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

Overview Nature of Military Family Life Rationale for Partnership Background Research & Extension Programs Questions USDA NIFA February 20102

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

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 20104

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 Associated Challenges USDA NIFA February 20105

Our Partners MC&FP Army Navy & Marines Air Force NIFA Land Grant University System Cooperative Extension USDA NIFA February 20106

Why NIFA, the Land Grant University (LGU) System, and the Cooperative Extension System (CES)? Capacity Credibility Quality Rationale for Partnership USDA NIFA February 20107

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 20108

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 – 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 20109

Our ReachToday USDA NIFA February

4-H Military Partnership Army Child Youth & School ServicesAir Force Airmen & Family ServicesNavy Child & Youth Programs 4-H Air Force Partnership Auburn University Washington State University University of Georgia University of Maryland V irginia 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, 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 states and DC applied for OMK grants. USDA NIFA February

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

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 Kansas State University University Passport Program University of Arizona Multi-Disciplinary Partnerships eXtension (U of Nebraska) eXtension 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 University of Maryland National Summit on Military Families Virginia Tech Military Families Listening Sessions

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

Research & Extension Programs 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 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

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

USDA NIFA February

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