Transcript Document

Supporting Military-Connected Children
Through Transitions
www.MilitaryChild.org
1
Learning Outcomes
Participants will….
• Learn facts and information about the
military child and military culture
• Recognize and address the social, emotional
and academic issues associated with
transitions of the military-connected child
• Develop a list of resources to assist the
military child/family in the school setting
www.MilitaryChild.org
frequent moves
deployments/separations
reintegration
profoundly changed parents
Military Facts & Numbers
•All volunteer force since 1973 (40 years)
•About 1.4 million service members on active duty
•Army
•Navy
•Marine Corps
•Coast Guard
•Air Force
•About 1.4 million service members in National Guard/
Reserve Forces
•Army National Guard (states)
•Air National Guard (states)
•Army Reserves
•Navy Reserves
•Marine Corps Reserves
•Air Force Reserves
•Coast Guard Reserves
www.MilitaryChild.org
Military Facts & Numbers
Entire military = <1% of entire US population
<25% of 17-24 yr olds meet standards to enter
(medical, educational, legal)
All branches
50% are below age 25
85% male
Rural, less affluent
Ethnic minority backgrounds over-represented
High school degree or equivalent
70% have at least some college credit
About half are married
10% are dual-military marriages
Marry younger than non-military counterparts
5
Generally true situations
•Active duty service members & their families
•Live on or near a military base
•More immersed in military culture
•More likely to have access to and utilize
military support systems
•Health care
•Family support centers
•Confounding factors:
•Size of the military installation
•Size of the surrounding community
6
Confounding Factors
•Size of the military installation
•Ft Huachuca, Arizona –small community,
1 high school, 90% military connection in
most neighborhoods
•Size of the surrounding community
•Ft Belvoir, Virginia – multiple
opportunities in choices of where to live,
which schools to attend – military
presence is more dispersed.
7
Generally true situations
•National Guard & Reserve members & their
families
•Live and work in communities across the
country
•Less likely to have ready access to
military-specific support mechanisms
•Families may be less likely to feel
connected to the military culture – but
depends on career path prior to Guard/
Reserve service
•“Daddy’s Hobby”
8
Can you identify the military
connected children in your
school?
How?
Who Are the Military Children?
(from Promoting the Resilience of Military Children Through Effective Programs,
Center for Naval Analysis, Nov 2012)
•Four million children currently connected with the US
military
•Half of them have one or more parents on active duty
•Rest have parents who are veterans of the last
decade’s wars
•Most are very young; only one in five is a teenager
www.MilitaryChild.org
Who Are the Military Children? (cont)
•37% are under age of 6
•35% are ages 6-12
•Military children live in nearly every zip code in the
country
•Usually attend public schools in civilian communities
•May live with grandparents during periods of parental
deployment
•Rely on older siblings and other extended family for care
www.MilitaryChild.org
What makes someone a military
connected child?
•A child who cares deeply and worries about someone in the
military who could be Active Duty, National Guard, Reserve,
Retired, or a Veteran of the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, or
Coast Guard
•Parent
•Sibling
•Extended Family (Grandparents, Aunts, Uncles, Cousins)
•Step-parents
•Close family friend
•Teachers or coaches (Think about the possibility of
deployment for a star coach or the ONLY AP Calculus teacher
in a high school.)
www.MilitaryChild.org
Distribution of Military-Connected Children
by Type of School Environment
13
Please write on your index card:
•
•
•
•
Best friend
Favorite activity
Local restaurant
Mentor
www.MilitaryChild.org
Grief
How do you define grief?
Grief:
In common terms, it is a heartfelt
longing for what we had before and
is no longer….
“There is no short,
orderly or pain-free way
through grief”
Military Widow
Joanne M. Steen
Helping Children Grieve & Grow
A Guide For Those Who Care
By Donna O’Toole with Jerre Cory
..we have written a CAN-DO booklet for you.
When a child is grieving there is much you
can do to provide the conditions that will
promote growth.
To help a child grieve and grow is a great
undertaking. Thanks for being there.
A loss can be of a person, a place, an
animal, an object, or even a dream or a
hope.
6 categories of childhood loss:
1. Relationship loss
2. Loss of objects that give comfort &
connection
3. Loss of a secure, familiar environment
4. Loss of self
5. Loss of skills, abilities and competencies
6. Loss of familiar habits and routine
What can you do now?
Be there.
Acknowledge the loss by recognizing
and naming it
To identify a child’s loss is a way to
show that the child’s experience is
important and real.
Primary loss
Secondary loss
Think of Developmental Stages using a
camera lens.
Children may not know the language of
death, grief, and loss.
