Clearinghouse: What Are We About ?

1. Clearinghouse: What Are We About ?

2. The Numbers • 2.7 million service members (1.4 - AD, 1.3 NG & R) less than 1% of U.S. Population • 72% ages 18-30 (AD Only) • 57% Married • 37% with children; 7% single parents • ~2 million military children • 37% of AD live on the installation

3. Military Families Landscape • Military Families demonstrate strength and resiliency in the face of stress and adversity. • Stress: Frequent transitions and high operation tempo. • Multiple deployments have direct and indirect (through non-deployed parental health and well-being) negative effects on families. • Increased internalizing & externalizing problems at home & school. • Marital & relationship strain. • Financial stress, especially for National Guard & Reserve. • Access and consistency of supports and services. • Reintegration and adjustment. • “Invisible injuries” (PTSD &TBI)

4. What is Family Readiness? • Prepared to effectively navigate the challenges of daily living experienced in the unique context of military service; • Equipped with the skills to competently function in the face of challenges; • Awareness of the supportive resources available; and • Able to utilize these skills and resources in managing challenges.

5. Ready families contribute directly to the Service Member’s state of readiness to accomplish the mission at hand. What is Family Readiness? • Prepared to effectively navigate the challenges of daily living experienced in the unique context of military service; • Equipped with the skills to competently function in the face of challenges; • Awareness of the supportive resources available; and • Able to utilize these skills and resources in managing challenges. Clearinghouse for Military Family Readiness

6. Partnership

7. MILITARY EXTENSION PARTNERSHIP 2013 DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE OFFICE OF UNDERSECRETARY OF DEFENSE (MILITARY COMMUNITY & FAMILY POLICY and RESERVE AFFAIRS) NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF FOOD & AGRICULTURE PARTICIPATINGINSTITUTIONS PURDUE UNIVERSITY (OVERALL LEADERSHIP, SUB AWARDS* & INTERNSHIP PROGRAM) NEW COMPETITIVE RFA (CHILD CARE CURRICULUM DEVELOPMENT) NORTH CAROLINA STATE UNIVERSITY (YOUTH EXTENSION SERVICE - PROJECT Y.E.S) OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY (CHILD DEVELOPMENT VIRTUAL LAB SCHOOL, AUTISM PROJECT – PHASE III) eXtension (MILITARY FAMILIES LEARNING NETWORK) UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA (MILITARY R.E.A.C.H. & MILITARY FAMILY READINESS SYSTEM) UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA - LINCOLN (CHILD CARE TRAINING & TECH ASSISTANCE) PENNSYLVANIA STATE UNIVERSITY (CLEARINGHOUSE FOR MILITARY FAMILY READINESS & SUPPORT FOR MILITARY STUDENTS DURING PARENTAL ABSENCE) KANSAS STATE UNIVERSITY (MILITARY ACADEMIC ADVANCEMENT PROGRAM & CHILD/YOUTH DEPLOYMENT SUPPORT) UNIVERSITY OF GEORGIA (COMMUNITY CAPACITY BUILDING) GEORGE WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY (SECOND LANGUAGE AND CULTURE EXPOSURE FOR CHILDREN & YOUTH) CORNELL UNIVERSITY (EFMP BENCHMARK STUDY) WEST VIRGINIA UNIVERSITY (MEDICAID PROJECT) * SUB-AWARDS THROUGH PURDUE UNIVERSITY INCLUDE PROJECTS FOCUSED ON ADVENTURE CAMPS (11 STATES AND GERMANY), DATABASE REPORT AND PROGRAM EVALUATION

8. Military Family Research Initiative The Military Family Research Initiative began in 2009 with fundsfrom the OVPR and SSRI. Penn State President Dr. Rodney Erickson Penn State VP Research Dr. Neil Sharkey Military Family Research Initiative Dr. Keith Aronson Dr. Daniel Perkins Social Science Research Institute Dr. Susan McHale Dr. Keith Aronson Dr. Doug Teti Clearinghouse for Military Family Readiness Dr. Daniel Perkins Dr. Keith Aronson

9. Why transition the Clearinghouse to a University-wide Center at PSU? • PSU is a Premier Land Grant University with a long history of ties to the military. • PSU’s strength in translation and implementation science. • The Clearinghouse is carving niche for conducting applied research and evaluation focused on military children, youth, & families

10. Clearinghouse Mission To foster and support interdisciplinary applied research and evaluation, translational and implementation science, and outreach efforts that advances the health and well-being of Military service members and their families.

11. Clearinghouse Goals • Conduct high-quality, innovative applied research. • Increase the speed with which research innovation & translation in evidence-based or evidenced-informed practices & programming. • Encourage new applied research and outreach focused on military families. • Develop a new generation of researchers, implementation & evaluation scientists specializing within a Military context. • Provide action-oriented information to improve public understanding of Military families.

12. www.militaryfamilies.psu.edu

13. Clearinghouse’s Projects • Resource Center for Obesity Prevention (DoD) • Continuum of Evidence Project (DoD) • Implementation Technical Assistance (DoD) • Yellow Ribbon Reintegration Program (RA) • Navy Youth Sports & Fitness Project (Navy) • Family Readiness Program Evaluation Plan Development Project (DoD) • Air Force Family Advocacy Research Project (AF) • Supporting Military Families During Parental Absence (DoDEA) • USMC Study: The Impact of Suicide on Marine Families (Navy) • Exceptional Family Member Program Providers Study (DoD) • Parenting Across the Lifespan (DoD) • Family Advocacy Program Severity Scale Research Project (DoD) • Evaluation of Army Family Readiness Programs (Army; Pending)

14. USAF Family Advocacy Project Alcohol Brief Counseling Program Refinement of Program and Development of Computer-based Training The Wilford Hall Repository Project Empirically-based Treatments for PTSD Promoting Help-seeking for Mental Health A Translational Outreach Effort

15. Clearinghouse as University-wide Center • Facilitate multidisciplinary teams of researchers to address critical issues facing military families. • Facilitate potential collaborative relationships with military entities (e.g., Department of Defense and the Services). • Work with PSU researchers to provide financial support (SSRI Level I & II) to catalyze new applied research. • Identify opportunities for applied research funding. • Increase access to military research participants. • Enhance faculty and students understanding of military culture. • Collaborate with Military partners to develop engaged learning opportunities for students

16. Clearinghouse: Lessons Learned • Lesson Learned: Funding with DoD and the Services are not Contracts rather Partnerships that require time to build trusted relationships. • It is iterative, participatory decision-making about APPLIED research that has concrete deliverables (e.g., literature reviews with specific recommendations based on best evidence possible; and tools for practitioners). • First actions focus on partner’s needs and goals (and finding the nuggets of scholarship). • Partners are better at reacting rather than creating – expect an evolutionary process.

17. Acknowledgments Susan McHaleKeith Aronson Karen Bierman Jen DiNallo Mark Greenberg SandeeKyler Claudia Mincemoyer Ron MadridRobert Nix Janet Welsh Sherry Yocum Clearinghouse Staff