1. Innovative Research, Extension, & Academic Programs Supporting Military Families, Youth, Service Members and Veterans Military Culture and Curriculum Planning Meeting Fort Leavenworth, KS 8 November 2010

2. Agenda A Snapshot of the U.S. Military in 2010 NIFA’s Military Youth and Family Initiatives The DoD – USDA Partnership –Key Objectives –Benefits & Lessons Learned 2

3. A Snapshot of the U.S. Military in 2010 Active Duty National Guard ReservesTotal Army 547,400358,200205,0001,110,600 Navy 328,80065,500394,300 Marines 202,10039,600241,700 Air Force 331,700106,70069,500507,900 Coast Guard 49,95410,00059,954 Total 2,314,454 3

4. Overseas Contingency Operations 4

5. 5 Walk a Mile … Frequent training exercises Long duty days Weekend duty Frequent relocations Family separations Distance from extended family Financial strain Frequent military deployments & backfill Risk of death and/or serious injury

6. CA OR UT AZ NV WA ID MT WY CO NM TX KS OK ND AK SD NE IA MO AR LA AL MS HI WI MN IL IN TN KY GA SC FL PA OH NC VA WV NY ME VT NH CT RI MA MD DE NJ MI Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Louisiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, Washington States Most Highly Impacted by Deployments States with the highest rates of deployments among all components, including Reserve & Guard Legend

7. 7  Highly trained  Well traveled  Excellent health care  Tightknit Community Military Life Strengths

8. 8  Divorce  Alcohol and drugs  Family violence  Suicide  Physical injury / death  “Invisible Wounds” Potential Impacts

9. Over 2 decades of partnering, –USDA NIFA (formerly CSREES) –Military Services –Office of the Secretary of Defense, & –Land Grant Universities to provide quality military Family support, program evaluation, and research 9

10. DoD – USDA Partnership mission To advance the health, well-being, and quality of life for military Service members, families, and their communities through the coordination of research, education and extension programs.

11. Partners MC&FP Army Navy & Marines Air Force NIFA Land Grant University Cooperative Extension

12. By the Numbers 95 Active Army Installations and Guard & Reserve using Operation READY 75 Extension staff working on Texas Army Bases (Fort Hood, Fort Bliss, & Fort Sam Houston) 23,769 military youth enrolled in 4-H clubs (worldwide) 107,731 youth involved through Operation: Military Kids 101 4-H Military Club/OMK Grants awarded to states 1,298 military youth development professionals trained No Changes

13. 4-H Military Partnerships “This is also a challenge across the federal government, where there are so many programs and policies and potential partnerships that could benefit military families. For instance, at the Department of Agriculture, the 4-H program, which can be found in every county in America - - from cities to rural communities -- has forged partnerships with the armed services to help military kids when their parents are deployed.” Michelle Obama, National Military Family Association Summit, May 12, 2010 13

14. 4-H Military Partnership Army Child Youth & School Services Air Force Airmen & Family Services Navy Child & Youth Programs 4-H Air Force Partnership Auburn University Washington State University University of Georgia University of Maryland Virginia Tech USDA - National Institute of Food & Agriculture NIFA – Children, Youth Families at Risk 4-H/Army Youth Development Project Kansas State University 4-H Navy Partnership Kansas State University KSU serves as the overall lead University in the 4-H Military Partnerships. KSU awards more than $9,000,000 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. 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. 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 2010, 49 states and DC applied for OMK grants. Child Youth Deployment Support Kansas State University

15. 4-H Military Partnerships www.4-hmilitarypartnerships.org Operation: Military Kids www.operationmilitarykids.org 15

16. Military Family and Consumer Science Initiatives USDA - National Institute of Food & Agriculture Cornell University Army Family Advocacy Program (Army Wide) Army Relocation Assistance (Army Wide) Army One Source (Army Wide) K-State Extension Air Force Family Advocacy Training Support and Research Project (Air Force Wide) Military Life Skills Education Program (Ft. Riley, Kansas) Texas AgriLIFE Extension Military Life Skills Education Program (Ft. Bliss) Military Life Skills Education (Ft. Hood) Substance Abuse Prevention (Ft. Sam Houston) Warriors in Transition (TX-GA-WA pilot) University of Georgia Survivor Outreach Services (Army Wide) Army Family and Morale, Welfare, Recreation Command Air Force Ft. Knox in development Army Installations: Fort Bliss, Fort Hood, Fort Riley, Fort Sam Houston

17. Research & Extension Programming Areas Family Advocacy New Parent Support Substance Abuse Prevention Financial Readiness Exceptional Family Member Mobilization and Deployment Relocation Assistance Employment Readiness Family Action & Volunteers 17

18. Research & Extension Program Examples Operation READY (Resources for Educating About Deployment and You) –Developed following Desert Storm –University of California Riverside & Texas A&M –3 rd Revision by Cornell –In use on Army installations worldwide 18

19. 19

20. Military Projects: Evidence Based Solutions for Military Families 1992- 2009. Family Life Development Center, Cornell University

22. New FCS Programming Wounded Warriors –Caregiver Assessment –Caregiver Education Survivor Outreach –Loss & Grief Curriculum –Training 22

