Transcript No Slide Title

OPERATION MILITARY KIDS…
4-H Serving Military Families
in Our Own Backyard
Partnering to Support
National Guard
and Reserve
Youth and Families
Operation: Military Kids…
4-H serving military families
in our own backyard
•Military Kids who live in local communities
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Suddenly have different needs, but still “look” the same
Discover their world is turned upside down
Find usual support systems are no longer adequate
Lack “connections to other Teens in similar situations”
Impacted by intense and frequent media coverage
Extension staff, volunteers and 4-H youth, along with
schools and other community groups can form new support
systems and reach out to geographically isolated military
youth and their families in the various stages of the
deployment cycle.
Identified Issues for Children
and Youth in National Guard
and Reserve Families
•Lack of educator awareness and sensitivity to needs of children /
youth of deployed members
•Possible transition from one school to another
•Scholastic achievement / opportunities
•Understanding and dealing with the media
•Lack of community awareness of and support for family needs
•Few resources to help parents and children cope
•Lack of proximity to installation Child and Youth Services programs
•Accessibility and affordability of child care, after-school programs
and youth activities; children home alone
•Lack of summer programs for military connected children / youth
Identified Issues for Children
and Youth in National Guard
and Reserve Families
(continued)
•Geographically dispersed families and lack of connection with other
youth and families in similar situation
•Child separation/anxiety issues regarding safety of deployed parent
•Communication with deployed parent
•Deployed parent absent for significant events
•Less parental involvement from parent at home
•Need to live with extended family
•Changes in financial resources
•Limited opportunities for youth to attend extracurricular activities
•Teens having increased care of home and younger siblings
•Behavioral changes, peer pressure, lower self-esteem
Operation: Military Kids…
4-H serving military families
in our own backyard
WHAT: 4-H Component of Operation Military Kids... An Army Child and Youth
Services Partnership with USDA/4-H, the Military Child Education Coalition, Boys
& Girls Clubs of America, The National Military Family Association, and other
private organizations servicing military youth
WHY: To help relieve the stress on Military children and youth impacted by the
Global War on Terrorism- particularly those with deployed parents.
BY WHOM: AYDP Project Staff, OMK State Pilot Sites, 4-H / Extension staff
WHEN: Jan 2004 and beyond
HOW:
• “Awareness” Workshops for school/community personnel and non military youth
• “Mock deployment” experiences , Youth Lock-ins, Camps, targeted programming
for school-age, middle school and teen children/youth
• On-going support mechanisms, i.e., mentoring, adopting a family, youth buddy
systems, educational support programs, “Speak out for Military Kids”
• Promotional materials targeting various audiences
Operation: Military Kids…
4-H serving military families
in our own backyard
Guiding Principles
•Partnerships and joint commitment at the federal,
state and local level are critical.
•Rapid response to the issues is necessary to affect
change.
•Youth’s best interests are paramount.
•Programs must be replicable.
•Programs must be sustainable.
Operation: Military Kids…
4-H serving military families
in our own backyard
Program Components
•Building Infrastructure Support
•Identifying target audiences, needs, community partners and resources
•Establishing communication links
•Marketing the program
•Implementing Educational Program Options
•Educating the Community – “Speak Out for Military Kids”
•Communication – connecting with deployed parents, understanding media
•Changing Roles and Responsibilities – decision-making, coping, finances
•Providing training on “Supporting the Children of Those
Who Serve in the National Guard and Reserve”
•The Basics – understanding the National Guard, Reserve and deployment
•Issues and Insights – increasing awareness of youth and family issues
•Response and Resilience – exploring potential community responses
•Actions and Reactions – developing action steps
Operation: Military Kids…
4-H serving military families
in our own backyard
Speak Out for Military Kids
•Raises community awareness of issues facing
geographically dispersed military youth and families
• Uses youth-planned and led simulations, interviews
and research to help them understand situations
facing “suddenly military” youth/families
• Develops a “speakers’ bureau” where youth share
experiences and issues through speeches, PSAs,
videos and other materials at schools, 4-H Clubs,
Boys & Girls Clubs and other youth and community
organizations
OMK Strategies for
Connecting with Schools
•Contact identified key resource people at the school, school district or region –
use your local network
•Teachers, counselors, principals, vice-principals
•Resource coordinators at schools or school districts
•Regional education service centers
•Offer training and materials to increase educators’ understanding of issues facing
“suddenly military” children and youth
•Conduct training during teacher in-service days
•Make linkages between the information being offered, coping and transition
strategies and, where appropriate, academic subjects
•Work around school holidays and major events when planning community support
activities for children and youth
•Ensure that the focus is always on improving outcomes for children and youth
Educators hunger for information that can help them
better serve children and youth.
Strategies for
After-school Programs
•Learn about issues faced by children of deployed parents; be
aware of how these may impact program participants
•Involve current participants as “buddies” for new children
•Offer free hours of respite care
•Provide mentors to assist with homework
•Incorporate supportive materials through book clubs, art
activities, computer labs and life skill sessions
•Partner with other community organizations to provide
programs for children during an evening or weekend Family
Readiness Group meeting
Supporting Middle School
and High School Youth
•Learn about the issues and challenges facing older youth of
deployed parents, especially when they assume parental roles
•Encourage Veterans’ and other community groups to provide
scholarships for extracurricular activities
•Find adults or other youth to provide respite care for younger
siblings
•Recruit mentors to assist with homework and other school
challenges
•Partner with other community organizations to provide
programs for older youth during an evening or weekend Family
Readiness Group meeting
Operation: Military Kids…
4-H serving military families
in our own backyard
Operation: Military Kids Pilot States
• Alabama, Arkansas, Idaho, Iowa,
North Carolina, Washington
• California, Florida, Maryland, Missouri,
New Hampshire, New York, Pennsylvania,
Texas, Virginia
4-H Resource Connections
 4-H Specialists – HQDA and Regions
 [email protected]
 4-H State Military Liaisons, State 4-H Offices and
County 4-H Agents/Educators
 Connections in the Community – Schools, Commissions, Committees
and other Youth Organizations
 School Enrichment Programs
 Teacher Training
 Military 4-H Club Grants
 Web Sites
 National 4-H Headquarters (USDA)
http://www.national4-hheadquarters.gov
 National 4-H Youth Directions Council
http://www.n4-hydc.org/who/
USDA/Army Youth Development Project
http://www.usda-army-ydp.org
CYFERnet – Children, Youth & Families Education & Research
Network http://www.cyfernet.mes.umn.edu
 National 4-H Council
http://www.fourhcouncil.edu
Other Resource Connections
Web Sites
 Army and Air National Guard Family Programs
http://www.guardfamily.org
 Military Child Education Coalition
http://www.militarychild.org
 Department of Defense Educational Opportunities
http://www.militarystudent.org
 Army Community Service – Operation READY
http://www.armycommunityservice.org
 Department of Defense Military Family Resource Center
http://www.mfrc-dodqol.org
 Department of Defense DeploymentLINK (Deployment Health Support)
http://www.deploymentlink.osd.mil
 Department of Defense
http://www.defenselink.mil
For More Information
Contact
Darrin Allen
Army Youth Development Coordinator
703-602-4235
[email protected]