We’ve created a guide to our most useful materials on military families: their culture, their unique needs, and the military systems that support them when they have a child with a disability. There is something for every staff member, from those with lengthy experience working with military families to those just starting out. AND-links to parent handouts, including 3 handouts you can brand with your Parent Center logo!
The Branch, Military Parent Technical Assistance Center’s (MPTAC), mission is to build the capacity of parent centers to provide effective services to military parents of children with disabilities and youth with disabilities in military families.
The Branch is dedicated to assisting you and your staff in building the capacity of your center in providing support and services to military parents of children and youth with disabilities. We offer global (universal) technical assistance (TA) and information for all Parent Centers and their staff in the US and its territories and targeted TA to the top 12 states with the highest military populations. Intensive (one-to-one) technical assistance (TA) is also available for all Parent Training and Information (PTI) Centers and Community Parent Resource Centers (CPRCs). Intensive includes a range of support from assistance with navigating military systems to building rapport and MOU’s with your local installations to TA for you to assist with trainings provided at installations in your area.
Useful Resources for Staff Orientation or Ongoing Training and Development
The Branch has many useful resources in print and media formats. We have organized a number so that you can support new or current staff with their training and development regardless of length of time in your organization. Each item will provide you and your staff information and education about the needs of military families who have children with disabilities: from military culture to nuances of the military systems that support their children with a disability to expert level information. Even your seasoned staff who are knowledgeable about military culture, systems and your local installations may enhance their expertise. While the listings here are our suggestions, there are over 90 resources available on the Branch website. We thought highlighting resources for you, your staff and volunteers just like a starting place on a map would be helpful. Feel free to supplement based on staff interest and prior knowledge.
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An asterisk (*) means a resource may be useful for parents.
All articles include a downloadable print version.
| Initial Three (3) months or 101-Level Training: | Type of Resource |
| Deployment: What it is and What it Means for the Families you Serve | Article, approx. 3-4 mins. |
| Relocation for Military Families – PCS | Article, approx. 4-6 mins. |
| How to Use Military Rank and Insignia | Article, approx. 1-2 mins. |
| The Voicemail: Where to Learn Military Acronyms and Terms | Video, approx. 3 mins |
| *The Exceptional Family Member Program (EFMP) | Article, approx. 5 -7 mins. |
| Initial Six (6) months or 201-Level Training: | Type of Resource |
| *School Issues Covered by the Interstate Compact | Fact Sheet/Handout (download) |
| Tricare Healthcare for Military Families (e-module) | Self-paced learning module or staff training webinar. Includes links to print resources, parent handouts |
| TRICARE: Healthcare for Military Families | Article, approx. 4-6 mins. |
| Military Locations and Contacts: Interactive Maps with instructions | Interactive Web pages |
| Tips for Accessing Military Installations for Individual Assistance and Trainings | Checklist/planner |
| Initial Nine (9) months or 301 Level Training: | Type of Resource |
| *Short videos on military healthcare (from TRICARE) | Videos, @ 3 minutes each |
| ABA and TRICARE ECHo for Military Families (e-module) | Self-paced learning module or staff training webinar. Includes links to print resources, parent handouts |
| Extended Care Health Option (ECHO) | Article, approx. 10 mins. |
| The Role of the School Liaison Officer | Article, approx. 10 mins. |
| Where Appropriate: | Type of Resource |
| Connecting with Coast Guard Families | Article, approx. 10 mins. |
| 4 Ways Parent Centers can Help National Guard Families | Article, approx. 10 mins |
| Medicaid: Referring Military Families to Supports and Services | Article, approx. 10 mins. |
| Military Childcare and Children with Special Needs | Article, approx. 10 mins. |
| The Respite Care Question for Military Children | Article, approx. 10 mins. |
| Military Special Needs Trusts | Article, approx. 10 mins. |
| What is Secondary Dependency (Adult Children with Disabilities) | Article, approx. 10 mins. |
| Mental Health Resources for Military Families (e-module) | Self-paced learning module or staff training webinar. Includes links to print resources, parent handouts |
| Help for Grandparents and Other Temporary Caregivers of Military Children (with handout, below) | Article, approx. 10 mins. |
Core Information Handouts for families: You can add your own Parent Center logo!
- Extended Care Health Option Parent Handout
- Military Families and Medicaid Parent Handout
- Relocation for Military Families Parent Handout (when relocating with their Exceptional Family Member-dependent child with disabilities).
- Step-by-Step Checklist-Resolve School Issues with the Interstate Compact
Additional Parent Handouts you may want to share:
Temporary Caregivers of Military Children: Guide to Essential Information
16 Financial Resources for Military Families
Military Family Handout for Transition-Age Youth
School Support Plans for Deployment: Tips for Parents
Special Needs Parent Toolkit – Birth to 18 (MilitaryOnesource)
Establishing Permanent Dependency (MilitaryOnesource)