Child & Youth 

6/27/2011 12:00 AM 

The following links provide a number of resources for military parents, including information parenting military children from infancy through to their teen years, military child education, and specific resources to help parents and children with deployment, reintegration, and coping with loss.

Please go to our Scholarship Information page to learn more about scholarships and financial aid available for military children.


 Zero to Five Years Resources

Baby Go To Sleep
BabyGoToSleep.com produces music therapy to soothe baby to sleep. Military parents may receive discounts on certain products. The audiobook "Getting Your Baby to Sleep -- Made Easy" is available free for download.

Books for Brats
Michelle Ferguson-Cohen wrote “Mommy, You’re My Hero” and “Daddy, You’re My Hero” to help 2 to 8 year-olds through separation from a military parent. The website features special e-cards for children to send to deployed parents.

eCareConnect
A research-based health information service that helps military hospitals communicate more effectively with expectant parents and new families.

Family Literacy Groups
Family Literacy Groups is a registered a 501 C3. The Family Literacy Groups is an Educational Community whose goal is to bring together families with young children learning to read.

The Parent Information Center
The Parent Information Center is a non-profit organization that provides information and support to parents of children with disabilities.

Reach Out and Read
Reach Out and Read (ROR) is a national non-profit organization that promotes early literacy by giving new books to children and encourages pediatric medical staff to advise to parents about the importance of reading aloud to children. The organization provides books to military medical facilities.

Talk, Listen, Connect: Deployments, Homecomings, Changes
Talk, Listen, Connect is a DVD produced by the Sesame Workshop to help families of preschool children during military deployment and through reunion. The latest version also helps children whose parent or loved one has been injured. The DVD, available in Englsih adn Spanish, can be viewed through the Sesame Workshop's website or requested from MilitaryOneSource.

Troops in Touch
Troops in Touch provides Servicemembers preprinted card to send to their children  (like a little gift) to color, connect the dots or maze. Then the child completes the "art", puts it in an envelope and sends it back to the parent, furthering communication by sharing the accomplishment --one card at a time.

ZERO TO THREE
ZERO TO THREE's mission is to support the healthy development and well-being of infants, toddlers and their families.

 Six to Eleven Years Resources

Mr. Poe and Friends Discuss Family Reunion After Deployment (DVD)
The American Academy of Pediatrics and the United States Army Medical Command developed a DVD for school-aged children to help with separation during deployment. The DVD’s host, “Mr. Poe”, talks to children about deployment and their feelings during the separation. There are interviews with military children and parents. The DVD includes a facilitator’s guide and resource materials for families. Order (free of charge) from the American Academy of Pediatrics.

Students at the Center
DoDEA’s Educational Partnership "Students at the Center" is  a resource for Families, Military Leaders and Education Leaders who can find information to help address the unique needs of students who have parents serving in our nation’s military forces.

 Children & Loss Resources

Children’s Grief Education Association
Children’s Grief Education Association is a non-profit organization that assists families with information about children’s grief and family support.

Comfort Zone Camp
The nation's largest nonprofit bereavement camp serves children ages seven to seventeen who have lost a parent, sibling or primary care giver.

Knights of Heroes
Knights of Heroes is a week long camp free of charge for boys who have lost family in the military. The outdoor camp takes place in June and allows boys between the ages of 8 and 16 to attend.

The National Child Traumatic Stress Network
Established by Congress in 2000, the National Child Traumatic Stress Network (NCTSN) is a unique collaboration of academic and community-based service centers whose mission is to raise the standard of care and increase access to services for traumatized children and their families across the United States.

TAPS Good Grief Camp for Young Survivors
Every Memorial Day weekend the Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS) invites children ages infant to 21 to participate in a grief camp to promote emotional healing for those who lost a military member in their family. They are assigned a mentor for the 4 days and are able to share stories with other surviving children.

 Child Care Resources

National Association of Child Care Resources and Referral Agnencies Military Programs (NACCRA)
NACCRA, in partnership with the DoD, provides child care assistance to members of the Guard and Reserve and to families of wounded troops.

Sittercity
From background checks and references to parent reviews, Sittercity gives you the information you need to find the perfect local babysitter, nanny or pet sitter safely and securely

Child and Youth Services
The Army's Child and Youth Services provides child care to military parents through child development centers lcoated on military installations.

 Adolescent & Teen Resources

American Legion
The American Legion was chartered and incorporated by Congress in 1919 as a patriotic veterans organization devoted to mutual helpfulness. It is the nation’s largest veterans service organization, committed to mentoring and sponsorship of youth programs in our communities, advocating patriotism and honor, promoting a strong national security, and continued devotion to our fellow servicemembers and veterans.

The American Legion Youth Programs Alumni Association
Former participants in American Legion Youth Programs can stay connected, stay informed and stay active by joining the Youth Programs Alumni Association.Membership is free. Members receive regular news about the programs, resources, volunteer opportunities and an e-newsletter.

Military Youth Coping with Separation: When Family Members Deploy (DVD)
The American Academy of Pediatrics and the United States Army Medical Command developed a DVD for older children and adolescents to help with family separation during deployment. The DVD shows interviews with military youth who explain their feelings regarding separation and how they dealt with the loss. The DVD includes a facilitator’s guide and a teen stress management plan. The DVD’s are available to view from the website or to order (free of charge) from the American Academy of Pediatrics.

MyFuture.com
Myfuture.com helps young adults plan their next steps in life by bringing together the most recently available information about colleges, careers and military service opportunities from the U.S. Departments of Commerce, Defense, Education and Labor.

Stophazing.org
We have an extensive site covering many aspects of hazing including fraternity, sorority, athletic, high school and military hazing.

Students at the Center
DoDEA’s Educational Partnership "Students at the Center" is  a resource for Families, Military Leaders and Education Leaders who can find information to help address the unique needs of students who have parents serving in our nation’s military forces.

The Sisterhood of the Traveling BDUs
The Sisterhood's mission is to bring together 100 girls ages 13 to 18 with immediate family members in any branch of the military in California and female Servicemembers as mentors with the common purpose of boosting self esteem, growing in leadership and confidence, and uniting together in sisterly support through a two day conference.

Hazingprevention.org
HazingPrevention.Org is a non-profit 501 (c)(3) organization whose goal is to encourage healthy and productive experiences for new members of teams, student organizations and fraternities and sororities.

Insidehazing.com
Understanding hazardous hazing.

Mashine.org

(Mothers Against School Hazing)

 AUSA Family Programs

The Association of the United States Army Family Programs Directorate does not endorse any of the the organizations listed above nor the information about services provided on their websites.