OPERATION: MILITARY KIDS

BackgroundBackground For ten years 4-H and the For ten years 4-H and the

Army have partnered, Army have partnered, involving 7,000 youth in involving 7,000 youth in

300 4-H clubs across the 300 4-H clubs across the U.S. and in Europe, U.S. and in Europe,

Japan and Korea.Japan and Korea.

OMK takes this experience, OMK takes this experience, merging 4-H and Army resources, merging 4-H and Army resources, to provide support to youth who to provide support to youth who are not on installations, are not on installations,

but dispersed in rural, urban and but dispersed in rural, urban and suburban communities across suburban communities across

the country.the country.

What is OMK?A partnership of the Dept. of Defense, A partnership of the Dept. of Defense, county and state 4-H programs and the county and state 4-H programs and the National 4-H Headquarters USDA.National 4-H Headquarters USDA.

OMK’s Guiding Principles

Programs must be sustainable.Programs must be sustainable.

Partnerships and joint commitments at the Partnerships and joint commitments at the federal, state and local level are critical.federal, state and local level are critical.

Rapid response is necessary.Rapid response is necessary.

Youth’s interests and involvement are Youth’s interests and involvement are important.important.

Programs must be replicable.Programs must be replicable.

OMK’s Three Major Components

Building a Community Planning Team for planning and guidance for on-going programs.

Implementing Educational Program OptionsImplementing Educational Program Options

Supporting the Children of Those Who Serve in the National Guard and Army Reserve.

Through OMK, 4-H will reach out to children and youth of Army National Guard and Army Reserve soldiers who are now deploying to Iraq, Afghanistan, and other locations as part of the Global War on Terrorism.

Operation: Military Kids

Creates community support networks Creates community support networks for military youth “in our own for military youth “in our own

backyard” when Soldier parents are backyard” when Soldier parents are deployed.deployed.

Delivers recreational, Delivers recreational, social, and educational social, and educational

programs for military youth programs for military youth living in civilian communities.living in civilian communities.

Supports military kids Supports military kids coping with the stress coping with the stress

of knowing their of knowing their deployed parents may deployed parents may

be in harm’s way.be in harm’s way.

Collaborates with schools Collaborates with schools to ensure that staff are to ensure that staff are

attuned to the unique needs attuned to the unique needs of military students.of military students.

Educates the public on the impact of the Educates the public on the impact of the deployment cycle on Soldiers, families, deployment cycle on Soldiers, families,

kids, and the community as a whole.kids, and the community as a whole.

Becomes a part of the ongoing Becomes a part of the ongoing deployment support services deployment support services

for military children and youth.for military children and youth.

The Deployment The Deployment StagesStages

OMK will assist these OMK will assist these youth throughout the youth throughout the stages of deployment.stages of deployment.

Pre-Deployment/PreparationPre-Deployment/Preparation

Knowing a parent is leaving.Knowing a parent is leaving.

Deployment/SeparationDeployment/SeparationThe parent is actually gone.The parent is actually gone.

Post-Deployment/ReunionThe parent is back.The parent is back.

How Do We Do We Support Middle and High School Youth?

Educate about the issues and

challenges facing older youth of deployed parents,

especially when they assume parental roles.

Encourage Veterans’ and other community groups to provide

scholarships for extracurricular activities

Find adults or other youth to provide respite care for younger siblings

Recruit mentors to assist with homework

and other school challenges

Partner with other community organizations to provide programs

for older youth.

What Can You Do To

Help?

Keep in Mind...

Military Kids who live in local communities –

Suddenly have different needs, but still “look”

the same

Discover their world is turned upside down

Find usual support systems no longer are

relevant

Lack “connections” to each other

Are impacted by intensity and frequency

of media coverage

Are you ready to get involved with Operation: Military Kids? If so, here are a few ways

to begin –

Send care packages directly to their soldier parents.

Begin an “Adopt A Military Family” project.

Help spread the word to other local clubs and organizations to get

them involved.

Help Alachua County 4-H identify our local Military

families.

To participate or get additional information, please contact the

Alachua County Extension Office at 352-955-2402 or e-mail us at

Wrheltemes@ifas.ufl.edu

Join our Alachua County 4-H OMK leadership team.