Use children’s literature to give
them context.
When Dinosaurs Die
Physical reactions
Mental reactions
Spiritual reactions
Behavioral & social reactions
Feelings – emotional reactions
The Emotional Cycles of Deployment
7 stage cycle
Reintegration &
Stabilization
Return
Adjustment &
Renegotiation
Detachment &
Withdrawal
Anticipation
of Return
Emotional
Disorganization
Recovery &
Stabilization
Published in 2006
Anticipation
of Departure
Anticipation of Departure
•Alternately feel denial and anticipation of loss
•Tempers may flare
•Attempt to take care of all the items on a Family predeployment checklist
•Striving to make time for "memorable" moments
Stage 1 may begin again before a couple or Family has
time to renegotiate a shared vision of who they are
after the changes from the last deployment
Detachment and Withdrawal
•Service members become more psychologically
prepared for deployment, focused on mission/unit
•May create emotional distance within the marriage
•Sadness and anger occur as couples attempt to protect
themselves from the hurt of separation
As this stage happens more often and more frequently, marital
problems may escalate. When a husband or wife must repeatedly
create emotional "distance", they may gradually shut down their
emotions. It may seem easier to just feel "numb" rather than sad.
This lack of emotional connection with a spouse can lead to
difficulties in a marriage.
How might this impact the child?
Emotional Disorganization
•With back to back deployments, you might think that
this stage of adjusting to new responsibilities and
being alone would get easier
•Although a military spouse may be familiar with the
routine, (s)he may also be experiencing "burn-out" and
fatigue from the last deployment
•Many feel overwhelmed at starting this stage again
Recovery and Stabilization
•Here, spouses realize they are fundamentally resilient
and able to cope with the deployment.
•They develop increased confidence and a positive
outlook.
•With back to back deployments, spouses may find it
hard to muster the emotional strength required
•Many resources are available to provide needed
support
Anticipation of Return
•This is generally a happy and hectic time spent
preparing for the return of the service member
•Spouses, children and parents of the service member
need to talk about realistic plans and expectations for
the return and reunion
Return Adjustment and Renegotiation
•Couples and Families must reset expectations and
renegotiate roles
•Open communication is key to successful adjustment
and renegotiation
•Families must be prepared to deal with the effects of
combat stress on the returning service member
•Troops with combat stress are often irritable, guarded, and
want to be alone
•Some may use increased alcohol or drugs in an attempt to
"numb" the emotional pain they experience
•Attempts at renegotiation may result in increasing
marital arguments
Reintegration and Stabilization
•Couple and Family stabilize their relationships anew
•Presence of combat stress can severely disrupt the
stabilization process
•Permanent Change of Station (PCS) move immediately
upon the return of the service member complicates
reintegration
•Back to back deployments create stress as Families
stabilize only to begin the deployment cycle again
This stage can take up to 6 months, which may overlap
with restarting stage 1
Practical Application
•Knowing the stage of deployment and deployment
history can provide valuable information on feelings,
emotions and behaviors in the school or sports setting
•Each child will have a unique deployment situation
•Cannot make assumptions about deployment
experiences or timelines based on others or
personal experiences
•Obtain and maintain a detailed and documented
timeline
•Anticipate what the child may be about to
experience
•When is “testing” in relationship to the cycles
of deployment
•SAT, ACT, College applications
•AP end of course testing
•National Standards testing
Let students hear you say:
The emotions you experience during the
cycles of deployment are a normal reaction to
an abnormal situation unique to the military.
Positive Effects of Deployment
Both active duty and Reserve component
spouses report positive changes in their
children due to deployments.
(ADSS 2008; RCSS 2008)
Active duty:
Closeness of family members
Pride in having a military parent
Increased level of responsibility
Reserve Component:
Pride in having a military parent
Closeness of family members
Increased level of responsibility
Social Support
Supportive social relationships are a resilience factor critical
to healthy family coping
(Spera, 2008; Wiens & Boss, 2006)
Spouses who report more social support also report less
stress. (ADSS 2006)
Children and adolescents who feel supported by others cope
better.
(Perkins & Borden, 2003)
Sense of community is predicted by unit support and informal
community support.
(Bourg & Segal, 1999;Bowen et al., 2000; Burrell et al., 2003; Rohall &
Martin)
National Guard and Reserve families are widely dispersed
and typically do not have access to the same level of
informal community support
(Carroll et al., 2008; Faber et al., 2008; Wisher & Freeman, 2006)
Although 70% of Reserve component spouses report that
support from their military community is important when
coping with deployments.
