Vermont

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Vermont
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Vermont
Is a national collaboration between the Army
Child and Youth Programs and 4-H It is a
grant-based program, administered in each state
through the Land Grant University University of
Vermont Extension
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Operation Military Kids Vermont

• Mission To establish community partnerships that
  will connect and educate people by
• Creating community support, delivering
  opportunities to youth and families, supporting
  military kids, collaborating with community
  partners, educating the public (including the
  education community), and incorporating military
  families into existing community resources.

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Building Community Capacity to Take Action
By working together with local partners,
Operation Military Kids Vermont can strengthen
the net of community support for our military
kids and families.
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Operation Military Kids Vermont Partners

• University of Vermont Extension 4-H
• Vermont National Guard Child and Youth Program
• Military Families Community Network
• Military OneSource
• American Legion of Vermont
• Boy Scouts of America, Green Mountain Council
• Girl Scouts of The Green and White Mountains
• Greater Burlington YMCA
• Boys and Girls Clubs of Vermont
• Child Care Referral of Vermont

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The Emotional Cycle of Deployment Mobilization
and Deployment
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Impact of deployment here in Vermont
Where we have no base, no place for
connection
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• Who is Affected?
• Military Families
• Kids
• Schools
• Our Communities

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• What Can We Do?
• Get informed
• Know the deployment calendar
• Understand the culture
• Be Prepared
• Have answers at the ready
• Be prepared to address issues as they arise

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• Deployment Cycle
• Typically lasts 15-18 months from train up to
  boots off
• Train up/Preparation training and readiness
  activities
• Mobilization Units/individuals alerted for
  possible deployment Boots On
• Deployment Units/individuals deploy to the
  designated theater of operation
• Employment Units/individuals perform their
  assigned mission in theater for a
  prescribed period of time (12 months for VTANG)
• Redeployment Units/individuals reposture in
  theater equipment is returned to home
  station individuals begin reintegrating into
  their predeployment environments and are
  reunited with families
• Post-Deployment Debriefings, administrative
  tasks and full reintegration of
  individuals into their families and communities
• Reconstitution Begins after post-deployment
  recovery and
• Administrative requirements individuals
  reintegrated into their
• families, communities and civilian jobs
  Boots off

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The Emotional Cycle of Deployment Five
distinct stages Stage One Pre-deployment
Summer 09 Stage Two Deployment
November December Training Stage Three
Sustainment 12 Months in Afghanistan
Stage Four Re-deployment End of 2010 / Early
2011 Stage Five Post-deployment 4-6
weeks after return
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Stage One Pre-Deployment Shock/surprise for
National Guard and U.S. Army Reserve Soldiers,
family members Anticipation of loss vs.
denial Train up/long hours away Getting
affairs in order Mental/physical distance
Stress/arguments
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Stage Two Deployment Mixed emotionsgrief,
loss, relief Disoriented/overwhelmed Numb,
sad, alone/lonely, feelings of abandonment
Sleep difficulties Security issues Frequent
communication helps
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Stage Three Sustainment Separation anxiety
New routines established New sources of
support Feeling more in controlAble to cope
New Independence ConfidenceI can do this
Phone contact unidirectional stress
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• Stage Four Re-Deployment
• Anticipation of homecoming
• Excitement
• Apprehension - Will I have to give up my
  independence?
• Burst of energy nesting
• Difficulty making decisions

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Post-Deployment Honeymoon period Loss of
independence Need for own space
Renegotiating routines Reintegrating into
family Getting to know one another
againpatient communication, going slow, and
lower expectations are key
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• Emotional Cycle of Deployment for Adolescents
• Mirrors adult stress
• Frequently kept secret from friends, family,
  and teachers
• Characterized by a desire to become invisible
• Stress is ever present but rarely discussed
• Intensified by responsibility from home

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What Separation Anxiety Looks Like Clinging
Unexplained tears, crying Change in
relationships with same-age friends Preference
in spending time with adults Increased acts of
violence toward people, pets, things
Isolation Sleep eating difficulties Fear of
new people and/or situations Rise in physical
complaints (stomachaches, headaches) More
irritable or cranky Increase in problems at
school Drop in grades Unwillingness to go to
school Odd complaints about school or teachers
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Separation Anxiety in Adolescents Acting out
behaviors (trouble in school, at home, or with
the law) Low self-esteem Self-criticismblamin
g themselves for situation Misdirected anger
(i.e., excess anger over small events) Sudden
or unusual school problems Loss of interest in
usual activities/hobbies Express concerns to
school counselor. Families are being urged to
share deployment information with counselors.
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• Symptoms of Deployment Stress in
• School Settings
• Unable to resume normal Gain or lose
  significant amount
• class assignments/activities of weight in
  period of weeks
• Continued high levels of Discontinue care
  of personal
• emotional response (i.e., appearance
• crying intense sadness)
• Exhibit possible alcohol/drug
• Difficulty concentrating in abuse problem
• school
• Frequent absences
• Express violent or depressed
• feelings verbally or through Experience
  decline in
• drawings/play performance and
  grades that
• do not improve
  over time
• Intentionally hurt self or others

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Strengths for Youth Resulting from Deployment
Fosters maturity Growth inducing Encourages
independence Encourages flexibility,
adaptability Builds skills for adjusting to
separation and losses faced later in life
Strengthens family bonds Civicsrelationship
with community
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Suggested Healthy Responses By Adults Learn
about the impact of deployment on children/youth
and families Reflect and verbalize what you
see and hear in terms of their behavior to help
them with understanding Be patient,
understanding, caring, but firm and consistent
with consequences for misbehavior Help
children/youth identify, accept, and express what
they are feeling Model constructive ways of
dealing with strong or challenging emotions
such as anger, grief, loss, sadness
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• We Can Help Build Resilient Kids
• Create a caring community Diversity is Key
• Create an ongoing dialogue with colleagues
  share resources
• Provide students with more opportunities for
  communication, connection
• Encourage participation in community activities
• Help kids recognize their new strengths

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