According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, children of deployed members of the military experience a broad range of reactions to the stress of family deployment. Their reactions may include anger, sadness, fear, confusion and feelings of abandonment, loss, anxiety, and depression. These reactions can lead to significant problems such as school absenteeism and failure, social isolation, family emotional abuse and violence, psychosomatic medical complaints, and depression. Healthcare providers and youth-serving professionals should be aware of these issues and prepared to offer substantive support and resources to families experiencing deployment related stress. Below are links to organizations assisting healthcare providers and youth-serving professionals, and a list of resources for parents, counselors, educators and administrators.
Military Child Education Coalition (MCEC) (Outside Source)
MCEC is a 501(c)(3) non-profit, world-wide 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. MCEC's goal is to level the educational playing field for military children wherever they are located around the world and to serve as a model for all highly mobile children.
National Guard Youth Programs
California National Guard Operation Ready Families Program (Outside Source)
The California National Guard works closely with the surrounding community to ensure that local organizations have the information they need to help Guard members and their families.
National Guard Family Program Online Community (Outside Source)
This program welcomes our community outreach partners. Partnerships will help all of us better support Guard members and their families.
Operation: Military Kids (OMK) (Outside Source)
The U.S. Army's collaborative effort with 4H and America's communities to support the children and youth of National Guard and Army Reserve Soldiers impacted by the Global War on Terrorism. The goal of Operation: Military Kids is to support geographically dispersed children and youth of National Guard and Army Reserve Soldiers.
Resources
How communities can support the children and families of those serving in the National Guard or Reserves (PDF; Outside Source)
MCEC’s booklet written to introduce concerned citizens and educators to issues facing the children and families of those serving in the critical segments of the military and to assist communities in creating dynamic networks of support for these families.
How to prepare our children and stay involved in their education during deployment (PDF; Outside Source)
MCEC’s booklet created to help parents and educators, two groups who care deeply about children, support children through this very difficult time.
Transition Counselor Institutes (TCI) (Outside Source)
This is intended to increase availability of specifically trained transition counselors and other participants who have a shared knowledge of turbulence. These TCI Fellows will be well versed in strategies and resources designed to appropriately address issues faced by mobile military students and their families.
U.S. Army Secondary Education Transition Study: Executive Summary (PDF; Outside Source)
MCEC’s Secondary Education Transition Research Study.
School Connectedness: Improving Students' Lives (PDF; Outside Source)
Research paper written by Dr. Robert Blum MD, MPH, PhD.
Educator's Guide to the Military Child During Deployment (PDF; Outside Source)
Ten Tips for Administrators that Foster Connectedness to Schools (PDF; Outside Source)
