A Social Work Response to Military-Connected Children in Civilian Schools

1. A Social Work Response to Military-Connected Children in Civilian Schools Dr. Ron Astor, PhD Diana Pineda, LCSW, MHA National School Social Work Conference March 21, 2013

2. Introduction • Department of Defense estimates that there are almost 2 million children with a parent on active duty, National Guard or Reserve military duty. • Of these children 1.2 million attend a public school near or on U.S. military installations. SECTION TITLE | 2

3. Stressors and Effects • Stress of parental deployments and disruption of home life and routines • Mobility • Social disruptions • Impaired academic performance, increased anxiety (1/3); worry • Community Capacity Model SECTION TITLE | 2

4. Voices of Military –Connected Students in Public Schools Show Video Response: Schools are optimal environments for the provision of prevention and intervention services! SECTION TITLE | 2

5. BUILDING CAPACITY CONSORTIUM • Eight school districts in the San Diego and Riverside Counties • Bonsall Union School District • Chula Vista Elementary School District • Escondido Union Elementary School District • Escondido Union High School District • Fallbrook Union Elementary School District • Fallbrook Union High School District • Oceanside Unified School District • Temecula Valley Unified School District • University of Southern California, School of Social Work • Principal Investigator : Ron Astor, PhD • Co-Investigators: Rami Benbenishty, PhD (Bar IIan, Israel) and Marleen Wong, PhD (USC) SECTION TITLE | 2

6. BUILDING CAPACITY INITATIVE: • Four Interrelated Activities • 1 ) Creation of an MSW military school social work component • 2) Creation of a data driven state run system addressing needs of students from military families • 3) Application of a localized monitoring system • 4) Creation of resources and expanding services SECTION TITLE | 2

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8. BUILDING CAPACITY INITATIVE: • Year 1 Activities • Training • MSW interns training and placement within Consortium schools • Research • Creation of California Healthy Kids Survey’s Military Module • Principal Communication Tool • District Personnel Communication Tool • Field Instructor Assessments • Student Self Assessments • Student Activity Report • Programs/Resources • Creation of Resource Manuals for Administratiors, Principals, Pupil Personnel and Parents • Monthly Newsletter • Website • MCEC Conference • Podcasts • Bi-Annual Superintendent's Meetings SECTION TITLE | 2

9. BUILDING CAPACITY INITATIVE: • Year 2 Activities • Training • Addition of SDSU students (Social Work, Psychology, Counseling placements) • Addition of 75-100 UC San Diego (UCSD) undergraduate academic tutors • School Safety and Bullying Regional Workshop • Threat Assessment Regional Workshop • UCLA’s Project FOCUS Regional Training • Research • Dissemination of CHKS Survey Results to Districts and Schools • Initiation of Pilot Studies (Learning Together) • Programs/Resources • Creation of Transition Centers within Consortium schools • Deployment of Family Readiness Express Mobile to Consortium schools • Monthly Newsletter • Website • Pod-casts • Bi-Annual Superintendent’s Meetings SECTION TITLE | 2

10. BUILDING CAPACITY INITATIVE: • Year 3 Activities • Training • USC, SDSU, and UCSD interns • Threat Assessment Regional Workshop • UCLA’s Project FOCUS Regional Training • Psychological First Aid Regional Training • Research • Collections of CHKS Survey Results to Districts and Schools • Publications (invited and/or peer-reviewed) • Conference Presentations • Programs/Resources • Deployment of Family Readiness Express Mobile to Consortium schools • Monthly Newsletter • Website • Videos • San Diego Military Family Collaborative • California Public Engagement SECTION TITLE | 2

11. MSW Interns Activities (2010-2012 School Year) SECTION TITLE | 2

12. Topics Addressed By MSW Interns (2010 – 2012 School Year) SECTION TITLE | 2

13. Example 1: Marine’s Birthday at Jefferson Middle School http://buildingcapacity.usc.edu/command-media-videos/jefferson-recognizing-the-military-student.html SECTION TITLE | 2

14. Example 2: Pride Club SECTION TITLE | 2

15. Building Capacity Initiative: • Data Monitoring at the State Level • Creation of a Military Module SECTION TITLE | 2

16. Building Capacity Initiative: • Data Monitoring at the Local Level • Communication Tools • -Principal/School Administrator Feedback • -District Administrator Feedback • Community Practices • -Example: Temecula Military Appreciation Day • Military Programs • -Examples: Transition Room and Family Readiness Express SECTION TITLE | 2

17. Building Capacity Initiative: • Community Practices • Temecula Military Appreciation Day • http://buildingcapacity.usc.edu/command-media-videos/temecula-military-appreciation-day-celebration.html SECTION TITLE | 2

18. Building Capacity Initiative: • Military Programs SECTION TITLE | 2

19. Building Capacity Initiative: • Dissemination • Creation of resource guides • Development of workshops and trainings • Expanding services to scale for parents, teachers, principals, social workers, and students SECTION TITLE | 2

20. Resource Manuals

21. Questions??? http://buildingcapacityusc.edu Thank you! SECTION TITLE | 2