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Military Families

Military Families. Mary Quehrn, Naval Station Everett New Parent Support Home Visitation Program Mary.quehrn@navy.mil www.navylifepnw.com. Military Families with Young Children. 100,000 children born to active duty service members each year.

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Military Families

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  1. Military Families Mary Quehrn, Naval Station Everett New Parent Support Home Visitation Program Mary.quehrn@navy.mil www.navylifepnw.com

  2. Military Families with Young Children • 100,000 children born to active duty service members each year. • 40,000 active duty families have children under age 5. • 25% of children of reservists and National Guard are under age 5. • 83, 233 Active Duty single parents

  3. Military Families are Resilient Optimistic Self-Reliant Mission driven for a larger cause Aware of their sacrifice Value resourcefulness

  4. The Military Family • Pride • Commitment • Sacrifice

  5. Strengths • Commitment and reliance • Sense of pride and honor • Support and understanding from others in the military community • Experience of diverse settings and people from across the country and around the world

  6. Challenges • Isolation • Frequent moves • Disruption of relationships • Risks for family conflict (marital, emotional distress, domestic violence)

  7. Military Life is Unique • Deployments • Temporary Tours of Duty • On duty 24/7 • Exercises and Alerts • No notice inspections • Change of Station (relocating)

  8. Guard and Reservists • Leave their civilian job to perform military mission • Often do not live near installations for support services • Change health care provider from civilian to military • Live in communities that may not have an understanding of military life

  9. Learn About Your Families Do you identify the military families in your program? How do you identify military families? Do military families get any special considerations?

  10. Complicated Deployments • Repeated Deployments • Extended Deployments • Since 911 Deployments unpredictable in length and frequency • Other situations that could turn deployment cycle to an emotional downward spiral for the families • Complicated by the families experience of military culture and expectations of the military for military families.

  11. Emotional Cycle of Deployment

  12. Parenting Infant and Toddlers Today Survey 1,615 interviews of caregivers of infants and toddlers in a public opinion poll conducted for ZERO TO THREE • 69% do not realize that by six months that most babies can experience fear and sadness. • 65% did not think a child can begin to sense and be affected by parental mood • 52% believed that a child’s ability to feel good or bad about themselves occurred after age 2. • 43% believed a child could control their emotions by age 3. • 20% believed children can control their emotions by age 2.

  13. Impact of Deployment on Young Children • Changes in family life • New systems/professionals • Changes in physical environment • Changes in child care • Changes in social contacts and friends • Sights/sounds/ touch/ smells • Anticipatory grief • Separations/loss of primary caregiver and the activities and routines that person represents • Possible complicated grief/bereavement • Resilience

  14. Possible Behavioral Reactions to Stress • Increased clinginess, crying and whining. • Greater fear of separation from parents or primary guardian • Increase in aggressive behavior • More withdrawn and difficult to engage • Can create a challenging cycle of interaction • The remaining parent already stressed by the other parent’s absence

  15. Materials and Resources • Brochures, pamphlets and board books for families • Guides for professionals supporting families • Some materials available free through Military One Source www.militaryonesource.com • Some Materials available through Zero to Three www.zerotothree.org

  16. When Presented with an Opportunity to Help • Be aware of the impact you have on families and they have on you. • Be an active listener. • Talk with families/parents/children during a difficult time • Acknowledge a parent who voices regret, guilt, frustration, or anger • Guide family members to recognize and build on their strengths

  17. Geographic Locations Joint Base Lewis MCChord

  18. Work and Family Life Programs

  19. Military Service Centers • Navy- Fleet and Family Support Center (FFSC) • Army-Army Community Service Center (ACS) • Air Force-Airman & Family Readiness Center • Marines-Marine & Family Programs • Coast Guard-Work Life Programs Child, Youth & School Programs Morale, Welfare & Recreation (MWR)

  20. Command Representatives • Homecomings • Deployment Nights • Trainings • Fairs & Special Events • Return & Reunion • Change of Command

  21. Transition/Relocation • Transition Assistance Program (TAP) • Job Fairs • Sponsor Training • Welcome Aboard • Navy 101

  22. Leadership/Life Skills • Anger & Stress Management • Training Tailored to Commands • Kids’ Deployment Camp

  23. Ombudsman Program • Command Contact

  24. Exceptional Family Member Program • Support Group • Resources • Application Assistance

  25. Family Employment Program • Interviewing • Resume Help • Resources

  26. Deployment Support • Pre-Deployment Nights • Family Readiness Groups • Return & Reunion • Children and Family R&R • Special Events • Homecomings

  27. Individual Augmentee Support • Individual Augmentees (IA’s) • Pre and Post Deployment Briefs • Ongoing Discussion Groups • Coordinate with local medical treatment facilities for mental health and support services • IA Family Members • Ongoing support groups for spouses • Support groups for children offered both on base and at local schools

  28. Counseling and Advocacy Clinical Staff • Adult & Child Counseling • Sexual Assault Prevention Response • D A Victim Advocate • Family Advocacy

  29. New Parent Support Home Visitation Program Home Visitation Support Group for Pregnant Active Duty Participate in Deployment Readiness including Return & Reunion Activities Participate in Events serving Families and Children Parenting Resource/Lending Library with Books, DVD’s Bringing parenting education and resources to military families in their homes

  30. Zero to Three • Coming Together Around Military Families (CTAMF) is an initiative of Military Family Projects at ZERO TO THREE that works to strengthen the resilience of young children across all military service. • Contact: mprojects@zerotothree.org

  31. Handouts • The Emotional Cycle of Deployment • Zero to Three CTAMF Staying Connected • Zero to Three CTAMF Reunification • Zero to Three CTAMF Tips for Helping a Child After Deployment • Zero to Three CTAMF Supporting Your Child While a Parent is Deployed • Zero to Three CTAMF Helping Your Child Prepare for a Parent’s Deployment • Fleet and Family Support Brochure

  32. References Zero to Three, National Center for Infants, Toddlers and Families, Coming Together Around Military Families-JuliaYeary 2011 • Mental Health and Family Support for Military Families with Infants and Young Children • A Special Presentation for Early Care Professionals • Supporting Young Children Before, during and After Deployment: A Special Presentation for Parents

  33. THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU DO TO SUPPORT MILITARY FAMILIES

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