(RCSS 2008)
Communication
Consistent and regular communication of Service
member to family while on deployment is critical
to sense of connection and family resiliency
(Bell et al., 1999; Wiens & Boss, 2006)
91% Spouses report communication with a deployed
parent an important factor in their child coping with
deployment.
(ADSS 2008; RCSS 2008)
Problems communicating with family while on
deployment predicts greater stress for the
Service member and his/her family.
(Ender, 1995)
70% of active duty and 69% of Reserve component
spouses report having technical problems with
communication during deployment.
(ADSS 2008; RCSS 2008)
Take Away Messages from Research
• There are signs of increasing stress on spouses
and children relative to length of deployment,
safety, number of deployments.
• Potential for greater marital stress = interventions
which target marital strengths and enhancement
BEFORE the service member returns
• Target Strengths of families and individuals to
develop and support their resiliency and wellbeing
• Target Positive effects to build strength and
continued resiliency
The Profoundly Changed Parent
Visible and Invisible Injuries
PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder)
TBI (Traumatic Brain Injury)
Traumatic Brain Injury
Neurologic injury
Possible physical, cognitive, behavioral,
and emotional symptoms
Range
Mild
Moderate
Severe
Penetrating
Battlemind Training System Office
Mild Traumatic Brain Injury (mTBI)
Type of concussion
Results from a “blow to the head”
Does NOT result in obvious physical
injury
Don’t have to be knocked out to have a
mTBI
May be dazed, confused, had your “bell
rung”
If knocked out, for less than 30 min
Battlemind Training System Office
Symptoms of mTBI
Headache
Confusion
Dizziness
Blurred vision or tired eyes
Ringing in the ears
Change in ability to smell or taste
Sensitivity to sound or light
Nausea/vomiting
Irritability (possibly anger or aggression)
Fatigue
Change in sleep patterns
Mood changes
Trouble with memory, concentration, attention, or
thinking
Battlemind Training System Office
Invisible Injuries
Hardest for children to understand
Why does a parent seem angry or sad?
Why does he forget things or just seem
“out of it”?
Help the child understand an injury may
change the way a parent feels, talks, and
acts.
Validate the child’s confusion, and make
sure that he knows he is not to blame.
Sesameworkshop.org/tlc
Physical Symptoms of PTSD
Fatigue and/or weakness
Chest pain
Pounding heart
Breathing difficulty
Sleep problems (insomnia or nightmares)
Muscle tremors or twitches
Grinding of teeth
Profuse sweating
Headaches
Diarrhea/Intestinal upsets
Battlemind Training System Office – List not all inclusive
Behavioral Symptoms of PTSD
Withdrawal
Pacing & Restlessness
Emotional outbursts
Anti-social acts
Suspicion & Paranoia
Inability to rest
Loss of interest in hobbies
Alcohol consumption
Substance abuse
Battlemind Training System Office – List not all inclusive
Emotional Symptoms of PTSD
Anxiety or panic
Guilt
Fear
Denial
Irritability
Depression
Intense anger
Agitation
Apprehension
Isolating & withdrawing from others
Battlemind Training System Office – List not all inclusive
Create a Personalized Stress
Management Plan
http://www.fosteringresilience.com
/about.php
Dealing with Stress
STRESS
Positive
Coping
Strategies
You feel
better for a
long time
Negative
Coping
Strategies
You feel
better for a
short time
You
feel
awful
From Building Resilience in Children and Teens by Kenneth Ginsburg
www.MilitaryChild.org
Creating Your Personal Stress-Management Plan
Following is a 10-point plan to help you manage stress.
Part 1: Tackling the Problem
Point 1: Identify and Then Address the Problem
Point 2: Avoid stress when possible
Point 3: Let some things go
Part 2: Taking Care of My Body
Point 4: The Power of Exercise
Point 5: Active Relaxation.
Point 6: Eat well.
Point 7: Sleep well.
Part 3: Dealing with Emotions
Point 8: Take instant vacations
Point 9: Release emotional tension.
Part 4: Helping a little can make your world better . . . and help you
feel better
Point 10: Contribute.
Whole Person Wheel
Spiritual
Inner strength
Connection with
God, nature
Purpose
Who
I Am
Daily responsibilities
Time management
Priorities
Logistical
Instructions to complete the
Whole Person Wheel
1. Fill or outline to the first circle if you
have goals in this sector.
2. Fill or outline to the second circle if you
address your goals daily.
3. Fill or outline to the third circle if you
consistently accomplish your goals.
Things You Can Do To Promote
Well-Being and Understanding
Host a “hero day” highlighting service members,
police, firefighters, nurses, and other people whose
job is to help others.
Create a board in your classroom, office, locker
room, or house of worship recognizing service
members.
