Counselors can work with children who have special medical or educational needs, especially when those needs result in behavioral challenges. Learn about what this free, valuable resource can do for the military families you help.
Category: Local Education Agency Staff
Military Kids and Youth Get More Mental Health Care Options
TRICARE has recently expanded their services for Mental Health and Substance Abuse Disorders. These changes have been made to give beneficiaries more options for their care and affect the following:
Contact an Ombudsman!
Want to connect with Navy families? Contact an Ombudsman!
Ombudsmen are an amazing resource for Navy families, and they can provide very practical assistance to Parent Centers. How Navy Ombudsmen can help you:
- Communicate with Navy families about your Parent Center’s services
- Help invite families to trainings and workshops both on and off the installation (they use social media extensively and communicate frequently)
When a Military Parent Dies While Serving-Helping the Grieving Family
When a military parent dies while serving, their child may express their grief through behavior changes. This can be especially true for children who experience communication difficulties. Parent Center staff may get a call from the surviving parent when the child’s grief has a negative impact at school.
Continue reading “When a Military Parent Dies While Serving-Helping the Grieving Family”
Military OneSource: Info for Your Work and the Families You Serve
Read and download information without a login!
Military OneSource’s website is a treasure-trove of information and resources for military families, with updated and accurate information about military family support programs and resources for family members with disabilities. The latest website update makes it easy for anyone to read articles and download individual resources. If you want to order some of their military-friendly products, we show you how to log in!
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Going to a Military Installation? Check Your ID
Update as of December 3, 2019:
Can you use your current ID to gain access to a military installation, under the Real ID Law? The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has been phasing in this law’s requirements, and almost every state is in the process of issuing new, compliant driver’s licenses and IDs. The DHS website states”DHS is working closely with all states and territories to provide assistance and guidance to achieve full compliance by the October 1, 2020 deadline. As of September 5, 2019, 50 states and territories are fully compliant with the REAL ID requirements, and all states are on track to begin issuing compliant licenses and IDs by the October 1, 2020 deadline.”
Regarding military installations, the DHS website states “The U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) recently finalized an update to its DoD-wide installation security policy and is in the process of no longer accepting noncompliant marked cards across all of its facilities and installations. However, DoD will continue to accept state-issued noncompliant unmarked “legacy” cards until the October 1, 2020 deadline.”
If you think you might still be using a current, non-compliant ID after October 1, 2020, due to your state’s rollout schedule for the new, compliant IDs, you should know that other types of documents can be used for installation access. Contact the installation you wish to access to find out what IDs are currently accepted-installation command have the discretion to consider other, supplemental forms of identification. You may also accompany someone with a valid military ID card.
DHS’s REAL ID FAQs page can answer many of your questions about the REAL ID law and how it will impact activities such as installation access and commercial air travel.
You can find out more about your state’s process to issue REAL ID-compliant licenses and IDs through the main DHS REAL ID webpage.
Remembering Gold Star Kids
For some military kids, Memorial Day has a deeply personal meaning. They belong to a special group of families that Parent Center staff may encounter: Gold Star Families. Gold Star Families have lost a loved one in military service to our country. These families need support and resources to help their children deal with the impact of their parent’s death, and to help the adults cope with their new reality. Continue reading “Remembering Gold Star Kids”
From The Branch’s Advisors
From The Branch’s Advisors: From time to time we’ll share relevant articles, tips, information, etc., from The Branch’s Advisory Committee. The Branch is grateful to all the time and assistance the committee members provide and to see the committee members visit here. Jeremy Hilton was awarded the Department of Defense Spouse of the Year in 2012. Here are links to read his family’s personal journey and to share with military families you serve for inspiration, hope and resources.
State Report Cards Will Include Military Students
The Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) requires States to report on the academic progress of military-connected students and other important data that will tell military parents, advocates for military children, and Parent Centers who serve military families how well these highly-mobile students are doing in school. Read on for expected outcomes, links to articles on the topic, and the key excerpt from ESSA.
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Webinar: What the Office of Community Support for Military Families with Special Needs (OSN) and Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA) do for Military Families
In case you haven’t seen it: The Office of Community Support for Military Families with Special Needs (OSN) and the Department of Defense Education Activity share what their offices do, and how they support your work with military families. It is a great introduction to key military programs, and helpful whether you are new to your Parent Center, new to working with military families, or are a seasoned professional. Continue reading “Webinar: What the Office of Community Support for Military Families with Special Needs (OSN) and Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA) do for Military Families”