Iowa National Guard Youth and Teen Program

1. Iowa National Guard Youth and Teen Program Overview & Pre-Deployment Brief

2. Mission Statement The Iowa National Guard Youth Program exists to… …promote and sustain the quality of life and resiliency of National Guard families by providing secure, timely, flexible, high-quality support services and enrichment programs to National Guard children and youth.

3. What the Youth Program Does • Plan and implement state-level youth events • Provide resource support for Families • Conduct educator trainings • Resolve/refer military youth-specific issues • Develop youth-specific curriculum/briefings • Recruit and train volunteers • Community capacity building • Serve as the youth SME at the state level • Provide support to various state-level programs • Participate in various community programs

4. Military Child Education Coalition (MCEC) • MCEC focuses on ensuring quality educational opportunities for all military-connected children affected by mobility, family separation, and transition • Works collaboratively with Youth Program to offer trainings in Iowa

5. State Youth Symposium • Annual symposium held in Des Moines each spring • Held in conjunction with the State Family Readiness Conference • Youth and teens are grouped by age to participate in exciting activities

6. Our Military Kids • This organization provides up to $500 in grant money for various youth extracurricular activities • Requirements: • Service Member must be on Title 10 orders • Children of a wounded or fallen National Guard Service Member are also eligible for grants • Must not have received a grant previously for this deployment • Must be for an approved extracurricular activity

7. Our Military Kids :Application Process • Applications may be submitted online: • www.ourmilitarykids.org • By phone: • 703-734-6654 *Complete the form specific to your service branch.

8. Child Care Aware of America (CCAA) • Previously known as NACCRRA • CCAA is our nation's leading voices for child care • CCAA works with more than 700 state and local Child Care Resource and Referral agencies nationwide • These agencies help ensure that families in 99 percent of all populated ZIP codes in the United States have access to high-quality, affordable child care

9. CCA For Military Families • CCAA is working with the U.S. Military Services to help those who serve in the military find and afford child care that suits their unique needs • Through several innovative civilian/military efforts between the Services, CCAA and Child Care Resource and Referral agencies (CCR&Rs) are building the quality and capacity of child care throughout the country

10. Operation Military Child Care (OMCC) • OMCC is a fee assistance program available to: • Service Members on Title 10 • Families of the Fallen (Survivors of Fallen Warriors) • Wounded Warriors • Includes ADOS only if… • In support of overseas contingency operations • A period of 30 or more days

11. Military Child Care In Your Neighborhood (NCCYN) • MCCYN is a fee assistance program available to: • Service Members on Title 32 orders (ARG) • Army Federal Technicians • Army Civilians

12. Additional Eligibility Requirements The following requirements must also be met: • If Service Member is married, the spouse must be… • Currently working • Actively looking for work* • Currently attending school* *Documentation of spouse’s income or education is not required for Wounded Warriors or for the Respite Care program. • If the Service Member is single, same requirements apply to legal guardians at time of deployment

13. Give Army Parents A Break Respite Care • Available to Army Guard Members on Title 10 • Eligible for up to 16 hours or child care every month • Respite Care is available to: • Army Guard Members on Title 10 • Army Guard Members on Wounded, Ill, or Injured Status • Survivors of Fallen Warriors

14. Air Guard Wounded Warrior Program • Wounded Warriors Program is a fee assistance program • Air Guard Members must be enrolled in a Wounded Warriors program recognized by the Air Force to qualify for this program • Fee assistance rate is determined on a case by case basis

15. Hero & mobilization Packs • These resources are available to youth dealing with an upcoming or recent deployment of a loved one • Hero Pack • For youth ages 3-12 • Each back pack contains family support materials, communication tools, and fun items • Mobilization Pack • For youth ages 13 and up • A collection of resources collected by fellow Military teens to help their fellow Military teens deal with the challenges associated with a loved one’s deployment • Both of these resources are available from the Iowa Child and Youth Coordinators

16. School Related Issues Is your child having school issues related to military life? • Talk with your child’s teacher about the deployment as soon as possible • Working together with the teacher leads to more positive outcomes for children with a deployed parent

17. School issues (cont.) • Contact Child & Youth Coordinators: • Youth Program staff are available to offer on-site trainings to educators and school systems • Help problem solve school related concerns • Provide resources for educators

18. Deployment – What To Expect • Reactions to a loved ones deployment based on a variety of factors such as age of the child, previous deployment history, and location of deployment • The change and adjustment is stressful for children and adults • Typical reactions at various ages may not reflect your child’s unique experience

19. Reactions By Age (1-6 years) • Toddlers (1-3 years) • Reaction is largely dependent on remaining care giver • Tantrums, being tearful and changes in eating or sleeping patterns are common • Preschooler (3-6 years) • Clinginess, thumb sucking, bed wetting, separation anxiety and changes in sleep are more common when stressed • Signs of irritability, low energy, physical complaints such as stomach aches • Their imaginative thinking can lead to feelings of guilt that they were responsible for their parent leaving • Increases in attention-seeking behavior are common

20. Reactions By Age (6-12 years) • This age group understands some of the realities of deployment and often worry about the safety risks • May act out , be irritable, or whine more • Physical complaints such as stomach and head aches can be a sign of excessive worry or stress

21. Reactions By Age (teens) • Greatest awareness of dangers related to combat deployments • Sensitive to reaction of peers and can feel isolated is others express negative views about the military conflict • Increased rebellion is common • As with younger children irritability and challenging behaviors are typical

22. Strategies By Age (1-6 years) • Remaining caregiver must take care of self…if you are doing well, your young child will do better as well • Maintain routines as much as possible • Provide reassurance through positive attention • Set aside play time with the child • Address false beliefs

23. Strategies By Age (6-12 years) • Maintain routines and expectations • Listen to your children. Allow them to express worries and feelings • Be honest and use age appropriate communication to discuss the deployment • Otherwise all they will know is what they hear from peers or media • Provide reassurance on a regular basis • Help them identify their entire network of support (i.e. grandparents, teachers, aunts, and other important people) • Understanding their many sources of support can increase their feeling of security

24. Strategies By Age (Teens) • Maintain open communication: teens understand the potential consequences of war and benefit more from open and honest communication. • Model healthy coping skills. • Allowing them to see your sadness/worry and how you handle it is one of the best ways for them to learn how to manage similar feelings. • Look for signs of high risk behaviors and help teens identify healthier strategies to manage stress • Help them identify other sources of support and encourage them to share their concerns with another safe adult • Include teens in discussions regarding significant changes in routine

25. Be Proactive • There are a lot of deployment-related resources available, but it may take some time and research to find the ones most appropriate for you • Reach out to FRG and State Youth Staff…we can help you find the resources that are best for you

26. Contact Jeremy Van Wyk Lead Child & Youth Coordinator, IANG Office: 515.252.4040 Cell: 515.689.2617 Email: jeremy.vanwyk@us.army.mil Audrey Giese Child and Youth Coordinator, IANG Office: 515.757.3064 Cell: 515.897.8168 Email: audrey.giese.ctr@us.army.mil