23. DoD – USDA Partnership Office of the Secretary of Defense – Office of Military Community & Family Policy USDA – National Institute of Food & Agriculture Purdue University Internship Program + Overall Partnership Leadership University of Arizona Multi-Disciplinary Partnerships North Carolina State University Project Y.E.S. (Youth Extension Service) Ohio State University Centers of Excellence for Child & Youth Programs Kansas State University University Passport Program University of Nebraska Child Care Training and Technical Assistance Penn State University Family Readiness Clearinghouse Universities / Sub-Awards : Cornell / Community Gardening; Michigan State / Youth Fitness; Ohio State / Basic Meal Preparation; Purdue / Heartlink & Key Spouse Program Support / Personal Worklife Skills; Southern / Out-of-School Connections; West Virginia State / Health Literacy Education; University of Arizona / Deployment Curriculum & Resources; University of Georgia / Community Capacity Building / Database for Annual Report / JFSAP Program Evaluation Cornell EFMP Benchmark Study Ohio State Autism Study – Phase II West Virginia University Medicaid Project Washington State University Communications & Marketing eXtension (U of Nebraska) Online Resources & Training ProjectSub-AwardsProjectSub-Awards

24. CA OR UT AZ NV WA ID MT WY CO NM TX KS OK ND AK SD NE IA MO AR LA AL MS HI WI MN IL IN TN KY GA SC FL PA OH NC VA WV NY ME VT NH CT RI MA MD DE NJ MI Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Louisiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, Washington States Most Highly Impacted by Deployments States with the highest rates of deployments among all components, including Reserve & Guard Legend

25. CA OR UT AZ NV WA ID MT WY CO NM TX KS OK ND AK SD NE IA MO AR LA AL MS HI WI MN IL IN TN KY GA SC FL PA OH NC VA WV NY ME VT NH CT RI MA MD DE NJ MI Cornell University, Kansas State, Michigan State, North Carolina State, Ohio State, Penn State, Purdue, Southern, Virginia Tech, Washington State, West Virginia State, University of Arizona, University of Georgia, University of Maryland, University of Nebraska Initial DoD – USDA Partnership Project States, 2009-10 Partnering states; includes representatives from 1862 & 1890 institutions Legend

26. CA OR UT AZ NV WA ID MT WY CO NM TX KS OK ND AK SD NE IA MO AR LA AL MS HI WI MN IL IN TN KY GA SC FL PA OH NC VA WV NY ME VT NH CT RI MA MD DE NJ MI University Passport Partners: Colorado State University, Iowa State University, Kansas State University, Michigan State University, University of Missouri, Montana State University, University of Nebraska, North Dakota State University, Oklahoma State University, South Dakota State University, Texas Tech University Current Partnership Project States, including UPP, 2011 Partnering states plus University Passport Legend

27. CA OR UT AZ NV WA ID MT WY CO NM TX KS OK ND AK SD NE IA MO AR LA AL MS HI WI MN IL IN TN KY GA SC FL PA OH NC VA WV NY ME VT NH CT RI MA MD DE NJ MI Child Care and Youth Program Training and Technical Assistance States: Alaska, California, Colorado, Delaware, Florida, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, North Carolina, Texas, Virginia, Vermont, and Washington Partnership Project States, including CCTTA, 2011-13 Partnering states University Passport Child Care TTA Legend

28. Lead Institution: State highly impacted by deployments with no installation Military Family Research Institute Coordination of overall partnership with DoD, NIFA, partnering universities, and others 28

29. Additional Leads Kansas State North Carolina State Penn State Ohio State Washington State University of Arizona University of Nebraska-Lincoln 29

30. Key Objectives Improve community capacity to support military families Increase professional development and workforce development opportunities Expand and strengthen programs in family readiness, child development, & youth development 30

31. Community Capacity Building TARGETLocal communities and leaders GOALBuild greater awareness of challenges faced by military families and build local support PROGRAM EXAMPLES Communications & Outreach PROJECT Y.E.S. Military Community, Family & Youth Extension Programs

32. Military Community, Family & Youth Extension Program Sub-awards Youth Fitness Programs Database for Child and Youth Report Health Literacy Education Basic Meal Preparation Personal Work Life Skills Community Gardening Heart Link & Key Spouse Program Support Out-of-School Connections Training and Materials for Youth Camps Adventure Camps 32

33. Strengthening Family, Child & Youth Development Prgms TARGETMilitary Helping Professionals GOALEnhance and strengthen programs particularly through research-based efforts EXAMPLESExceptional Family Member Program reviews: Benchmark study, Autism Spectrum, Medicaid Family Readiness Clearinghouse Engaging Faculty Expertise: - Sabbaticals, colloquia - Program evaluation, military family research, program &curricula development

34. Workforce & Professional Development TARGETPotential employees (including mil spouses) GOALRecruit and retain talent to work in MC&FP related fields within the military EXAMPLESInternship Program Child Care Training & Technical Assistance Centers of Excellence for Child & Youth Prgrms Joint Family Readiness Conference (25-29 April 2011) University Passport Program

35. Benefits DoD & ComponentsUSDA, LGUs, CES Engaged faculty Curriculum development Increased participation in 4-H and family educational programs New resources Enhanced collaborations Multi-state projects 35 High quality workforce to meet demand High quality curriculum and materials Faculty expertise for research, strategic planning, and evaluation Enhanced quality and capacity to serve military families

36. Lessons Learned Military Command Structure Try not to surprise your partners Recognize that each of the partners (NIFA, DoD, Universities) bring different strengths Become familiar –Research on unique needs of military families –Doing the same programs with same people won’t work –Know what others are doing in support of military families

37. Related Links http://militaryfamilies.extension.org www.4-hmilitarypartnerships.org www.networkofcare.org www.militaryonesource.com www.militaryhomefront.dod.mil www.defense.gov 37

38. Thanks & Q&A Brent Elrod National Program Leader – Military Support Programs USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture 202.690.3468 belrod@nifa.usda.gov 38