Operation: Military Kids
Supporting Military Youth who are experiencing the deployment of a
love one…..
Darrin Allen
A collaborative effort with America’s communities to support “suddenly military kids” impacted by the Overseas Contingency Operations
• OMK State Teams operate in 49 States and the District of Columbia
• Networks of people, organizations, and other resources support “military families
in our own backyard”
• Core Program Elements include: Ready, Set, Go! Training for OMK State Teams Mobile Technology Labs Hero Packs Speak Out for Military Kids
WWW.OPERATIONMILITARYKIDS.ORG
Operation: Military Kids
Goals and Objectives ofOperation: Military Kids
OMK GOAL: Support the children and youth of those whoserve in the National Guard and Reserve
OMK OBJECTIVES:• Raise community awareness of “suddenly military” kids• Build community capacity to deliver outreach services• Implement outreach support services
OMK CORE PARTNERS• U.S. Army Children, Youth & School Services (Active and
Reserve Components)
• National 4-H Headquarters at USDA
• Boys & Girls Clubs of America (B&GCA)
• Military Child Education Coalition (MCEC) / State Departments of Education
• The American Legion Family
• National Association of Child Care Resource and Referral Agencies (NACCRRA)
County/State 4-HExtension
Professionals
Representatives fromArmy Community Based
ProgramsThe AmericanLegion Family
YouthRegional & Local
Boys & Girls Club Professionals
School Personnel
National Guard andAir Reserve
Component Staff
Military InstallationCYS Staff
OMK State Team*
*4-H State Military Liaisons serve as OMK State Team Leaders
OMK State Team
OMK State TeamOMK Roles and Responsibilities:
• Create Statewide OMK Community Support Networks
• Provide OMK Ready, Set, Go! Course to State OMK Partners
• Coordinate delivery of “Speak Out for Military Kids” OMK Speakers Bureau
• Deliver youth outreach service programs through Partner Organizations
• Coordinate Partner use of the OMK Mobile Technology Lab(s)
• Submit monthly OMK and year-end accomplishment reports to OMK Management Team
OMK Resources Available to Partners
Ready, Set, Go! Training Manual
Speak Out for Military Kids Manual-Deployment Its Not a Game
Hero Packs
Mobile Technology Labs
Operation: Boots On – Operation: Boots Off
Operation Give A Hug Dolls
Yellow Ribbon Youth Activity Guides
Ready, Set, Go!Manual and Training
•Designed to develop State and local support networks of:
Youth workers Educators Counselors Community service agencies
• RSG! Manual has information on:Military CultureThe Deployment Cycle Fostering resilience in kidsInfluencing the mediaBuilding community capacity
• Funded by OMK State Grants
Operation: Military Kids
•Conducted 371 RSG! Trainings•Trained 10,909 communitymembers
Speak Out For Military Kids• SOMK is a youth – led, adult supported project that generates community awareness of issues and concerns faced by military children and youth
• SOMK Initiatives:
Youth Speakers’ Bureau
Public Service Announcements developed by SOMK participants
Video productions of “suddenly” military youth telling their stories
Interactive Theater productions
Operation: Military Kids
•Trained 871 Youth
•360 presentations attended by 73,236 people
A board game created by the Iowa Speak Out for Military Kids generates awareness of the rollercoaster of emotions and family life situations as game players roll the dice and move from mobilization to homecoming.
Operation: Military Kids
Hero Packs
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
Stationary and envelopes Pen and pencil Disposable cameras Journals
• Handwritten letters to recipients from non-military youth• Parent information which helps families get
connected to local resources available to their child
Operation: Military Kids
Presented 20,561 Hero Packs to Military Youth
Mobile Technology Labs
• Mobile Tech Labs include: laptop computers configured for the internet; digital video camera; scanner and software packages such as video/photo editing and webpage design.
• Mobile Tech Labs allow military kids to Communicate with deployed parents Send special info, e.g., report cards, sports, birthday celebration Design keepsakes, e.g., scrapbooks for/about parents
• Mobile Tech Labs allow military parents to Communicate with children Tape stories and messages to leave behind for children
Operation: Military Kids
•Conducted 464 MTL Events•36,795 Military Youth Participated
Purpose: Provide a tool to teach the deployment cycle to military and non-military kids
The Goals of Operation: Boots On are:
•Assist participants in understanding the mission and work of the military
•Depict the stages of the deployment cycle and other topics important to Military Families
•Highlight some of the issues and concerns Families experience during the deployment cycle
Operation: Military Kids
Operation: Boots Off provides staff a tool to help military kids and Families prepare for the reunion and reintegration phase of deployment
Operation: Boots Off will help Military Kids:
• Understand the process of their individual Families’ Service Member homecoming
• Develop skills for homecoming and beyond
• Learn how to make the homecoming positive for themselves and their Families
• Share with others who have similar experiences
Operation: Military Kids
Supports Our Youngest Heroes!
Dolls have a clear plastic face pocket for children to put a picture of their
deployed Soldier Parent
Allow children to “talk and play” with their deployed Parent to express feelings they are experiencing
Connect children with deployed Parents – “What did we do together today”?
Distributed through Operation: Military Kids State Teams and Operation Give a Hug
Operation: Military Kids
Operation: Military Kids Deployment Cycle Support
Yellow Ribbon Youth Outreach Youth Activity Guides include 60 fun,
quality, experiential learning experiences
Linked to four phases of the Deployment Cycle: Pre-Deployment, During Mobilization, 30 & 60 Days After Reunion
Activities keyed to grade appropriate Life Skill Development
Training Guide to equip Volunteers for implementing Youth Activities
Available from OMK State Teams (www.operationmilitarykids.org) Fall 09
Outreach Activity Guides for Youth (grades K-12) from all Service Branches
Multiple Toolkits of durable equipment to support activities
Supports the Joint Family Support Assistance Program
www.operationmilitarykids.org
Localized information for each state
• Calendar of Events• Programs• Tell Me Your Story• Contacts
Operation: Military Kids
Next Step:Contact your State’s Operation: Military Kids
Project Director to join the OMK State Team
For More Information go to:
WWW.OPERATIONMILITARYKIDS.ORGOR
WWW.4-HMILITARYPARTNERSHIPS.ORG
Thank You For All You Do!!!!