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Supporting Families with Loved Ones in the Military
In recognition of Veteran's Day, November 11, and in the spirit of honoring all of our service men and women, as well as their loved ones serving at home, we are highlighting the following resources found in CYFERnet for this month's "Hot Topic":
- Resources aimed at supporting families with loved ones in the military
- Resources for helping parents meet the challenges of explaining war and international conflicts to their children while helping them cope with sadness, stress and separation
- Resources aimed at providing educators with a broad spectrum of tools for working with families separated by military deployment.
Terrorism and Children: When War Is In the News
- Judith Myers-Walls, a Purdue University Extension Specialist in Child development and family studies, has researched children's reactions to wars and disasters and offers advice for helping children cope with the terrorist attacks, and their aftermath. The multimedia site contains information for teachers and parents about how to talk to children about terrorism.
- This site provides information from a previously held interactive telephone training about helping your communities cope with war.
Talking to Children About Terrorism and Armed Conflict
- The events of September 11, 2001 provided a sudden and unsettling lesson on the impact of violent conflict on children for many parents and teachers. Although the attacks appear to have been confined to a limited number of places and lasted only a short time, people across the world felt and continue to feel threatened and vulnerable. Because of the number of people killed or injured that day, a very large number of people had direct connections with the death and destruction. Children were aware of the tragedy, so parents needed to respond. Research supports some approaches that are likely to be effective when talking with children about terrorism and armed conflict, although this topic needs additional research.
Managing the Stress of War and Terrorism: Guidelines for Families-13 Part Series
- Each section of this 13-part series from the University of Florida Cooperative Extension Service is focused on specific preparedness issues and suggestions for managing stress during times of war and international conflict.
Managing the Stress of War and Terrorism: Guidelines for Families (PDF)
- War and terrorism are scary for children and families. Children of all ages may overhear adult conversations or see acts of war or terror on the news. These events are unsettling and stressful for children and their parents. This guide from the University of Florida Cooperative Extension Service is aimed at helping families cope and manage stress during times of war, terrorism, and international conflict.
Talking with Children During Tough Times
- As adults we try to protect children against tragedies. We would like to ensure that they have happy, innocent, and carefree lives. So what is a parent, teacher, or other caring adult to do when disasters fill the airwaves and the consciousness of society? This fact sheet provides a number of suggestions.
Effects of Deployment Extend Beyond Military
- Discusses the stress placed on parent, child, family and other relationships, even community services by military deployment. Provides suggestions from Chuck Smith for tackling these emotional issues.
Strengthen Relationships During Deployment, Separation
- Discusses the stress placed on spouses, partners and extended family members during periods of military deployment and other separations. Provides suggestions from Charlotte Shoup Olsen on tips for strengthening a relationship during a separation.
- The aim of the Military Family Network is to bridge the gap between military and civilian life by providing a comprehensive network of resources and information for military families and a way for them to connect with each other and the specific resources in their communities that help empower them and increase their well-being and success.
- Partnering with the Department of Defense, the USA Freedom Corps is offering resources through this website to Americans who want to express their support for members of the military, and help their families in meaningful ways.
- From the U.S. Department of Defense comes this website devoted to information on how Americans can support our troops serving in the military.
National Child Traumatic Stress Network
- The National Child Traumatic Stress Network, comprised of 54 centers, is funded by the Center for Mental Health Services, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, US Department of Health and Human Services. This Congressional initiative recognizes the profound, destructive, and widespread impact of trauma on American children's lives. Its purpose is to improve the quality, effectiveness, provision, and availability of therapeutic services delivered to all children and adolescents experiencing traumatic events. Contains links to resources for families, professionals, schools and the media. Includes a special section on terrorism and disaster relief. Many resources available in Spanish.
Fostering Resilience in Response to Terrorism
- The APA Task Force on Promoting Resilience in Response to Terrorism has produced nine fact sheets intended to assist psychologists seeking to foster resilience in a variety of populations, including adults, children, first responders, mental health workers, military families, older adults, people of color, primary care providers, and the seriously mentally ill.
Keeping in Touch- When Distance Keeps You Apart
- Fact sheet with tips on how to stay in touch with relatives and family members separated by distance.
National Military Family Association
- A website devoted completely to the families of the seven uniformed services through education, information and advocacy.
- Navy Moms Organization was founded to offer support to the families of Sailors serving in the United States Navy. Chat rooms and message boards are available to give family members an opportunity to share with each other.
- The aim of the Military Family Network is to bridge the gap between military and civilian life by providing a comprehensive network of resources and information for military families and a way for them to connect with each other and the specific resources in their communities that help empower them and increase their well-being and success.
A National Tragedy: Helping Children Cope
- A fact sheet with tips for parents and other adults on how to help children and adolescents deal with national tragedies.
- The American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry has shared this piece on children and how they experience grief so that parents and professionals are able to help a child that is coping with death. Children experience the loss of a loved one in a very different way than adults, and often times view the death as reversible or they blame themselves.
America at War: Helping Children Cope
- This special media article provides suggestions for parents on talking with their children and helping them cope with the fears and uncertainties of war.
Helping Adolescents Cope with Grief
- This is a fact sheet on helping children through grief with effective communication.
Roles and Responsibilities: Who Does Them When You Are Gone?
- The stay-at-home partner assumes new roles and responsibilities when the other partner is gone for a day, a week, a month, or longer. The effect of the change on the family depends greatly upon the family's coping system. This fact sheet discusses the personal resources or traits within individuals or family members that can assist them in managing the daily stressors caused by separation.
For Other Hot Topics, check here.
