NASHVILLE, Tenn., April 15, 2022 — All members of a military family serve, including military children. That’s why in April during Month of the Military Child, the Red Cross focuses on the unique needs of military children. According to the Department of Defense, there are 1.6 million U.S. military children worldwide and on average they move locations three times more than non-military children.
When a U.S. service member takes the oath to enlist,
their entire family is affected. Being a military kid is not always easy, they
experience the challenges of frequent moves, multiple schools, making new
friends, parental separation and, in some cases, loss of a parent. For a
military child, understanding how to cope with these unique life changes and
building natural resiliency is key.
“Without focused support and resources, military children
could face social and emotional challenges,” said Travis Burchett, Regional
Service to the Armed Forces and International Services officer for the
Tennessee Region. “They may experience difficulty understanding and adjusting.
Military kids also report elevated stressors and often experience depression
and anxiety making it essential to provide them support.”
At the American Red Cross, we know support for military
families as a whole develops strong, resilient military kids.
· The American Red Cross offerings free,
confidential mental wellness classes led by mental health professionals for the
whole military family. Classes for children are broken out by age and
offered to children from ages 5 to 17. Offerings include child
reconnection workshops specifically designed to ease the challenges of family
reintegration after deployments.
·
· Two other popular workshops are “Roger That!
Communication Counts,” which focuses on self-confidence and communication
strategies, and “Operation 10-4: Confident Coping,” a session that includes
hands-on activities designed to combat stress.
·
· Other classes help military families connect,
including tips for service members on how to smoothly reconnect with their
children when they return from deployments and planning for how to manage
extended periods of separation.
·
· Visit here to find out more about our resiliency
programs. To learn more about other Red Cross SAF (Service to the Armed Forces)
(Service to Armed Forces) programs to support members of the military and our
veterans, contact your local Red Cross chapter.
WHAT YOU CAN DO
If you are a military mom or dad that is seeking support
for your family, we encourage you to connect with us by visiting our website at
redcross.org or by calling us at 1-800-RED CROSS. You can also learn more by
downloading the Red Cross Hero Care App, available for all devices.
If you would like to volunteer to help support military kids and parents in need, please visit redcross.org/volunteer to sign up.
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