Check It Out: Month of the Military Child

April is the Month of the Military Child and a time to honor the contribution of the youngest members of military families. According to the U.S. Department of Defense 2009 demographics report, there are more than 1.7 million children with parents in the Armed Forces—355,000 of whom are from birth to 3 years old. While children in military families are often quite resilient in the face of change, they can face challenges around relocations, separations, and parental injury or death which require special sensitivity and awareness. ZERO TO THREE is proud to continue our support of young military family members through our Coming Together Around Military Families® initiative which is made possible through the generously funding through the Department of Defense. Through our training and resource development efforts, we are continuing to raise awareness of the strengths and needs of the youngest children in military families. For more information about Military Family Projects at ZERO TO THREE, click here.

Spotlight on: Community Child Care Solutions in
Perth Amboy, New Jersey

Community Child Care Solutions, a resource and referral agency in Perth Amboy, New Jersey, has established a partnership with the New Jersey National Guard to provide care for children in Guard families during weekend trainings and evening briefings. Community Child Care Solutions has also worked to raise awareness within the state of the needs young children in military families through a recent open house event. Learn more about this program and their efforts to support their local National Guard by clicking here.

News You Can Use: Risk and Resilience in Military Families

Through our Research and Resilience initiative funded by the Iraq Afghanistan Deployment Impact Fund of the California Community Foundation, Military Family Projects at ZERO TO THREE has developed a research monograph entitled: Research & Resilience: Recognizing the need to know more. This monograph, which summarizes the most current research on the impact of deployment and reunification on young children, will be available for download on the ZERO TO THREE Web site this month.

Check our homepage this month to download your free copy!

 
Grab & Go Resources: Supporting Young Children Brochure Series 

The Supporting Young Children brochure series from Military Family Projects focuses on the unique experience of parenting a young child within the context of military family life. Brochure topics include deployment, homecoming, and coping with combat injuries. There is also a guide for providers that offers suggestions for using the brochures in your work with families. Browse the Supporting Young Children brochure series.