Risk Factors & Common Trends for Military Youth in WA

1. Risk Factors & Common Trends for Military Youth in WA ABA/LAMP Event -- “Meeting the Legal Needs of Military Families and Youth” July 20th, 2011

2. Background on Military Youth Roundtables • Began as a program of the ABA’s Commission on At-Risk Youth • An initiative of former ABA President Karen Mathis. • Commissioners were asked to host roundtables on youth at-risk related topics. • 2006 - The 1st roundtable focusing on military youth occurred at Fort Sam Houston, TX. • In 2007, a similar event was held in DC.

3. The Military Family: Teenagers • The needs of teenagers tend to be overlooked and underserved by legal and social organizations. • 4 subsets of teenagers who are sometimes forgotten and require special attention: teenagers of wounded service members, teenagers with their families on overseas tours, teenagers in National Guard and Reserve families, and those for whom English is a second language. • Teenagers in military families face many of the same perils as their civilian counterparts that greatly elevate their risk, including: abuse, neglect, domestic and dating violence, emotional and/or behavioral problems, gangs, learning disabilities, and poor peer group choices and relationships. • They commit the same juvenile status offenses, such as truancy, curfew violations, and underage drinking which can lead to delinquency, criminal misconduct, and entry into the juvenile justice system.

4. Military Legal Assistance • Military legal assistance attorneys worldwide routinely provide a broad range of services to military personnel and their family members, including divorces, legal separations, child custody, and guardianships. • Attorney-client interaction concerning such matters often reveals domestic situations and circumstances where children are at-risk and where non-legal, family support is appropriate. • Military legal assistance and preventive programs should be enlarged and expanded so that they reach every adult in the military family – every enlisted member, officer, spouse and dependent child.

5. 2009 CCYJRoundtable Goals Create a network of dedicated advocates for military youth at-risk, by bringing together a diverse group of professionals. Enhance the range of perspectives to better understand the challenges posed to youth of military families who are at-risk of entering the juvenile justice and/or foster care systems Update information on the work/research currently being done to serve the youth of military families Specify gaps in services to military youth in targeted areas – e.g. the children of Guard, Reserve and Veteran families Establish a long-term communications network and commitments for future collaboration in working to improve services for military youth – in particular, those with involvement in the juvenile justice and/or foster care systems.

6. 2009 CCYJ Roundtable Recommendations Networking & Raising Awareness Begin Data Collection Develop plans/vehicles for improvements in communication Institute inter-disciplinary and civilian-military training

7. 2010 CCYJRoundtable Goals Build on 2009 CCYJ Roundtable Recommendations. Create a network of dedicated advocates for military youth at-risk, by bringing together a diverse group of professionals. Enhance the range of perspectives to better understand the challenges posed to youth of military families who are at-risk of entering the juvenile justice and/or foster care systems. Update information on the work/research currently being done to serve the youth of military families. Specify gaps in services to military youth in targeted areas – e.g. the children of Guard, Reserve and Veteran families. Establish a long-term communications network and commitments for future collaboration in working to improve services for military youth – in particular, those with involvement in the juvenile justice and/or foster care systems.

8. Data: Risk Factors & Trends

9. Source: Robert Anda, The Health and Social Impact of Growing Up With Adverse Childhood Experiences: The Human and Economic Costs of the Status Quo 6 (2007), available at http://www.acestudy.org/files/Review_of_ACE_Study_with_references_summary_table_2_.pdf.

10. Data Source: Maxia Dong et al., The Interrelatedness of Multiple Forms of Childhood Abuse, Neglect, and Household Dysfunction, 28 Child Abuse & Neglect 771 (2004).

11. Data Source: Maxia Dong et al., The Interrelatedness of Multiple Forms of Childhood Abuse, Neglect, and Household Dysfunction, 28 Child Abuse & Neglect 771 (2004)

12. Data Source: Maxia Dong et al., The Interrelatedness of Multiple Forms of Childhood Abuse, Neglect, and Household Dysfunction, 28 Child Abuse & Neglect 771 (2004).

13. OSPI Data: Healthy Youth Survey • Healthy Youth Survey - a statewide survey (grades 6, 8, 10, 12) to measure health risk behaviors for youth in WA. • Most recently conducted in 2010. • Results help evaluate needs-assessment data for school districts, and a number of public and state agencies. • Collaborating agencies: • OSPI, DoH, DSHS/DBHR, FPC, DoC, and LCB. http://www.k12.wa.us/SafetyCenter/HealhyYouthSurvey/default.aspx

14. HYS: Survey Factors • Alcohol, tobacco, and other substance use • Safety and Violence Behaviors • Unintentional injuries, bullying/harassment, violent behaviors and school safety. • Risk and Protective Factors • Family, School, Peer-Individual and Community. • Health and Health-Related Behaviors • Weight/obesity, dietary behaviors, physical activity, asthma, depression/suicide. http://www.k12.wa.us/SafetyCenter/HealhyYouthSurvey/default.aspx

