Educators and counselors from area schools gathered at the BISD board room on Friday to learn how to support and help children better cope with the deployment of military family members and what resources are available.
Several speakers came to BISD to share what military families go through and how to help them through all the changes the deployment of a parent may create. Many of these families experience multiple deployments, resulting in the parents being gone for several years.
Representatives from Texas Joint Support Assistance Program, Backpack Journalist Program, Brownwood Military and Family Support Group, Family Readiness Group and Center for Life Resources provided information to the school teachers, administrators and counselors present to educate them on what these military families go through and how to better support them. Bob Hankenson with the State Family Program Young Heroes brought free materials, such as story books for the children and educational materials to provide school staff with necessary information and tools to help military children through this difficult time.
“We are not talking about parents being gone one time, we are talking about families that are experiencing a third, fourth but sometimes even a fifth deployment,” stated Pamela Mingle, of the Texas Joint Family Support Assistance Program (JFSAP). “These deployments lasting anywhere from a year to a year and a half, when you combine training and everything else that goes with that, you are talking about the parent missing a significant part of that child’s life.”
Children go through the usual separation anxieties, such as grades falling, or acting out because of the emotions they are experiencing, just to name a few things. Some children also begin filling the gap that the deployed parent left behind, helping with other siblings. Others see news reports of battles and imagine that their parent is in a constant firefight while they are gone, when they may actually have a very safe job away from the battlefield. Communication between these family members is very important.
For the spouse left at home, they suddenly become both parents, the only disciplinarian, having to work out logistics of transportation, and having to run the household—repairs and financial issues.
Not only do the kids and spouse left behind need support, but also the deployed parent. They often miss out on significant events such as first steps, birthdays, and graduation. Because of this, Brownwood High School is planning to record graduation this year so any deployed parent can be included in the event. The school will also be recognizing graduating seniors who are going into the military.
Another issue that some deployed families face is that some live outside of a base or military area and may not get the support that those living in a military base receive. This is one area where the Texas Joint Family Support Assistance Program (JFSAP) helps. These resources include counseling, help with finances, college funding, retirement planning, building a budget and learning to manage money, and even financial assistance such as money for driver’s education courses or Wii games which are used to help therapeutically for families of soldiers with brain injuries.
“National Guard families have it hard because they sign up for weekend duty and then get deployed as civilians,” said Hunter.
Yellow Ribbon events are held to help inform military families about services available to them. These are usually held 30-60 days after deployment.
“Each community is unique, but I think Brownwood has done a great job of pulling people together and working on some of that for the families,” stated Mingle.
There are new programs that have been developed to help give children a voice during the time a parent is deployed. Backpack Journalist teaches kid’s skills such as photography, videography, song writing and even cowboy poetry to journal their thoughts and feelings into a positive experience which can be shared more easily than just speaking about it. Hero Packs are backpacks full of supportive materials for the child to be able to communicate to the parent while deployed and journal their thoughts while the parent is away. Stand Behind Military Kids honors the kids that serve at home while their parent is deployed.
Support for the parents includes the Battle Buddy program (such as women whose husbands were deployed together who have common interests or situation in order to have someone to talk to while their husbands are gone), the Wall of Heroes which is posted at the Brown County Courthouse to honor those actively serving in the military, and the Christmas Boxes which are gifts of support that are sent to the troops each year.
Some new programs that may soon be coming to the Brownwood area for military kids are day camps, college readiness workshops, and the Backpack Journalist workshop.
Those who attended left with a wealth of knowledge that hopefully will aid in supporting the kids and helping the school to better understand the situation of the military family.
Below are pictures of the event.
Free resources offered.
Teachers gather up helpful materials.
Joyce Leidig distributes Hero Backpacks to teachers.
