Risk Factors & Common Trends for Military Youth in WA ABA/LAMP Event -- “Meeting the Legal Needs of Military Families and Youth” July 20 th, 2011

Risk Factors & Common Trends for Military Youth in WA

ABA/LAMP Event -- “Meeting the Legal Needs of Military Families and Youth”

July 20th, 2011

Background on Military Youth Roundtables

Began as a program of the ABA’s Commission on At-Risk Youth An initiative of former ABA President Karen Mathis.

Commissioners were asked to host roundtables on youth at-risk related topics.

2006 - The 1st roundtable focusing on military youth occurred at Fort Sam Houston, TX.In 2007, a similar event was held in DC.

The Military Family: Teenagers The needs of teenagers tend to be overlooked and underserved by legal and

social organizations.

4 subsets of teenagers who are sometimes forgotten and require special attention: teenagers of wounded service members, teenagers with their families on overseas tours, teenagers in National Guard and Reserve families, and those for whom English is a second language.

Teenagers in military families face many of the same perils as their civilian counterparts that greatly elevate their risk, including: abuse, neglect, domestic and dating violence, emotional and/or behavioral problems, gangs, learning disabilities, and poor peer group choices and relationships.

They commit the same juvenile status offenses, such as truancy, curfew violations, and underage drinking which can lead to delinquency, criminal misconduct, and entry into the juvenile justice system.

Military Legal Assistance Military legal assistance attorneys worldwide routinely

provide a broad range of services to military personnel and their family members, including divorces, legal separations, child custody, and guardianships.

Attorney-client interaction concerning such matters often reveals domestic situations and circumstances where children are at-risk and where non-legal, family support is appropriate.

Military legal assistance and preventive programs should be enlarged and expanded so that they reach every adult in the military family – every enlisted member, officer, spouse and dependent child.

2009 CCYJ Roundtable Goals Create a network of dedicated advocates for military youth at-risk, by bringing

together a diverse group of professionals.

Enhance the range of perspectives to better understand the challenges posed to youth of military families who are at-risk of entering the juvenile justice and/or foster care systems

Update information on the work/research currently being done to serve the youth of military families

Specify gaps in services to military youth in targeted areas – e.g. the children of Guard, Reserve and Veteran families

Establish a long-term communications network and commitments for future collaboration in working to improve services for military youth – in particular, those with involvement in the juvenile justice and/or foster care systems.

2009 CCYJ Roundtable Recommendations

Networking & Raising Awareness

Begin Data Collection

Develop plans/vehicles for improvements in communication

Institute inter-disciplinary and civilian-military training

2010 CCYJ Roundtable Goals Build on 2009 CCYJ Roundtable Recommendations.

Create a network of dedicated advocates for military youth at-risk, by bringing together a diverse group of professionals.

Enhance the range of perspectives to better understand the challenges posed to youth of military families who are at-risk of entering the juvenile justice and/or foster care systems.

Update information on the work/research currently being done to serve the youth of military families.

Specify gaps in services to military youth in targeted areas – e.g. the children of Guard, Reserve and Veteran families.

Establish a long-term communications network and commitments for future collaboration in working to improve services for military youth – in particular, those with involvement in the juvenile justice and/or foster care systems.

Data: Risk Factors & Trends

Source: Robert Anda, The Health and Social Impact of Growing Up With Adverse Childhood Experiences: The Human and Economic Costs of the Status Quo 6 (2007), available at http://www.acestudy.org/files/Review_of_ACE_Study_with_references_summary_table_2_.pdf.

Data Source: Maxia Dong et al., The Interrelatedness of Multiple Forms of Childhood Abuse, Neglect, and Household Dysfunction, 28 Child Abuse & Neglect 771 (2004).

Data Source: Maxia Dong et al., The Interrelatedness of Multiple Forms of Childhood Abuse, Neglect, and Household Dysfunction, 28 Child Abuse & Neglect 771 (2004)

Data Source: Maxia Dong et al., The Interrelatedness of Multiple Forms of Childhood Abuse, Neglect, and Household Dysfunction, 28 Child Abuse & Neglect 771 (2004).

OSPI Data: Healthy Youth Survey

Healthy Youth Survey - a statewide survey (grades 6, 8, 10, 12) to measure health risk behaviors for youth in WA. Most recently conducted in 2010.

Results help evaluate needs-assessment data for school

districts, and a number of public and state agencies.

Collaborating agencies: OSPI, DoH, DSHS/DBHR, FPC, DoC, and LCB.

http://www.k12.wa.us/SafetyCenter/HealhyYouthSurvey/default.aspx



HYS: Survey Factors Alcohol, tobacco, and other substance use

Safety and Violence Behaviors Unintentional injuries, bullying/harassment, violent behaviors and

school safety.

Risk and Protective Factors Family, School, Peer-Individual and Community.

