Transcript Slide 1

Presented By:
Mona M. Johnson MA, CPP, CDP
Washington State Office of
Superintendent of Public Instruction
[email protected]
(360) 725-6050
Why Should the WA State Dept. of
Education Care About Military Kids?
• Addressing needs of the “whole child” (physical,
social, emotional, behavioral) are key to
measurable/sustainable academic success and
student resilience
• Providing practical and applicable information
to educators will increase their awareness and
day-to-day support for these students
– Recognizing and addressing issues of risk
– Early prevention, intervention, resources/strategies
– Fostering resilience in practical and applicable ways
What Is Our Role In Supporting
WA State Military Kids?
• Increase educator (and other civilian) awareness
regarding the unique issues facing military kids
and their families through resource
development, sharing, and training
• Link schools with existing national, state, and
local programs/services currently available to
support military kids and their families
• Actively participate in related national, state,
and local initiatives supporting military kids,
families, and schools
Military Kids Whose Parents or
Loved Ones Are Deployed . . .
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Daily life is disrupted by the departure of a loved one
Experience multiple deployments and reunions
Are impacted by frequency/intensity of media
Can access technology, instant communication potential for distortion & misperception
Lack connection to “like” others - particularly National
Guard and Reserve kids and families (geographically
dispersed)
Find usual support systems are no longer adequate
Struggle with school performance and behavior
Look the same but feel “different”
Deserve extra understanding and support from others
The “New” Emotional Cycle
of Deployment
• Each stage is characterized by time frame and
specific emotional challenges
• Failure to negotiate successfully can lead to strife
• Seven distinct stages:
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Stage One: Anticipation of Departure
Stage Two: Detachment & Withdrawal
Stage Three: Emotional Disorganization
Stage Four: Recovery & Stabilization
Stage Five: Anticipation of Return
Stage Six: Return Adjustment & Renegotiation
Stage Seven: Reintegration & Stabilization
Stage One:
Anticipation of Departure
Timeframe: When family members receive orders
Increased feeling of stress in home
Reality of change ahead is “sinking in”
Denial & anticipation of loss
Focus is on completing family pre-deployment activity
checklist
• Members may feel more emotional
• In case of multiple deployments . . . new cycle may begin
before family has had time to renegotiate shared vision
from last deployment
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Stage Two:
Detachment & Withdrawal
• Timeframe: Last week before Service Member leaves
• Service Member is focused on preparing for mission and
may distance self from family
• Anger, arguments may occur as family prepares to
protect themselves from “hurt” of separation
• Communication may be difficult
• In preparation for loss, family may begin to act like
Service Member is already gone
• Multiple deployments can result in need to repeatedly
create distance; to feel “numb” and avoid emotional
connection
Stage Three:
Emotional Disorganization
• Timeframe: 1–6 weeks into deployment
• Life without Service Member may initially feel
overwhelming
• Routines change, responsibilities added
• Kids may feel . . .
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Numb and not interested in doing much
More irritable than usual
Have difficulty concentrating — particularly at school
Wish things would go back to “normal”
Surprised because things seem to be moving more
smoothly now that Service Member is gone
Stage Four:
Recovery & Stabilization
• Timeframe: Usually between weeks 3 and 5 after
deployment
• Family finally starts to settle into routine of life without
Service Member
• Coping with changes can be positive for kids
– May enjoy new found responsibilities
– Sense of independence
– Relief that family is functioning well
• Coping with changes can be challenging for kids
– Difficult time accepting changes
– Stressed, depressed, and having difficulty getting things done
– Feel unsupported and worried how will make it through
• Most of the time there is a mixture of both responses!
Stage Five:
Anticipation of Return
• Timeframe: About 6 weeks before the Service Member
Returns
• Homecoming is coming!
• Family is happy, excited, and feeling boost of energy
• Trying to make everything “perfect” for return
• Sense of relief that Service Member will be home
combined with worries about whether or not they will be
the same
• If Service Member came home on leave at some point
during deployment, that experience may be what family
members expect:
– Positive Leave Experience = Positive Homecoming
– Challenging Leave Experience = Challenging Homecoming
Stage Six:
Return Adjustment & Renegotiation
• Timeframe: About 6 weeks after the Service Member
returns
• During time of separation Service Member and all family
members have changed
• Changes may hold pleasant surprises or may cause
conflict
• Family members may feel overwhelmed by Service
Member attempts to get to know everyone again
• Everyone needs space and time to readjust
• Entire family must begin to renegotiate how household
will look now that everyone is together again
Stage Seven:
Reintegration & Stabilization
• Timeframe: Up to 6 month (and beyond) after the
Service Member returns
• Family continues to adjust to having Service Member
home
• A “new normal” is established regarding routines and
expectations
• Members may begin to feel secure, relaxed, and
comfortable with one another again
• If readjustment challenges resurface, support is
important. . . It’s okay to ask for help if you need it!
