CBN activities, and to increase public awareness of the military community in your area, and the CBN-related activities underway to support them.
Community Blueprint Video PSA 1
Community Blueprint Video PSA 2
Community Blueprint Audio PSA 1
Making the Case: Securing Community Foundation Support
VIDEOS
- Behavioral Health Implications in the Military Community
- Identifying and Resolving Legal Challenges in the Military Community
- Craigslist Founder, Craig Newmark wants to "Get the Word Out" about Veterans' issues
- Continuing Service Through Americorps
- Civilian Service and the Military Community
- Change and Transition in the Life of a Military Child
- Military Family Strength and Resilience
- Connecting Veterans and Military Spouses to Employment
- Student Veterans of America’s Internship Support Program
- Veteran Homelessness and the 100,000 Homes Campaign
EVALUATION
W.K. Kellogg Foundation Evaluation Handbook
HUMANITIES
Ancient Greeks Modern Lives:
Ancient Greeks/Modern Lives is a major initiative bringing humanities-based public programming to 100 public libraries, arts centers, theatres and museums across America. They have a special program for the military community which invites veterans, service members, and their families to reading events, discussions, public lectures and workshops. They believe that the themes of ancient Greek literature relate directly to the challenges faced by the military community and that Greek drama can provide a sort of culture therapy for that community. To get involved or learn more, contact them at Info@ancientgreeksmodernlives.org or visit www.ancientgreeksmodernlives.org/home/veteran-community/
US Department of Veterans Affairs National Veterans Creative Arts Festival:
VA medical facilities use creative arts as a form of rehabilitative treatment to help veterans recover from and cope with physical and emotional disabilities. Every year, veterans treated at VA facilities compete in a local creative arts competition. There are 53 categories in the visual arts division, ranging from oil painting to leatherwork. There are additionally 120 categories in the performing arts division, from music, dance, and drama to creative writing. To learn more about this opportunity, visit www.va.gov/opa/speceven/caf/index.asp.
SUPPLEMENTAL RESOURCES
Tools in this section provide informative additional information on the military community and the eight impact areas.
- Basic Training: A Primer on Military Life and Culture for Health Care Providers
- National Resource Directory
- Warrior Gateway
- 211.org
- Military Family Member Profile
- Service Member Profile
- Veteran Profile
- Nine Tips for Honoring Veteran Employees
- 12 Easy Ways to Support Military Families
RESEARCH AND WHITEPAPERS
- War and Sacrifice in the Post-9/11 Era The Military-Civilian Gap by Pew Social Trends Staff
- Promoting Psychological Resilience in the U.S. Military by Lisa S. Meredith, Cathy D. Sherbourne, Sarah J. Gaillot, Lydia Hansell, Hans V. Ritschard, Andrew M. Parker, Glenda Wrenn
- Sea of Goodwill ~ by Major John W. Copeland and Colonel David W. Sutherland, Former Assistant to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Warrior and Family Support
- Channeling the “Sea of Goodwill” to Sustain the “Groundswell of Support”~ by Captain Chris Manglicmot and Major Ed Kennedy and Colonel David W. Sutherland Former Assistant to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Warrior and Family Support