Military Support Opportunities
The challenges our world is currently facing can be a trying time for everyone, but especially our military families that are facing deployments of a parent or guardian to the uncertain areas.
Below are 3 stages of deployment and things you may notice about your students if they are experiencing a deployment in the family.
· Pre-Deployment: Anxiety, Anticipation, Mental physical distance denial
· Deployment: Increasing responsibilities which can lead the child to feel overwhelmed, loneliness and missing their service member
· Post-Deployment: Renegotiating Family roles as service member reintegrates back into a parental/guardian role which can lead to distress among the family.
Common stress reactions may include headaches, acting sullen, stomachaches, difficulty concentrating, anger outburst, not engaging in usually enjoyed activities, and difficulty maintaining focus in school.
Ways to support these students:
· Engaging the child in a conversation around concerns regarding the deployment
· Encouraging the families and students to utilize the MFLC program.
· Understanding and positive encouragement while enforcing boundaries when the student is behaving outside of their usual self.
Below you will find resources that are available to pass along to Military Families that are experiencing deployments.
By working together, we can mitigate the negative impact a deployment may have on students and families by fostering resiliency, confidence, coping and connection.
General Family Resources
· https://www.militaryonesource.mil/role/parent/
· https://www.militaryonesource.mil/benefits/child-care-aware-of-america/
· https://www.militaryonesource.mil/special-needs/
· https://www.ourmilitarykids.org/
· https://unitedthroughreading.org/
· https://www.militarychild.org/
· https://www.childcare.gov/consumer-education/military-child-care-financial-assistance
Elementary Age and Younger Resources
· https://sesamestreetformilitaryfamilies.org/topic/deployments/?ytid=zlRZuVIZQcw
· https://www.dodmwrlibraries.org/childrens-corner
· https://thrive.psu.edu/universal-parenting-programs/grow/
· https://www.operationgratitude.com/care-packages/military-families/
· https://www.comfortcrew.org/militaryheroes.html
Teen Resources
· https://thrive.psu.edu/universal-parenting-programs/branch-out/
SSES loves to support our military kids and families.
Webinars are offered throughout the year from Military Children Liaison groups. These are free, online opportunities for learning and fellowship on topics that range from school support to social-emotional learning. Access and sign up for these webinars by clicking the links below.
Staying Connected During a Service Member’s Absence
Identifying How Your Child Learns
There are also some wonderful podcasts offered for Military Families. Click the links below to listen.
MTSS: Identify, Respond, Prevent, and Intervene for a Positive School Environment
Adapting to Meet Military Connected Students' Needs
Links to previous webinars:
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Click on the link above to learn more about Operation Purple Camp.
Operation Purple Camp offers a free, week-long, in person, overnight summer camp experiences to military-connected children. The camp location in North Carolina is located in Elerbee, NC. This camp is owned and operated by North Carolina State University.
Operation Purple Healing Adventures
Click on the link above to learn more about Operation Purple Healing Adventures.
Families will enjoy their own private, hotel-type room with meals in the camp's waterfront view dining facility. Activities and adventures are available for the entire family!
Camp Corral, https://www.campcorral.org/
1 (855) 605-1267 campinfo@campcorral.org
The mission of Camp Corral is to transform the lives of children of wounded, ill, and fallen military heroes by providing free camp, advocacy, and enrichment programs.