Strengths for Youth Resulting
from Deployment
• Fosters maturity and personal growth
• Encourages independence, flexibility, and adaptability
• Builds skills for adjusting to separation & loss faced later
in life
• Strengthens family bonds
• Increases understanding of civics – relationship with
community, etc.
• Builds resilience
• What other strengths result from deployment?
Symptoms of Deployment Stress in
the School Setting
• Unable to resume normal
class assignments/
activities
• Continued high levels of
emotional response (i.e.,
crying & intense sadness)
• Difficulty concentrating
in school
• Angry, violent, or
depressed feelings
expressed verbally or
through drawings and
play
• Intentionally hurt self or
others
• Gain or lose significant
amount of weight in
period of weeks
• Discontinue care of
personal appearance
• Exhibit possible
alcohol/drug use/abuse
• Frequent absences
• Experience decline in
performance & grades
that doesn’t improve over
time
The Tough Topics Series
for Educators:
•Booklet
•2-Page Topic Sheets
•Available at no cost at:
http://www.k12.wa.us/
OperationMilitaryKids/
Resources.aspx
Overview:
•17 Pages
•Overview of Topics
•“How to Help”
Strategies
•Additional Resources
Content: Page 1
How Educators Can Offer
Support to Kids:
•Listen
•Ask questions as needed
•Acknowledge feelings and support
healthy expression
•Help them feel physically safe
•Help maintain sense of hope by
taking action
•Expect & respond to significant
changes in behavior
•Coordinate & communicate
effectively between school & home
Content: Pages 3 & 4
Strength Resulting
from Deployment:
•Fosters maturity
•Emotional growth & insight
•Encourages independence,
flexibility and adapting to
change
•Builds skills for adjusting to
separations & losses faced
later in life
•Strengthens family bonds
•Promotes awareness &
understanding of importance
of civic duty
Content: Page 5
Homecoming &
Reunion Tips for
Educators:
•Focus on students &
classroom learning
environment
•Provide structure
•Maintain objectivity
•Be patient and reduce
workload as needed
•Listen
•Be sensitive to language
and cultural needs
•Acknowledge & validate
feelings
Content: Page 9
Stages of Grief & Loss
•Shock  Denial Anger 
Bargaining Acceptance
Developmental Impact
& How to Help
•Infants & Toddlers
•Pre-School
•Elementary School
•Middle School
•High School
Tough Topics 2-Page
Information Pages:
•Deployment
•Homecoming & Reunion
•Coping with Stress
• Impact of Grief & Loss
•Dealing with Death
•Fostering Resilience
•Talking About Violence,
Terrorism & War
Supporting Military Kids During Deployment
Content:
•Stages of Deployment
•Symptoms of
Deployment Related
Stress in the Classroom
•Teacher Intervention
Strategies
•Strengths Resulting
from Deployment
Welcome Home:
Military Kids, Homecoming & Reunion
Content:
•3-Stages of
Homecoming/Reunion
•Kid’s Developmental
Reactions
•Tips for Educators
Helping Kids Cope with Stress
Content:
•Spectrum of Stressors
•Developmental Signs of
Stress
•Age Specific Strategies to
Help
•Tips for Educators
Impact of Grief & Loss
Content:
•Understanding the Grief &
Loss Process
•Response of Grieving
Child/Youth
•Academic
•Behavioral
•Emotional
•Social
•Physical
•Spiritual
•How to Help – Infants &
Toddlers through High School
Fostering Resilience In Kids
Content:
•Reducing Risk + Increasing
Protection = Resilience
•Four Steps to Help Foster
Resilience
•Tips for Fostering Resilience
in the Classroom
Dealing with Death
Content:
•Basic Understanding of How
Kids Deal with Death
•Developmental Impact of
Death on Kids
•Elementary
•Middle School
•High School
•Behaviors Indicating Need for
Professional Help
Talking to Kids About Violence, Terrorism & War
Contents:
•How Educators Can Offer
Support
•Tips for Talking to Kids
About Tough Stuff
How might these be
helpful to you?
Questions?
For more
information
contact:
Mona M. Johnson
WA State Office of
Superintendent of Public
Instruction
(360) 725-6050
[email protected]
http://www.k12.wa.us/
OperationMilitaryKids/
Resources.aspx
Final Thought . . .
“Never doubt that a small
group of thoughtful,
committed citizens can
change the world.
Indeed, it is the only thing
that ever has.” - Margaret Mead