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 Operation: Military Kids

Goals and Objectives of Operation: Military Kids OMK GOAL: Support the children and youth of those who serve 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-H Extension Professionals Representatives from Army Community Based Programs The American Legion Family Youth Regional & Local Boys & Girls Club Professionals School Personnel National Guard and Air Reserve Component Staff Military Installation CYS Staff OMK State Team* *4-H State Military Liaisons serve as OMK State Team Leaders OMK State Team

OMK 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 Culture The Deployment Cycle Fostering resilience in kids Influencing the media Building community capacity Funded by OMK State Grants Operation: Military Kids Conducted 371 RSG! Trainings Trained 10,909 community members

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

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 ( Fall 09www.operationmilitarykids.org  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

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: OR

Thank You For All You Do!!!!