R 042102Z APR 08
MARAMIN 229/08
MSGID/GENADMIN/CMC WASHINGTON DC/MR////
SUBJ/MONTH OF THE MILITARY CHILD AND NATIONAL CHILD ABUSE PREVENTION MONTH//
POC/RHUDINE WILKES/NF-4/UNIT:MRZ3/-/TEL:703-784-9553//
GENTEXT/REMARKS/1. SINCE 1986, THE SECRETARY OF DEFENSE HAS
DESIGNATED APRIL AS MONTH OF THE MILITARY CHILD. APRIL IS ALSO
KNOWN AS NATIONAL CHILD ABUSE AWARENESS AND PREVENTION MONTH AND
COLLECTIVELY THE MILITARY DEDICATES THIS MONTH TO OUR MOST PRECIOUS
RESOURCE–OUR CHILDREN. DURING THIS TIME, INSTALLATIONS CREATIVELY
FOCUS ON ACTIVITIES IN CELEBRATION AND SUPPORT OF MILITARY CHILDREN.
THESE EVENTS SHOULD PROMOTE THE AVAILABILITY AND QUALITY OF OUR
CHILDREN, YOUTH AND TEEN AND FAMILY ADVOCACY PROGRAMS.
2. THIS YEAR, THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE IS UTILIZING HEALTH AND
HUMAN SERVICES’ (HHS) THEME FOR CHILD ABUSE AWARENESS MONTH,
“PROMOTING HEALTHY FAMILIES IN YOUR COMMUNITY.” INSTALLATION FAMILY
ADVOCACY PROGAM REPRESENTATIVES ARE AVAILABLE FOR PRESENTATIONS,
WORKSHOPS, AND ONE-ON-ONE CONSULTATIONS TO EDUCATE COMMANDERS AND
PROVIDE RESOURCES AND ENCOURAGEMENT TO FAMILIES TO FOSTER HEALTHY
RELATIONSHIPS WITHIN THE FAMILY UNIT. THE NEW PARENT SUPPORT
PROGRAM IS ALSO AVAILABLE TO PROVIDE PARENT EDUCATION AND SUPPORT TO
OUR MILITARY FAMILIES.
3. TODAY'S SPIRAL DEPLOYMENT CYCLE TAKES AN INCREDIBLE AMOUNT OF
EMOTIONAL ENERGY ON MILITARY FAMILIES, ESPECIALLY THE CHILDREN.
AMAZINGLY, MILITARY CHILDREN ARE RESILIENT AND RESOURCEFUL AND CAN
BOUNCE BACK FROM STRESS AND CHANGE. MILITARY ONESOURCE, AVAILABLE
AT WWW.MILITARYONESOURCE.COM AND 1-800-342-9647, STANDS PREPARED TO
PROVIDE BOUNTIFUL RESOURCES SPECIFIC TO CHILDREN AFFECTED BY
DEPLOYMENTS AND CAN ALSO PROVIDE INFORMATION COVERING A SPECTRUM OF
CHILD DEVELOPMENT MILESTONES, CHILD CARE RESOURCES, INFORMATION AND
REFERRAL, AND PARENT RESOURCES TO HELP IN RAISING TODAY’S CHILDREN.
4. IN CELEBRATION OF THIS SPECIAL MONTH, APRIL’S CAMPAIGNS SERVE AS
AN ANNUAL REMINDER FOR OUR MILITARY FAMILIES THAT MANY SUPPORTIVE
RESOURCES EXIST AND WE HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY TO PROVIDE CHILDREN THE
OPPORTUNITY TO GROW UP IN A HAPPY, HEALTHY, NURTURING HOME.
COMMANDERS SHOULD PLAN ACTIVITIES THAT EXPRESS AND CELEBRATE THAT
MILITARY CHILDREN ARE HEROES TOO. COMMANDERS AND MCCS STAFF ARE
ENCOURAGED TO ACCESS INFORMATION AND RESOURCE MATERIALS FROM
WWW.MILITARYHOMEFRONT.DOD.MIL AND WWW.CHILDWELFARE.GOV. WE SHOULD
CONTINUE TO BUILD ON OUR EFFORTS TO CREATE SAFE AND NURTURING
ENVIRONMENTS THAT ALLOW CHILDREN TO REACH THEIR FULL POTENTIAL.
5. RELEASE AUTHORIZED BY MR. TIMOTHY R. LARSEN, DIRECTOR, PERSONAL AND FAMILY READINESS DIVISION.//