1. Tomoko Kudo Grabosky, Ph.D. Shippensburg University

2.  More families of military services members are using GI Bills to attend colleges and universities.  Family members with deployed service members have significantly higher stress than civilians (Davis& Treiber, 2007).  It is estimated that 25 percent of soldiers in Iraq had "significant others" who are not spouses ( Fontaine,2009).  There is no formal support available to military significant others.

3.  “Unfriendly” policies and procedures  Lack of funds/benefits slow to arrive  Constant worries about the service member’s safety  Increased responsibility in household  Communication Difficulties  “Others don’t understand”  Dealing with other’s insensitive comments after deployment  Dealing with readjustment issues and changes, relationship issues, multiple- deployment, etc. Source: Frantz & Pfeffer (2010)

4. Support Group Counseling Center Veterans Services Office PA National Guard Family Care Program Student Veteran Association

5. Facilitators  Counselor ◦ Counseling skills, college student issues, campus resources, crisis management  Family Care Specialist ◦ Military specific information, Deployment cycle, integration issues, military family issues, off campus military specific resources Members  Spouse  Siblings  Parents  Relatives  Significant Others  Veterans  Active members  Reserve members

6. Support Group Emotional support Complimenting and encouraging others Showing respect for ability or skills Listening to others’ problems without offering criticisms or suggestions Sharing feelings Informational Support Giving directions, advice, and suggestions Demonstrating a way to perform a task Explaining problems and approaches Task Support & Tangible Assistance Helping with one another with work Doing small favors Belonging Expressing acceptance of person Expressing approval for entire group Demonstrating inclusion in group Forsyth (1999)

7. Anticipation of Departure Detachment & withdraw Emotional disorganization Recovery & Stabilization Anticipation of Return Return adjustment & Re-negotiation Reintegration & Stabilization

8. Tomoko Kudo Grabosky, Ph.D. Department of Counseling Services Shippensburg University 1871 Old Main Drive Shippensburg, PA 17257 (717) 477-1481 tkgrab@ship.edu

9.  Davis, H., & Treiber, F.A. (2007). Perceived stress, heart rate, and blood pressure among adolescents with family members, deployed in Operation Iraq Freedom, Military medicine, 172, 40-43.  Demers, A. (2009). The war at home: Consequences of loving a veteran of the Iraq and Afghanistan. Internet Journal of Mental Health, 15312941, 20090101, Vol. 6, Issue 1  Forsyth, D. R. (1999). Group dynamics, (3 rd ed.). Belmont, CA: Wadsworth Publishing company.  Fontaine, S. (2009, November 22). It’s marriage license that counts for military. The News Tribune.  Frantz, S., & Pfeffer, D. (2010). Veterans on campus: Are you ready? A webinar presented at Paper Clip Communications, May, 20, 2010 2 – 3:30 pm EST.