15. Population Breakdown by County > 100 101 – 500 501 – 1,000 1,001 – 5,000 5,001 – 10,000 > 10,000

16. TOP 4 Counties in WA • Based on 2010 Census Data, and compared to military youth data per county. • Includes youth who have parents in all branches of the service in WA. Source: Census Data for 2010; figures provided by the Washington National Guard

17. National Snapshot 279,319 174,401 126,284 481,103 368,850 327,342 • Primarily early & middle childhood: • 78% under age 11 with Active Duty Parents • 80% under age 15 with Reserve Parents • Married Households: • 55% for Active Duty • 49% for Reserve Source: Sogomonyan, F., & Cooper, J.L., (2010). Trauma faced by children of military families: What every policymaker should know. National Center for Children in Poverty. (May 2010 Brief)

18. Top 5 Factors of Interest • Alcohol Use • Attempted Suicide • Grades – C, D, F’s • Physical Fighting • Carrying a Weapon http://www.k12.wa.us/SafetyCenter/HealhyYouthSurvey/default.aspx

19. Age As A Risk Factor Literature and Data suggest: • Military youth 11-17 years, tend to have higher prevalence of emotional/behavioral difficulties than the general population. • Parental deployment places school-aged youth at greater risk for: • Adverse mood/behavior changes (anger, apathy, anxiety, depression, withdrawal) • Decline in school performance • Loss of interest in normal activities • Social isolation

20. Risk Factor: Alcohol Use http://www.k12.wa.us/SafetyCenter/HealhyYouthSurvey/default.aspx

21. Risk Factor: Attempted Suicide http://www.k12.wa.us/SafetyCenter/HealhyYouthSurvey/default.aspx

22. Risk Factor: Grades (C,D,F’s) http://www.k12.wa.us/SafetyCenter/HealhyYouthSurvey/default.aspx

23. Risk Factor: Fighting http://www.k12.wa.us/SafetyCenter/HealhyYouthSurvey/default.aspx

24. Risk Factor: Carrying a Weapon http://www.k12.wa.us/SafetyCenter/HealhyYouthSurvey/default.aspx

25. Lowering Risk for Juvenile Justice Involvement • Dynamic risk factors (Need to Target) • Predictive of criminal behavior, but can change with appropriate interventions • i.e. Substance use problems • Static risk factors • Predictive of criminal behavior but cannot change with any type of intervention. • i.e. Prior criminal history http://www.k12.wa.us/SafetyCenter/HealhyYouthSurvey/default.aspx

26. Protective Factors: Increasing Resiliency & Support • Despite challenges of parental deployments, most military youth show themselves to be adaptive and resilient. • Family support can combat negative experiences. • Perceived support increases resiliency. • Families who receive enhanced services, feel supported and tend to experience less deployment related stress. • From their community, the military, or religious organizations. http://www.k12.wa.us/SafetyCenter/HealhyYouthSurvey/default.aspx

27. Risk of Child Maltreatment • Increased risk of CM with both deployment to and returns from combat. • Due to significant level of family stress. • Before 2003 - Rates of CM in military families were slightly lower than for non-military families • After 2003 - CM rates are higher. • CM in families of enlisted soldiers was 42% higher during combat deployment than during non-deployment. • Pertained to substantiated CM physical/sexual/emotional. Source: Sogomonyan, F., & Cooper, J.L., (2010). Trauma faced by children of military families: What every policymaker should know. National Center for Children in Poverty. (May 2010 Brief)

28. 2010 CCYJ Roundtable RecommendationsMoving Forward… Continue to identify the target population OSPI and Census data Develop survey tool to collect court system data Improvements to Service Referral System Training opportunities School administrators and educators Judges and juvenile court counselors/facilitators Secure funding for continued program development Grant opportunity through DHHS Continued regional networking & collaborations 2011 CCYJ Roundtable – Fall 2011*

29. Question for Discussion What are the unmet needs of military youth (and families) that are drawing them into the juvenile justice system and foster care systems?

30. National Attention • Newsweek Article – “Daddy, Why Is My School Falling Down?” • http://www.newsweek.com/2011/06/26/military-children-s-schools-in-disrepair.html • In our own backyard – • Hillside Elementary School at Fort Lewis, WA • Asbestos-ridden floors and rotting awnings • Estimated that ¾ of base schools are either beyond repair or in need of extensive renovation. • Pentagon estimates $4Billion is needed in renovations and new construction. • 1978 Defense Dependents’ Education Act • Guarantee to military families – “…a quality of life that reflects the high standards and pride of the nation they defend.”

31. Programs Currently Available in WA • PSESD’s - “I Am A Military Kid” Support Group • YLS/CMI – Youth Level of Service/Case Management Inventory • Utilized by a variety of JJ corrections professionals • Interactive Website/Social Networking Project – T2, Ft. Lewis/McChord Base • Others? • List of Legal Services Available?