ARMY CHILD AND YOUTH SERVICES Child and Youth

ARMY CHILD AND YOUTH SERVICES Child and Youth Services Deployment Support Army Child and Youth Services. . . Our Mission Is Caring

ARMY CHILD AND YOUTH SERVICES Operation: Military Kids Service Announcement

ARMY CHILD AND YOUTH SERVICES Operation: Military Kids A collaborative effort with America’s communities to support “suddenly military kids” impacted by the Global War on Terrorism • OMK State Teams operate in 35 States • Networks of people, organizations, and other resources support “military families in our own backyard” • Core Program Elements include: ü Ready, Set, Go! Training for OMK State Teams ü Mobile Technology Labs ü Hero Packs ü Speak Out for Military Kids WWW. OPERATIONMILITARYKIDS. ORG

ARMY CHILD AND YOUTH SERVICES 2005 OMK State Teams: California, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, North Carolina, Maryland, Missouri, New Hampshire, New York, Ohio, South Carolina, Texas, Virginia, Washington 35 States Participate in OMK 2006 OMK State Teams: Arizona, South Dakota, Nevada, New Jersey, Kansas, Kentucky, Illinois, Louisiana, Nebraska, Michigan, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Maine, Mississippi 2007 OMK State Teams: Pennsylvania, Colorado, Utah, Delaware, Wisconsin

ARMY CHILD AND YOUTH SERVICES OMK Core Partners • U. S. Army Child and Youth Services (Active and Reserve Components) • 4 -H -- Cooperative State Research Extension and Education Service (CSREES) • Boys & Girls Clubs of America • Military Child Education Coalition & K-12 Public Schools • The American Legion and other Veterans Service Organizations • National Association of Child Care Resource and Referral Agencies (NACCRRA) • Other Community Agencies

ARMY CHILD AND YOUTH SERVICES Implementation Framework OMK Local Community Support Network OMK State Teams* OMK Local Community Support Network * State 4 -H Military Liaison is OMK state team leader OMK Local Community Support Network

ARMY CHILD AND YOUTH SERVICES Local Military Components Schools Local Businesses OMK Local Community Support Network Civic Groups Faith Based Organizations BGCA Veteran’s Organizations 4 -H Youth Serving Agencies/Organizations Private Organizations Others? ?

ARMY CHILD AND YOUTH SERVICES Operation: Military Kids Ready, Set, Go! Manual and Training • Designed to develop State and local support networks of: ü Youth workers ü Educators ü Counselors ü Community service agencies • RSG! Manual has information on: ü Military Culture ü The Deployment Cycle ü Fostering resilience in kids ü Influencing the media ü Building community capacity • Funded by OMK State Grants

ARMY CHILD AND YOUTH SERVICES Operation: Military Kids Mobile Technology Labs • Mobile Tech Labs include: laptop computers configured for the internet; digital video camera; scanner; laminator and software packages such as video/photo editing and webpage design. • Mobile Tech Labs allow military kids to üCommunicate with deployed parents üSend special info, e. g. , report cards, sports, birthday celebration üDesign keepsakes, e. g. , scrapbooks for/about parents • Mobile Tech Labs allow military parents to üCommunicate with children üTape stories and messages to leave behind for children

ARMY CHILD AND YOUTH SERVICES Operation: Military Kids Speak Out For Military Kids • SOMK is a youth – led, adult supported project that generates community awareness of issues and concerns faced by “suddenly military” children and youth • SOMK Initiatives: ü Youth Speakers’ Bureau ü Public Service Announcements developed by SOMK participants ü Video productions of “suddenly” military youth telling their stories ü Interactive Theater productions

ARMY CHILD AND YOUTH SERVICES NJ Speak Out for Military Kids Team Young Heroes DVD – Military Deployment Through The Eyes Of Youth

ARMY CHILD AND YOUTH SERVICES Operation: Military Kids Hero Packs are a tangible expression of support for military families from their communities – especially young people and OMK Partners Contents designed to keep youth connected to deployed parents ü Stationary and envelopes ü Pen and pencil ü Disposable cameras ü Journals • Handwritten letters to recipients from non-military youth • Parent information re local resources available to their child

ARMY CHILD AND YOUTH SERVICES Questions?