Health and Health-Related Behaviors Weight/obesity, dietary behaviors, physical activity, asthma,

depression/suicide.




Population Breakdown by County

> 100

101 – 500

501 – 1,000

1,001 – 5,000

5,001 – 10,000

> 10,000

TOP 4 Counties in WA

CountyCensus

PopulationPopulation

(under 18 yrs)% Population (under 18 yrs)

% with Parents in Military

# of Military Youth

Island 81,054 15,967.63 19.70% 32.85% 5,245.36

Kitsap 240,862 54,434.81 22.60% 16.97% 9,237.58

Thurston 250,979 56,972.23 22.70% 14.65% 8,346.43

Pierce 796,836 196,818.49 24.70% 12.76% 25,114.03

Source: Census Data for 2010; figures provided by the Washington National Guard

Based on 2010 Census Data, and compared to military youth data per county.

Includes youth who have parents in all branches of the service in WA.

National Snapshot

Source: Sogomonyan, F., & Cooper, J.L., (2010). Trauma faced by children of military families: What every policymaker should know. National Center for Children in Poverty. (May 2010 Brief)

481,103

368,850

279,319 126,284

327,342

174,401

Primarily early & middle childhood: 78% under age 11 with Active Duty Parents 80% under age 15 with Reserve Parents

Married Households: 55% for Active Duty 49% for Reserve

Top 5 Factors of Interest


Alcohol Use

Attempted Suicide

Grades – C, D, F’s

Physical Fighting

Carrying a Weapon



Age As A Risk FactorLiterature and Data suggest:Military youth 11-17 years, tend to have higher prevalence of emotional/behavioral difficulties than the general population.Parental deployment places school-aged youth at greater risk for:

Adverse mood/behavior changes (anger, apathy, anxiety, depression, withdrawal)

Decline in school performanceLoss of interest in normal activitiesSocial isolation

Risk Factor: Alcohol Use




Risk Factor: Attempted Suicide




Risk Factor: Grades (C,D,F’s)



Risk Factor: Fighting


Risk Factor: Carrying a Weapon


Lowering Risk for Juvenile Justice Involvement

Dynamic risk factors (Need to Target)Predictive of criminal behavior, but can change

with appropriate interventionsi.e. Substance use problems

Static risk factorsPredictive of criminal behavior but cannot

change with any type of intervention.i.e. Prior criminal history


Protective Factors: Increasing Resiliency & Support

Despite challenges of parental deployments, most military youth show themselves to be adaptive and resilient.

Family support can combat negative experiences.

Perceived support increases resiliency.

Families who receive enhanced services, feel supported and tend to experience less deployment related stress. From their community, the military, or religious organizations.


Risk of Child MaltreatmentIncreased risk of CM with both deployment to and

returns from combat.Due to significant level of family stress.

Before 2003 - Rates of CM in military families were slightly lower than for non-military familiesAfter 2003 - CM rates are higher.

CM in families of enlisted soldiers was 42% higher during combat deployment than during non-deployment. Pertained to substantiated CM

physical/sexual/emotional.

Source: Sogomonyan, F., & Cooper, J.L., (2010). Trauma faced by children of military families: What every policymaker should know. National Center for Children in Poverty. (May 2010 Brief)

2010 CCYJ Roundtable RecommendationsMoving Forward…

Continue to identify the target population OSPI and Census data Develop survey tool to collect court system data

Improvements to Service Referral System Training opportunities

School administrators and educators Judges and juvenile court counselors/facilitators

Secure funding for continued program development Grant opportunity through DHHS

Continued regional networking & collaborations 2011 CCYJ Roundtable – Fall 2011*

Question for Discussion

What are the unmet needs of militaryyouth (and families) that are drawing

them into the juvenile justice system andfoster care systems?

National Attention Newsweek Article – “Daddy, Why Is My School

Falling Down?” http://www.newsweek.com/2011/06/26/military-

children-s-schools-in-disrepair.html

In our own backyard – Hillside Elementary School at Fort Lewis, WA Asbestos-ridden floors and rotting awnings

Estimated that ¾ of base schools are either beyond repair or in need of extensive renovation.

Pentagon estimates $4Billion is needed in renovations and new construction.

1978 Defense Dependents’ Education Act Guarantee to military families – “…a quality of life

that reflects the high standards and pride of the nation they defend.”

Programs Currently Available in WA

PSESD’s - “I Am A Military Kid” Support Group

YLS/CMI – Youth Level of Service/Case Management InventoryUtilized by a variety of JJ corrections professionals

Interactive Website/Social Networking Project – T2, Ft. Lewis/McChord Base

Others? List of Legal Services Available?

Documents

Risk Factors & Common Trends for Military Youth in WA ABA/LAMP Event -- “Meeting the Legal Needs of Military Families and Youth” July 20 th, 2011