Deployment-Related Resources for Military-Connected Children
DoDEA Support
Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA) counselors work with classes, small groups, and individual students to develop resiliency through character education, teaching positive coping strategies, and helping children experience the competence that leads to personal confidence.
In addition to the commitment of our teachers, staff, and administrators, DoDEA implements policies to provide extra support to military families. We offer block leave so that families can spend time together during post-deployment reintegration. We use 21st Century educational tools to include deployed parents in high school graduations and parent teacher conferences. We also maintain an ongoing arrangement with Tutor.com so that DoDEA students around the world always have access to free professional tutoring when they need it. Perhaps most importantly, DoDEA schools serve as the heart of the military community. Our schools work closely with other installation organizations and throughout the Department of Defense to support and care for the entire military family during a service member’s deployment. For specific information, be sure to contact your school’s counselor.
Below is a list of deployment related resources selected by DoDEA that parents, students, and educators may find helpful during the deployment process. These resources are also listed in a downloadable Deployment Related Resources document for your convenience.
Resources in Response to the War on Ukraine
The recent attack on Ukraine has impacted many families in the United States, especially our military and veteran families and those who have family living in the region. The NCTSN and our partners have resources for those families who may need support during this time:
Military and Veteran Family Resources
- Working Effectively with Military Families: 10 Key Concepts All Providers Should Know
- Understanding Child Trauma & Resilience: For Military Parents and Caregivers
- Honoring Our Babies and Toddlers: Supporting Young Children Affected by a Military Parent’s Deployment, Injury, or Death (Zero to Three)
- Sesame Street for Military Families (website)
- Community Support for Military Children and Families Throughout the Deployment Cycle (Center for Study of Traumatic Stress, CSTS)
- Strengthening Military Families to Support Children’s Well-Being (CSTS)
- Helping Children Cope During Deployment (CSTS)
- Military Children and Families: Supporting Health and Managing Risk (webinar)
- Impact of the Military Mission & Combat Deployment on the Service Members (webinar)
- Understanding Deployment Related Stressors & Long-term Health in Military Service Members & Veterans: The Millennium Cohort Study (webinar)
- An Overview of the Military Family Experience and Culture (webinar)
General Child Trauma Resources
- Talking to Children about War
- Age-Related Reactions to a Traumatic Event
- Psychological First Aid for Displaced Children and Families
- Traumatic Separation and Refugee and Immigrant Children: Tips for Current Caregivers
- Understanding Refugee Trauma: For School Personnel, For Mental Health Professionals, and For Primary Care Providers
- Coping in Hard Times: Fact Sheet for Parents, Youth, and School Personnel
- Helping Children with Traumatic Grief: Young Children, School-Age Children, and Teens
Additional Helpline Resources
- SAMHSA Disaster Distress Helpline – call or text 1-800-985-5990 (for Spanish, press “2”) to be connected to a trained counselor 24/7/365.
- Military OneSource – call 1-800-342-9647 for eligible DOD service members and their families.
- Veterans Crisis Line – call 1-800-273-8255, press “1” or text 838255 for all service members.
- PTSD Consultation Program – for providers who treat Veterans. Ask a question by calling 866-948-7880 or emailing PTSDconsult@va.gov.
For those that are needing technical assistance or additional resources, please don’t hesitate to contact Dr. Greg Leskin gleskin@mednet.ucla.edu for Military and Veteran Family resource questions and Dr. Melissa Brymer at mbrymer@mednet.ucla.edu for all other questions.
