Military K-12 Partners Newsroom

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April

April 14 -15, May 27 -28, June 16 -17, 2009 - Regional Joint Services Family Assistance Workshop Since September 2007, MC&FP staff have conducted 21 Joint Services Family Assistance Workshops throughout the United States, in Europe and the Pacific. The two day workshops provide hands -on experience with a variety of Department of Defense on -line resources including Military OneSource, MilitaryHOMEFRONT, Plan My Move, TurboTap, and the Military Spouse Career Center. Briefers also provide information on new programs and initiatives s such as counseling available through Military OneSource and the Military Family Life Consultants, free memberships to the YMCA and the on -line library available through Military OneSource.com. One of the favorite sessions is one on financial readiness. Participants learn about new programs such as the Military Career Advancement Accounts for military spouses, which launched in mid -March. Over 1600 Active Duty, Guard and Reserve providers have been trained. For information on sessions in Arlington, VA (May 27 -28) and Charleston, SC (June 16 -17) visit the conferences section of MilitaryHOMEFRONT, where you can also download the briefing slides, agenda, and photos from previous attendees.

April 5 2009 - Program Offers Confidential Counseling for Troops, Families With the country embroiled in two wars, frequent deployments, and the home -front issues deployments cause, the nation's servicemembers and their families are enduring heightened stress levels. The Military and Family Life Consultant Program, created in 2004 as a pilot program, supplements other existing military support options to help servicemembers and their families deal with what comes with military life during times of war. The program belongs to the Military Community and Family Policy office. "The big picture of the program is that the ... MFLC Program was developed to provide short -term, nonmedical support to the active and Guard and reserve components and their family members worldwide," said Mike Hoskins, special assistant to the office of the undersecretary of defense for military community and family policy. "What [the counselors] do is they augment existing support assets on the installation." Several hundred thousand people a year take advantage of MFLC counselors' services, Hoskins said. Part of those numbers come from command -requested, pre - or redeployment briefings. Others use the service because it offers something traditional methods don't. The fact that they sought support from an MFLC counselor doesn't end up in their permanent file. "People are sometimes worried about information ending up in their service record and then that having an adverse effect on them or their family or their status in the military or on the installation," he said. "With the exception of mandatory federal state and military reporting requirements, it's private and confidential." Full Article +

April 4, 2009 - TREAT to Provide Horseback Riding for Military Children Tarleton State University's Equine Assisted Therapy (TREAT) will participate in the Month of the Military Child Festival on April 4 at Ft. Hood, Texas. The program is from 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. and TREAT will provide horseback riding for about 4,000 children of military families. Kids of all ages will enjoy the free celebration with competitions, pony rides, a petting zoo and more.�The happiness that shows on these kids faces is a very rewarding experience,� said TREAT director David Snyder. Full Article +

April 2, 2009 - VFW Strengthening Veterans' Families During, After Deployment The United States is in its eighth year of war and there are hundreds of thousands of new war veterans, many of whom have multiple deployments behind them. America is now learning what that means in human terms, according to a press release from the VFW National Home for Children, and the statistics are startling. o More than 4,800 have died, many leaving behind spouses and children. o More than 33,000 have been wounded, many severely enough to end their military service. o The divorce rate within military families is increasing, with more than 25,000 divorces last year alone. o Alcohol consumption is on the increase, particularly in the Reserve and National Guard community. o A Military Family Research Institute survey found that 56 percent of enlisted service members report difficulty with their finances, and 47 percent say they are in �over their head� with their expenses. Veterans are trying to transition back to civilian life and some are having difficulty. The Department of Veteran Affairs (VA) has increased efforts, improved quality of service and developed new programs and methods of outreach to veterans. Americans have shown they are willing to help and many new non -profit organizations have sprung up to fill the gaps. Unfortunately, all these efforts can be overwhelming and confusing for the new, young veteran, making it difficult for them to get the help they need. Full Article +

April 2, 2009 - Raising a resilient child Resilience: The ability to adapt to ever -changing conditions and maintain a sense of wholeness and well being. Isn't that what most parents want for their children? To raise resilient children, confident in who they are and able to courageously make good choices in response to life's demands? Imagine a stretchy, rubber frog you can get in most toy stores. Picture yourself pulling the legs one by one as far as you can stretch them, and then letting them go, allowing the frog to bounce back to its original shape. Resilience. The Navy environment puts unique stresses on children: the need to adapt to frequent moves, new schools, make new friends, to cope with a parent's deployment. It's critical for our children to be resilient in response to these demands. How can parents instill resilience? Unfortunately children don't come with a set of instructions when they're born. Parenting is often a trial and error process that may or may not develop the results you want. Most parents want what's best for their children, but raising self -confident, responsible and courageous children takes both an awareness of parenting skills that foster these attributes and an ability to put them into practice. Full Article +

April 1, 2009 - Coming Home: Military Families Cope with Change Tune in to PBS on April 1, 2009 at 8 p.m. to join Queen Latifah, John Mayer, and your Sesame Street friends for �Coming Home: Military Families Cope With Change.� This family television special tells the stories of military families coping with the challenges and impact of combat -related injuries - both visible (such as the loss of a limb) and invisible (such as post -traumatic stress disorder and traumatic brain injury). Join these families as they recount their heroic struggles and discover the remarkable resiliency that sets them on the path to finding a �new normal.� With help from Elmo, Rosita, and the Sesame Street friends, �Coming Home� gives voice to children as they play a central role in the family's adjustment process, and encourages them to be what they are: kids. The program also features coping strategies and powerful real stories aimed to help these families and others find ways to be there for each other. Join us as we salute the extraordinary courage of children, offer the general public ways to support service members in their communities, and provide a powerful glimpse into the lives of military families. We encourage children to watch �Coming Home� with a parent or caregiver so they can ask an adult any questions they might have. Coming Home� is part of Sesame Workshop's �Talk, Listen, Connect� initiative, providing support and resources for families experiencing deployment, multiple deployments, or changes due to combat -related injury. �Talk, Listen, Connect� kits include DVDs and print materials for children and parents. Request a Kit Now