Trauma Faced by Children of Military Families: What Every Policymaker Should Know
http://www.nccp.org/publications/pdf/text_938.pdf
Today, active-duty military personnel and National Guard and reservists experience multiple deployments. Recent research shows the multiple stressors and the negative impact on children, youth, and families of U.S. military personnel. Without appropriate mental health support systems, children of military personnel may be at a significant disadvantage compared with their peers in non-military families. This brief examines the supports and policies needed to provide these supports.
Building the Resilience of Your Military Family
http://www.militaryonesource.mil/cyt?content_id=267536
This on-line tip sheet describes resiliency, the characteristics of resilient families, and ten ways to build your family's resiliency when faced with stress and adversity.
Family Resilence Protective Factors
http://www.militaryonesource.mil/abuse?content_id=267916
Protective factors are conditions in families and communities that, when present, increase the health and well-being of your family. These six protective factors build on your family's strengths and can easily be incorporated into an everyday routine.
AASA Toolkit: Supporting the Military Child
http://www.aasa.org/MilitaryChild.aspx
This document from the American Association of School Administrators provides guidance for school leaders in meeting the unique educational needs of children whose parents are deployed or in transition. It includes the top 15 things school leaders can do to support military children, information on the Interstate Compact on Educational Opportunity for Military Children, Impact-Aid funding for districts, a Q & A section, and more.
Educators Guide to the Military Child During Deployment http://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/os/homefront/homefront.pdf
This booklet is intended to help educators build coping skills in their students during and after a military deployment. The goal is to bring needed support and understanding of the process and to maintain an optimal learning environment in the classroom and the school. Specific and practical guidelines for administrators, counselors, teachers, and other school employees are presented in order to identify age-related reactions and focus on appropriate intervention strategies.
Building Resilient Kids
http://www.jhsph.edu/mci/training_course/
This online course from the Military Child Initiative is for school administrators, support staff, and teachers to help all students meet life's challenges with resilience, focusing primarily on students from military families.
Military Students on the Move - A Toolkit for Military Parents
http://www.wrightslaw.com/info/mil.students.move.pdf
Quality education for their children is a major issue for military families. Frequent moves create challenges for the entire family, particularly in the area of education. Selecting schools that are well matched to the needs of children and supporting them as they leave one community and adjust to another can be difficult. Parents are key to ensuring a positive transition for their children. This toolkit for parents and school leaders is designed to make the education transition as smooth as possible
The Military Child Education Coalition (MCEC)
http://www.militarychild.org/
This is a non-profit, worldwide organization that identifies the challenges that face the highly mobile military child, increases awareness of these challenges in military and educational communities, and initiates and implements programs to meet the challenges.
Military K-12 Partners
http://www.militaryk12partners.dodea.edu/index.cfm
This Department of Defense Partnership program provides information and support to increase understanding of the unique needs of military children as well as academic support to improve educational opportunities and outcomes for military children.
Military One Source
http://www.militaryonesource.mil/
This site is the official Department of Defense website for the quality of life information including resources on education K-12, college, and the Exceptional Family Member Program (EFMP) for children with special needs; crisis and prevention; relationship health and family wellness and sites for children youth and teen.
National Military Family Association (NMFA)
http://www.militaryfamily.org/
The National Military Family Association's primary goals are to educate military families concerning their rights, benefits and services available to them and to inform them regarding the issues that affect their lives; and to promote and protect the interests of military families by influencing the development and implementation of legislation and policies affecting them. This Web site includes information, articles, resources, and web links on deployment, education, family life, family member benefits, health care, and money management.
National Guard Family Program
http://www.jointservicessupport.org/fp/default.aspx
The National Guard Family Program exists for the sole purpose of supporting and educating families along the path of their National Guard life. In each state, there is a State Family Program Director, readiness groups, family assistance staff, and programs for children and youth. Connecticut National Guard Child and Youth Program – Facebook page www.facebook.com/CTCYP
http://www.ourmilitarykids.org/
The mission is straightforward. Support military kids through enriching activities. Thousands of military children from Guard, Reserve and wounded families have received funds for tutoring, ballet, music, martial arts and so much more thanks to the compassion and business savvy of two women (not from military families) who wanted to make a difference in the lives of the nation’s military kids. Mission accomplished!
Military Kids Connect
http://militarykidsconnect.dcoe.mil/
This website helps military kids, tweens and teens understand that they can overcome obstacles. The struggles they face do have solutions. No matter where they are in the world, no matter what time of day, military kids can watch personal story videos, view animated graphic novels, play games, and communicate with other military kids.
"Over There" Activity Book
http://www.zerotothree.org/about-us/funded-projects/military-families/over-there-activity-book.html
Parents can download this link to create their own "Over There" book in either the mommy version or daddy version depending on which parent is deployed personalizing it with photos and pictures that represent their family.
Sesame Workshop has created the Near and Far program, a special website where military families can create, communicate, and stay connected. This site also has a special link to resources and material to help to deal with the sensitive topic of grief following the death of a parent or loved one.
When Families Grieve
http://www.sesamestreet.org/parents/topicsandactivities/topics/grief
This program was developed to help children summon the strength to heal after the death of a parent. This effort includes two outreach kits in both English and Spanish. One kit is designed specifically for children whose parents serve in the military. Information on that is available under the Military Families tab. Sesame Workshop has provided over 1 million "When Families Grieve" outreach kits to grief service provides nationwide.