Military Family and School Support Network

By Cindy Holub, Kristi Robinson, and Paulette Simmons

Making Connections

• Within the last ten years, more than 800,000 parents of school-age children have been deployed by the United States military.

• Many of these parents have been deployed more than once and for extended periods of time.

• Increasing numbers of students that are military-connected experience significant distress on a daily basis and are at increased risk for behavioral problems and decreased academic performance.

Rossen, E., & Carter, C. D. (2012)

Making Connections

Through our research of the district population and resources, we found a need for a support system for military connected students and families.

Five schools within the Temecula Unified School District are identified as military connected schools.

“A strong network of formal and informal community connections is fundamental for promoting and sustaining military family resilience. Both the military services and society as a whole share a responsibility for creating an environment that helps these families meet the hardships of military (family) life.”

Buehrle, J. (2014),p.60

Military Family and School Support Network

Definition

This network is created to support our military families in their home and school life while building relationships within the school setting.

We will do this through:• Military Family Events• A Resource Guide• Support Group for Students• Support Group for Parents• Support for the Deployed through Home Visit Coordinators (Retired Volunteers)

Military Family Events

• Patriot’s Day Potluck-September 11th

*Meet and Greet

*Needs Survey

*Support Group Information Swap

Military Support Questionnaire Name:____________________________

Address:__________________________

___________________________

___________________________

Phone Numbers: Home_________________ Cellphone_______________

Branch of Military:___________________________

Is your spouse deployed or deploying soon?__________________________________________

Are you interested in a babysitting co-op?________

Are you interested in a list of certificated babysitters through the local high schools?________

Are you interested in carpooling to and from school?________

What are some helpful resources you are in need of?(i.e. tutoring, local doctors, dentists,

churches. child care, preschool)

_______________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________

Names of schools your children

attend:_______________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________

Military Family Events

• Veterans Day Picnic Lunch-November 11th

*Meet and Greet-new members

*Meet at Murrieta Veterans Day Parade

*BYO-Picnic

Military Family Events

• Presidents Day Breakfast-February*Meet and Greet-new members

*Survey -feedback regarding support group

Military Family and School Support Network Progress Survey

What is working and helpful?__________________________________

__________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________

What could be improved?_____________________________________

__________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________

Other resources, events, or activities that would be helpful:___________

__________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________

Any life changes that you would like help with:____________________

__________________________________________________________

__________________________ ___________________________________

Military Family Events

• Memorial Day Summer Warm-up*Meet and Greet-new members

*List of summer activities for families

*Memorial Day Car Show and/or BBQ

Mynda’s Kitchen at Winchester Farms

A Resource Guide

• The Comfort Crew

www.ComfortCrew.com• Tutor.com• Our Military Kids, Inc.

www.ourmilitarykids.org• Free Health Clinics

Neighborhood Healthcare

41715 Winchester Road, Temecula, CA 92590

(951) 694-9449, (951) 719-1414

A Resource Guide

• Military Kids Connect

www.MilitaryKidsConnect.org

• Building Capacity and Welcoming Practices in Military-Connected Schools(A University of Southern California grant program)

http://buildingcapacity.usc.edu/resources/parents.html

Military Kids Connect.org

http://militarykidsconnect.dcoe.mil/kids/deployment/personal-stories/for-real/colorful-countdown

http://bcove.me/yp605gmi

Support Group for Students

• Create a Buddy System for the military students• Bi-monthly Military Student Support Lunch • Lessons from Military Kids Connect website

Support Group for Parents

• Military family events• List of names and numbers of other military families• List of local high school students that can babysit

Support for the Deployed

• Deployed-Home Connection Volunteers• Senior citizens groups used as a connection to deployed and families at home• Deployed military personnel need reassurance their family members are safe • Home visits from volunteers

References

Buehrle, J. (2014). ‘Us’ as the United States: Sparking Community-Based Solutions for Supporting Military-Connected Children and Their Families. Children & Schools, 36(1), 60-63.

Building Capacity and Welcoming Practices in Military-Connected Schools(A University of Southern California grant program). Retrieved from

http://buildingcapacity.usd.edu/resources/parents.html

The Comfort Crew. Retrieved from www.ComfortCrew.com

Military Kids Connect. Retrieved from www.MilitaryKidsConnect.org

Our Military Kids, Inc. Retrieved from www.ourmilitarykids.org

Rossen, E., & Carter, C. D. (2012). Supporting Students From Military Families. Education Digest, 77(6), 4-8.