Invite the military parent to your organization for
Veterans Day or Memorial Day to talk about the
Armed Forces.
Display the member’s Service symbol in your
office or on the child’s classroom door to show
students having a parent in the military.
Things You Can Do To Promote
Well-Being and Understanding
•
Celebrate military-themed months:
•April: Month of the Military Child
•May: National Military Appreciation Month
•November: Military Family Month
•Veteran’s Day, Memorial Day
• Talk about personal strengths and how to use
them during a big change in their life.
• Find out the dates of the parent’s departure, R&R,
and return from deployment.
• Understand that children whose parent has
poorer mental health may experience more emotional
difficulties and more challenges with academic
engagement
Things You Can Do To Promote WellBeing and Understanding
• Reserve slots in classes, athletics, and clubs
for military students who arrive later in the year
• Help children understand that they’re not
alone in their experiences - foreign service
workers, missionaries, truck drivers, airline pilots
all have family separations or frequent moves
•
Educate parents on basic child development:
what information is age-appropriate and what a
normal stress reaction is
MCEC’s Quick Checklist for School Moves
From the Parent/Guardian
Student’s birth certificate
Student’s Social Security Number
Student’s Health Record (immunizations, etc)
Legal documents as needed
Proof of residency/Military orders
School Information
Address, phone numbers, other contact
information
Course description book/grading scale (for 6th
grade & above)
Copy of the Cover and Title page of each
Textbook
School Profile/Handbook
School web page (URL)
MCEC’s Quick Checklist for School Moves
Special Programs Records as Appropriate
Individual Education Plan (IEP)/Individual
Accommodation Plan (504)/Gifted Program
description
English as a Second language (ESL) or
Bilingual Education
At-risk or other Action Plans for
Classroom Modifications
Other Documents & Examples
Writing samples & other work examples
Activities records (co/extracurricular)
Community Service or Service Learning
Academic Recognitions & Competition
Participation
Where to get Math Help?
Parents & students in military families
can get help from a qualified,
professional math tutor 24/7 for free
with Tutor.com for US Military Families.
The program is funded by the
Department of Defense.
Go to www.tutor.com/military to find out
if your family is eligible for free access.
Resources
http://www.aap.org/sections/uniformed
services/deployment/videos.html
Military Youth
Coping with Separation: When Family Members
Deploy
Mr. Poe & Friends Discuss Family Reunion After
Deployment
Sesame Street
Talk, Listen, Connect
Deployments
Homecomings
Changes
When Families Grieve
www.sesamestreetfamilyconnections.org
57
The Future of Children
Journals
RECENT VOLUME
Military Children and Families
Volume 23 Number 2 Fall 2013
Read the full Journal online
Full Journal (2.5 MB)
Executive Summary (118.9 kB)
Policy Brief (606.1 kB)
http://futureofchildren.org/futureofchildren/publications/journals/
58
More Resources
Military Child Initiative, Johns
Hopkins University
www.jhsph.edu/mci/
Military Family Research Institute
www.cfs.purdue.edu.mfri/
59
More Resources
National Military Family
Association:
www.nmfa.org
Operation: Military Kids:
www.operationmilitarykids.org
60
More Resources
The Dougy Center:
www.dougy.org
Zero to Three:
www.zerotothree.org
61
More Resources
Center for the Study of Traumatic
Stress
www.CSTSonline.org
Defense Centers of Excellence for
Psychological Health & Traumatic
Brain Injury
www.dcoe.health.mil
62
More Resources
American Academy of Child and
Adolescent Psychiatry
http://www.aacap.org/publications/factsfa
m/DISASTER.HTM
The National Child Traumatic Stress Network
has an entire section dedicated to medical
traumatization of children, including a toolkit for
healthcare providers.
http://www.nctsn.org/nccts/nav.do?pid=typ_mt
63
Books:
Facing Change: Falling Apart &
Coming Together Again in the Teen
Years by Donna O’Toole (a book about
loss and change for teens)
25 Things to Do When Grandpa
Passes Away, Mom and Dad get
Divorced or the Dog Dies by Laurie
Kanyer (activities to help children
suffering loss or change)
64
More Books:
My Story: Blogs by Four Military Teens by
Michelle Sherman & DeAnn Sherman
Finding my Way: A Teen’s Guide to Living
with a Parent who has Experienced Trauma
by Michelle Sherman & DeAnn Sherman
Helping Children Grieve & Grow: A Guide for
Those who Care by Donna O’Toole
65
Reflection…3,2,1
• 3 new ideas I learned
• 2 questions I still have
• 1 action I will take as a result of this day
www.MilitaryChild.org