#11-111410 WORKING WITH MILITARY CHILDREN AND THEIR FAMILIES

Rationale

In Erie County alone we have approximately 1900 military children ages 0-18 and of this number almost 800 are school age. Of this 800 number almost 190 of them reside in the Kenmore-Tonawanda School district according to the Department of Defense (DOD)*. Our nation is at war which is often forgotten, but not by the military child and his/her family. Many families are experiencing multiple redeployments

and doing so in isolation. A lot of the families in Erie County and Western New York are Reservist and not attached to a base. A common misconception is everyone is part of the Niagara Falls Air Reserve Station. This isn’t the case. There are two Army Reserve Centers; Connecticut and Masten Street Armories and the Naval Operation Support Center who have been deploying soldiers as units and individuals since this conflict began almost 9 years ago. It has to be remembered that many of these soldiers have civilian lives/jobs and the military is a component of that. When it becomes a full time job it has a ripple effect within the family and community.

*Western New York has the second highest number of military families after the region where Fort Drum is located. (Fort Drum is the largest military installation in New York State.)

Purpose

To provide professionals training on how to identify and reach out to these families so support can be provided to the students as well as the family as a whole. To learn about the Cycle of Deployment, Military Culture, Community/Military Resources, Advocating for the Military child/family to name a few.

Target Audience

School Counselor, Social Workers, School Psychologists (K-12) in Western New York.

Location & Time

American Legion Matthew Glab Post #1477

1965 Abbott Road

Lackawanna, NY 14218

August 24, 2010, 8:00 – 2:30 pm

Morning snacks and a barbeque lunch will be provided by the Auxiliary.

Instructors

Bettymarie Sullivan; MS, LMSW

Mary McPartland (Mental Health Association of Erie County)

Jolene Kent (Military Life Consultants, NYS

Registration

Contact the Kenmore Staff Development Center at (716) 874 8411 (ext.7326)