1. Supporting Military Youth in Minnesota Schools and Communities

3. Minnesota Deployment Cycle Support Laura Poppen Sarah Stille State Youth Program CoordinatorOperation Military Kids 8180 Belden BlvdYouth SpecialistCottage Grove, MN 651.268.8695785.313.3569 Laura.Poppen@us.army.milLaura.Poppen@us.army.mil sarah.stille@us.army.milsarah.stille@us.army.mil

4. NG Youth Program Mission: To Support the Emotional, Social, and Academic needs of National Guard Children and Youth

5. Military Impact in Minnesota A New Reality Army National Guard Air National Guard Army Reserve Air Force Reserve Navy Reserve Marine Reserve Army Corps of Engineers Active Duty Contractors 15,000 dependent children Brothers, sisters, relatives, teachers, pastors, and other community members Every County in Minnesota is home to military families No Active Duty Bases/Installations in Minnesota

6. Issues for Geographically Dispersed Youth Teens: Increased care of home and younger siblings Behavioral changes, peer pressure, lower self-esteem Difficulty understanding and dealing with media School-Age Youth: Behavioral changes Increased anxiety Change in school performance Zero-4: Feeling of abandonment and loss Anxiety issues regarding safety of deployed loved one Access to affordable and quality childcare

7. Recommendations Tell children about the deployment Use honest, age-appropriate explanations Do not make promises you can not keep Spend individual time with each child Develop a plan for staying in touch Say good-bye to children, do not slip away Inform teachers, child care providers, and others of upcoming deployment

8. Child Care Operation Military Child Care Child Care Subsidy during deployment Contact www.NACCRRA.org, 1.800.424.2246www.NACCRRA.org MN Child Care Respite Program 8 hours of free Child Care per month during deployment Contact www.mnchildcare.org or Julie Wasiluk, 651.290.9704 ext 119www.mnchildcare.org

9. Youth Development Parents As Teachers/Heroes At Home Certified Parent Educators provide playgroups and conduct individual Family Home Visits Focus group: Families with youth ages prenatal- three, playgroups are open to all ages Free and accessible at any stage of deployment cycle Connect with other Military families with young children. Contact: April Olson, April.Olson@parentsasteachers.org April.Olson@parentsasteachers.org Terri Konczak Terri.Konczak@ParentsAsTeachers.org Terri.Konczak@ParentsAsTeachers.org

10. Youth Development National Guard Youth Camp www.mngyc.com Operation Purple Camp www.operationpurple.org, McGregor, St. Croix www.operationpurple.org Military Kids Camp www.campstcroix.org Operation Military Kids Camps and Retreats www.operationmilitarykids.org Support youth at events, FRG’s, FRA, FPA, MIRT Age-appropriate curriculum with intentional life skill building themes

11. Student Support Military Child Education Coalition (MCEC) www.militarychild.org Study Strong Free on-line tutoring for Military youth through www.myarmyonesource.com/cyss_tutor www.myarmyonesource.com/cyss_tutor Scholarship Resources Our Military Kids $500 grant for After-School activities that are not school related www.ourmilitarykids.org

12. Student Support Minnesota State Teen Panel (MNTP) Who can apply: Teens ages 13-17, who can commit to 2 years and who will represent Military connected youth in the state Teens who show leadership within their communities and want to make a difference, Do 8 hours volunteer service a mont Teens who can commit to monthly conference calls and 3 meetings per year Focus is on educational, fun, and humanitarian service learning projects, teen led with adult guidance

13. Student Support Yellow Ribbon Schools To train and empower school officials to support Service Members and their families during deployment and reintegration Raise awareness in educators, administration and staff of the common challenges military youth face and know available resources Create an environment that is sensitive to the additional stress deployment creates in the life of a child Develop a peer/youth involvement network that is organized to support military families and youth Increase flexibility for the military youth to maximize time spent with Service Member when leave is taken during the school year

14. 10 Things Military Teens Want You to Know We are proud of our parents We think about war and we know what it means We may move a lot We take on a lot of responsibility We live in the community We appreciate recognition of our family’s service We value diversity and new experiences We miss our parents In a lot of ways we’re just like other teens We serve too

15. Thank You