Deployment-Related Resources for Military-Connected Educators, Students, and Families
DoDEA Partnership and Resources
Partnership and Resources Division: supports the DoDEA vision as we work alongside DoDEA schools to ensure there is Excellence in Education for Every Student, Every Day, Everywhere. Our work extends to military-connected students in states and countries that are not directly served by DoDEA schools. Read MoreEducation, Grants, PCS Information, Non-DoD, Partnership (topic)
Military Kids Connect
Military Kids Connect is an online community for military children ages 6-17 and provides access to age-appropriate resources to support children dealing with the unique psychological challenges of military life. MKC offers informative activities, helpful videos, and an online community that can build and reinforce understanding, resilience, and coping skills in military children and their peers. Military Kids Connect is an initiative of the Connected Health branch of the Defense Health Agency (DHA). Visit WebsiteMilitary Kids Connect - Deployment
Military kids share their thoughts with each other about their dads' deployments. Visit WebsiteMilitary Kids Connect - Shifting Gears to Stop Worrying
Choose your own adventure comic strip. 1. Activities keep your mind and body busy 2. Contribute to others in some way 3. Do something to make you laugh 4. Get up and leave the problem situation either physically or mentally 5.Think of other thoughts that don’t relate to your worry 6. Tune into at least one of your five senses Visit WebsiteMilitary Kids Connect - Stressed Out, Emotions 101
8 min video- as a military youth, your triggers might also include saying goodbye to a parent who is going on a deployment, or a friend when you have to move. 1. Feelings are not positive or negative, good or bad, right or wrong. 2. You are not your emotions. 3. You cannot get rid of feelings. 4. Emotions do not last forever. 5. Your emotions are unique to you. Visit Website
Military OneSource
Military OneSource serves our warrior guardians, military families and our entire global military community and offers a wide range of individualized consultations, coaching and counseling for many aspects of military life. Service members, their families, survivors, and the entire military community have access to Military OneSource resources anywhere in the world, at no cost. They are ready to assist by phone and online, 24/7. Connect with Military OneSource - 800-342-9647 - 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year, from anywhere in the world. Visit Website
Military OneSource - Deployment Resources for Families
While military families know how to stand strong, the stresses of deployment can bring extra challenges. At Military OneSource, we’re here to help — by connecting you to a wide array of programs and services designed for military families. Visit WebsiteMilitary OneSource - Parenting Through Deployment
Planning for a deployment requires the organization of numerous details. But as a MilParent, deployment preparation has an extra, important step — preparing your children for each phase of the deployment cycle (before deployment, deployment and after deployment). Let Military OneSource help you tap into the resources you need to help make your deployment a smooth one for your entire family. Visit Website
MindWise Innovations - Deep Belly Breathing
There are many things in the world out of our control, but taking deep, healthy breaths can help control our anxiety and stress. A short 2 ½ minute video demonstrating how to use the Deep Belly Breathing calming strategy. Visit WebsiteMindWise Innovations - Progressive Muscle Relaxation
Choose your own adventure comic strip. 1. Activities keep your mind and body busy 2. Contribute to others in some way 3. Do something to make you laugh 4. Get up and leave the problem situation either physically or mentally 5. Think of other thoughts that don’t relate to your worry 6. Tune into at least one of your five senses Visit WebsiteMindWise Innovations - Spiral Breathing Exercise
A Riverside Trauma Center expert walks you through how to do a spiral breathing exercise to help calm the body and mind. A short 2 ½ minute video describing and demonstrating Spiral Breathing. This exercise uses visualization to calm and release stress. Visit Website
American Red Cross - Deployment Services
Whether your family is facing its first deployment or the next of many, the American Red Cross has developed workshops, information, and support services to help you with the practical and emotional challenges. Visit Website
Blue Star Families
Our team of military spouses and veterans has curated a variety of links to resources that were helpful for us. We hope they are helpful to you and your family too as you navigate the military lifestyle and experience deployment and reintegration. We’re always expanding this glossary, so if you have recommendations of organizations, online communities, or tools that we should include, we welcome your ideas! Visit Website
Child Reactions to Deployment Ages 6 to 12
Children can feel off balance as they cope with changes such as a military move or a parent's deployment. This document summarizes different behaviors and ways to respond. Download Document
Communication During Wartime: Experiences of Military Leaders, Parents and Children
During the past decade, thousands of military families experienced the stress of military deployment to Iraq and Afghanistan. Today, military families continue to support service member’s deployments all over the globe. With modern technologies, these families are able to instantly communicate in real time over great distances with their deployed loved ones. During this unique webinar, learn about the ways military families communicate during and after deployment. What are the popular means of communicating with loved ones during a wartime deployment? How do military parents communicate with their children from the war front? This webinar will feature active-duty military leadership, spouses, and children discuss the benefits and challenges associated with deployment communication in today’s military. Presenters will describe their firsthand narratives that accompany. Visit Website
