1. National Institute of Food and Agriculture
Innovative Research & Extension Programs Supporting Military Families and Soldiers March 2010

2. Overview Nature of Military Family Life Rationale for Partnership
Background
Research & Extension Programs
Questions
USDA NIFA February 2010

3. Dr. Jill Biden, Yogi Berra, Michelle Obama, Retired US Army Captain Tony Odierno prior to World Series Game 1, 1st Pitch, October 28, 2009
USDA NIFA February 2010

4. The Nature of Military Life
High operational tempo
Deployment extensions
National Guard and Reserve deployments
Family isolation
Single parent families
Relative caregivers
Loneliness
Financial issues
Increasing stress
USDA NIFA February 2010

5. Associated Challenges
Care of the Guard and Reserves (geographically dispersed)
Health care, meal preparation, access, support networks, child care, employment, affordable housing
Military school children during transition and deployment
Spousal / partner employment
Child abuse/neglect, substance abuse, depression, suicide
Wounded and Severely Injured
Survivors
deployment
USDA NIFA February 2010

6. Our Partners MC&FP Air Force Army Navy & Marines NIFA
Land Grant University System
Cooperative Extension
USDA NIFA February 2010

7. Rationale for Partnership
Why NIFA, the Land Grant University (LGU) System, and the Cooperative Extension System (CES)?
Capacity
Credibility
Quality
USDA NIFA February 2010

8. Background Over 2 decades of partnering, NIFA (formerly CSREES)
Military Services
Office of the Secretary
of Defense, &
Land Grant Universities
have entered into 5-year Interagency Service Support Agreements (ISSAs) to provide military family support under a variety of structures
USDA NIFA February 2010

9. How the Partnership Grew
1987 – Navy partnered with CES Families program
Late 80s - Texas Extension placed educators on Army installations to support & educate military families.
Late 80s - Cornell Family Life Development Center conducted critical longitudinal research & curricula for Army Community Service to use in family support programs.
University of California and Texas Extension partnered to develop Operation READY.
1995 – Base Realignment Quality of Life Study — Texas Extension
H/Army Youth Development Project
2005 – 4-H/Air Force Youth Development Project
2007 – 4-H/Navy Youth Development Project
2009 – NIFA-Military Community & Family Policy (MCFP) Partnership
USDA NIFA February 2010

10. Our ReachToday
USDA NIFA February 2010

11. 4-H Military Partnership
Army Child Youth & School Services
Air Force Airmen & Family Services
Navy Child & Youth Programs
NIFA – Children, Youth Families at Risk
USDA - National Institute of Food & Agriculture
4-H/Army Youth Development Project
4-H Air Force Partnership
4-H Navy Partnership
Auburn University
Kansas State University
Kansas State University
Washington State University
Kansas State University
KSU serves as the overall lead University in the 4-H Military Partnerships. KSU awards more than $9,000, to 52 State LGU’s that provide direct programming and support for military children/youth through the Military 4-H Clubs and Operation: Military Kids grants.
University of Georgia
University of Maryland
Military 4-H Club Grants: - Funding for these grants is provided by Army, Navy, Air Force and NIFA (CYFAR). These grants serve to establish 4-H clubs on military installations world wide and provide 4-H opportunities to geographically dispersed military children/youth. In 2010, 47 states, DC & Guam applied for and received grants .
V irginia Tech
Operation: Military Kids Grants: – OMK grants are funded by Army and serve all military children/youth who experience a loved one being deployed. These grants focus on building local support networks where these families live. In states and DC applied for OMK grants.
Kansas State University
USDA NIFA February 2010

12. Military Family Support Programs
Army Family, Morale, Welfare
& Recreation Command
Brooks AFB
Ft. Knox?
Army Installations
Fort Riley, Fort Hood, Fort Bliss, Fort Sam Houston, Walter Reed
USDA - National Institute
of Food & Agriculture
Cornell University
Army Family Advocacy Program
(Army Wide)
Army Integrated Family
Support Network
Kansas State University
Air Force Family Advocacy Training Support and Research Project
(Air Force Wide)
Military Life Skills Education Program
(Ft. Riley, Kansas)
Texas A & M University
Military Life Skills Education Program
(Ft. Bliss, Texas)
(Ft. Hood, Texas)
Substance Abuse Prevention Program
(Fort Sam Houston)
Warriors in Transition
University of Maryland
Financial Training Management Program
(Walter Reed Army Medical Center)
USDA NIFA February 2010

13. Extension-Military Partnership
OSD – Office of Military Child & Family Policy
USDA – National Institute of Food & Agriculture
Purdue University
Overall Partnership Leadership
Internship Program
Project Sub-Awards
Washington State University
Communications & Marketing
North Carolina State University
Project Y.E.S.
Ohio State University
Lab School
University of Arizona
Multi-Disciplinary Partnerships
eXtension (U of Nebraska)
eXtension
Kansas State University
University Passport Program
University of Maryland
National Summit on Military Families
Virginia Tech
Military Families Listening Sessions
Sub-Awards & Universities: Family Readiness Clearinghouse – Penn State, Community Capacity Building - TBD, Health Literacy Education - TBD, Community Gardening - Cornell, Basic Meal Preparation - TBD, Training and Materials for Youth Camps – West Virginia, Youth Citizenship – U of Minnesota, Deployment Curriculum & Resources - TBD, 4-H Out-of-School Youth Programs – Michigan State, Autism Program Review and Support – Ohio State, Database for Child & Youth Programs Reporting – U of Georgia, Personal Worklife Skills - TBD, JFSAP Program Evaluation - TBD, Heartlink & Key Spouse Program Support - TBD, Child Care centers Technical Assistance - TBD

14. Military Families programming examples
Family Advocacy Program
New Parent Support Program
Army Substance Abuse Program
Financial Readiness Program
Exceptional Family Member Program
Mobilization and Deployment
Relocation Assistance Program
Employment Readiness Program
Army Family Action Program
Warriors in Transition
Survivor Outreach Services
Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual Resources?
USDA NIFA February 2010

15. Research & Extension Programs
Operation READY (Resources for Educating About Deployment and You)
Developed following Desert Storm
University of California Riverside & Texas A&M
3rd Revision by Cornell
In use on Army installations worldwide
Air Force Family Advocacy Research & Analysis
Evaluating impact of deployment on spouse and child maltreatment
Engaging fathers in New Parent Support Program
USDA NIFA February 2010

16. NIFA’s Focus
Identify the inter-relationships of the current work that supports military families & youth within NIFA.
Raise the visibility of the work being done by Cooperative Extension faculty, staff and partners.
Identify current efforts that support military families & youth (outside nationally-funded projects).
Identify strategies to expand partnerships.
USDA NIFA February 2010

17. USDA NIFA February 2010

18. For more information
Brent Elrod Program Specialist USDA / National Institute of Food and Agriculture
USDA NIFA February 2010