Benefits of the Oklahoma OMK Program A Delphi Study Hillary Siegfried OMK Graduate Student Oklahoma State University

Purpose of the Study Determine the parents’ perception of the overall benefits of the Oklahoma OMK Program The Delphi technique is designed as a group communication process….”two heads are better than one” (Dalkey, 1969)

What? Panel of experts included twenty-five Oklahoma military parents who had a child or children involved in OMK activities. All branches of services were represented. Three rounds of questionnaires, based upon an open ended question: “how has the Oklahoma OMK program been beneficial to your child/children?”

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Helped them realize that they were not alone in the deployment process So What? Helped them realize that they were not alone in the deployment process

….Not alone

Became more independent So What? Became more independent “OMK helped them express themselves”

…More independent

So What? Gave them something fun to do while their loved one was far away 76.2% reported that the father was the family member deployed

Something Fun to Do! Camp Ins at the Science Museum and Aquarium!

So What? “gave my child a chance to meet Made new friends who understood what they were going though “gave my child a chance to meet other kids in the same situation”

New friends who understand…

So What? Gained self-confidence “They have made Great strides in self-confidence…I can’t thank OMK enough”

Speak Out? I can do that! Now, that’s self-confidence!

So What? Met other military kids going through similar experiences “has broadened their exposure to the outside”

4-H OMK/NG Kids Kamp (record breaking heat, by the way)

So What? Not alone in the deployment process. Became more independent. Something fun to do while loved one was far away. Made new friends understood what they were going through. Gained self-confidence. Met other military kids going through similar experience.

Now What? The work continues….. Improve leadership skills More exposure to the real life world Help them cope during deployment Improve communication skills Help them express themselves Receive support from peers

Future efforts….the work continues

Dr. Jeff Sallee 4-H Youth Development Specialist Military Liaison Dr Dr. Jeff Sallee 4-H Youth Development Specialist Military Liaison Dr. Pat McNally 4-H Youth Development Assistant Specialist Coordinator, OMK