Psychological First Aid Wallet Card
A quick resource wallet card which reviews the 8 core actions of Psychological First Aid. Visit Website
Teenager Reactions to Deployment Ages 13 to 17
Summary of possible Teenager reactions to a caregiver's deployment followed by some helpful parenting ideas. Download DocumentResiliency Support for Military-Connected Educators, Students, and Families
Blue Star Families
Blue Star Families builds communities that support military families by connecting research and data to programs and solutions, including career development tools, local community events for families, and caregiver support. Since its inception in 2009, Blue Star Families has engaged tens of thousands of volunteers and serves more than 1.5 million military family members nationwide. With Blue Star Families, military families can find answers to their challenges anywhere they are. Visit Website
Military Child Education Coalition
Military Child Education Coalition (MCEC) is a non-profit organization focused on the academic and emotional needs of military children in public schools. They offer a variety of programs and resources for students and parents. Visit WebsiteMilitary OneSource - Youth Coping with Separation
This 30 min video was developed by military pediatricians and adolescent medicine specialists to help military youth understand that they are not alone when they experience family separation. Visit Website
Penn State Clearinghouse for Military Family Readiness
Penn State Clearinghouse provides the right tools and information to keep our military families strong. The Clearinghouse helps connect military families and supporters with dedicated professionals to provide assistance. Visit Website
School Resources to Support Military-Connected Students - Brain Breaks
Utilize brain breaks to re-focus students when necessary. Visit WebsiteSchool Resources to Support Military-Connected Students - Burnout and Compassion Fatigue
Evaluate the level of professional burnout that you may be experiencing. Visit Website
Sesame Street for Military Families
Sesame Street for Military Families is a free, bilingual (English and Spanish) website where families can find information and multimedia resources on the topics of military deployments, multiple deployments, homecomings, injuries, grief, and self-expression. Visit WebsiteSesame Street for Military Families, Breath, Think, Do
“Breathe, Think, Do,” a three-step strategy for teaching problem solving, self-control, planning, and persistence (and it works for adults too)! Children can help a monster friend calm down and solve everyday challenges. Visit WebsiteSesame Street for Military Families, Faces and Feelings
When your Mommy or Daddy need to go away, children may find solace in the feel many things-coloring sheets with feelings Visit Website
The Military Interstate Compact
The Council of State Governments (CSG), in cooperation with the US Department of Defense, drafted this Interstate Compact to address some of the educational challenges transitioning children of military families face. Read MoreEducation, Grants, PCS Information, Non-DoD, Partnership (topic)
Discovery Ed
Discovery Ed is an approved application for all K-12 students and educators that we are permitted to use. To access resiliency resources in Discovery Ed, go to ClassLink > click on Discovery Education (if it is not on your launchpad, click on plus in top left and go to Educator Library > search for Discovery Ed > click Add). In top search bar, type “resiliency.” User can drill down by type of content, grade band or subject areas by selecting different options under the search bar. Below is a screen shot of just a few of the many results. Similarly, users can search for “Ukraine.” Visit Website
Flipgrid
Flipgrid is an approved application for all K-12 students and educators that DoDEA is permitted to use. To access resiliency resources in Flipgrid, go to ClassLink > click on Flipgrid (if it isn’t on your launchpad, click on plus in top left and go to Educator Library > search for Flipgrid > click Add). In top right click your profile avatar > click Discovery> in the search bar, type “resilience.” Visit Website
Kahoot!
Kahoot! is an approved application for all K-12 students and educators that we are permitted to use. To access resiliency resources in Kahoot! teachers, go to ClassLink > click on Kahoot! Teacher. (if it is not on your launchpad, click on plus in top left and go to Educator Library > search for Kahoot > click Add). In top left click Discover> in the search bar, type “resilience.” Visit Website
Pear Deck
Pear Deck is an approved application for all K-12 students and educators that we are permitted to use. To access resiliency resources in Pear Deck, go to ClassLink > click on Pear Deck (if it is not on your launchpad, click on plus in top left and go to Educator Library > search for Pear Deck > click Add). In top search bar, type “resiliency.” Visit Website
Seesaw
SeeSaw is an approved application for all K-5 students and educators that we are permitted to use. To access resiliency resources in SeeSaw, go to ClassLink > click on SeeSaw (if it is not on your launchpad, click on plus in top left and go to Educator Library > search for Kahoot > click Add). If it is your first visit, click Activity Library > click Community in top left > in the search bar, type “resilience.” Visit WebsiteAdditional Support
Department of Defense School Liaison Program
The School Liaison Program offers an array of services and resources to support students, parents, installation leadership, schools and the surrounding community. They inform parents about local schools, graduation requirements, afterschool programs, homeschooling and much more. By working together with these stakeholders, the School Liaison Program builds a support network to provide the best possible education experience for military-connected children and youth worldwide. Read MoreEducation, Grants, PCS Information, Non-DoD, Partnership (topic)