Hello Colleagues!
This week I followed a few
different links on the Zero to Three website that I have not yet explored. To
my surprise…Great Information! Here is what I found:
Because my husband is in the
military, I was interested in following the Military Family Projects Link.
This link provides information
for military families. I was happy to read that Zero to Three proudly supports
military families (Zero to Three, 2013). The site says “We work to increase awareness and
collaboration throughout the military community so that parents and
professionals can more effectively care for very young children and their
families”. This was wonderful information being that I am a military spouse. Zero
to Three also mentioned the following information:
“It is with
great pride that we announce the completion of our Duty to Care training series
delivered to 65 military sites including installations, National Guard states,
and military medical centers. These trainings were a part of our Coming
Together Around Military Families® (CTAMF®) initiative supported by the
Department of Defense (DoD).
Our work with military families continues. We also have begun several exciting new initiatives to address the needs of babies and toddlers in Veteran families. We invite you to learn more by checking out "Expanding Our Outreach."
Our work with military families continues. We also have begun several exciting new initiatives to address the needs of babies and toddlers in Veteran families. We invite you to learn more by checking out "Expanding Our Outreach."
This link
led to other information:
Military Family Projects
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Expanding
Our Outreach- As our extensive Duty to Care trainings have come to an
end, Military Family Projects is pleased to announce its expanded efforts on
behalf of Veteran families and their providers, as well as to highlight
issues related to young children with special needs in military
families.
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Duty
to Care – You Make a Difference (E-Learning Course) - Military parents with very young
children are experiencing repeated deployments and extended deployments, and
for some, the injury or death of their service member. This e-learning
program introduces some of the unique challenges faced by military families
with very young children and how early learning professionals can support
them.
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CTAMF
E-newsletter - The Coming Together Around Military Families
E-newsletter is Military Projects at ZERO TO THREE quarterly
newsletter for professionals serving military families. Each issue provides
health, mental health, family support and early education professionals with
the most up-to-date resources and knowledge specifically tailored to the
needs of military families with very young children.
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MOS
Materials- ZERO TO THREE has
developed a comprehensive series of materials to meet the needs of the
parents, caregivers, and professionals who are supporting the more than
500,000 babies born to military families during the Iraq and Afghanistan
wars. The ZERO TO THREE materials address the continuum of challenges of
military life, from the day-to-day stress of deployment and relocation to the
intense challenges of trauma, grief, and loss that are experienced by some
families.
These
materials provide a platform for professionals to open a dialogue to support
babies and toddlers in their healthy development during these crucial years.
They also provide similar opportunities for parents to communicate with their
youngest children and support them through these challenging times. Through
the wide dissemination of materials, there is an increase in the awareness of
methods to support babies and toddlers and to build communities that are
prepared with the information and resources they need to support the next
generation of military families.
To
order materials at no charge visit Military OneSource at www.militaryonesource.com and go
to the “orderable materials” page. At Military OneSource the goal is to
provide expert information—articles, booklets, CDs, DVDs, and links to other
resources—on how to deal with the challenges and issues faced by military
families every day.
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Information
pertaining to this week’s issues:
All babies and toddlers need positive early learning
experiences to foster their intellectual, social and emotional development and
lay the foundation for later school success. Babies and toddlers living
in high-risk environments need additional supports to promote their healthy
growth and development. All child-care arrangements, including family, friend,
neighbor, and family- and center-based child care have the potential to provide
high-quality, individualized, responsive and stimulating experiences that occur
within the context of strong relationships and which are imbedded in everyday
routines (Zero to Three, 2013).
Follow this link to read more about Availability &
Accessibility! --- http://main.zerotothree.org/site/DocServer/InspiringInnovation.pdf?docID=9642
This website
added to my understanding of equity and excellence in early care and education.
References
www.zerotothree.org
Hi Brittany,
ReplyDeleteAll I can say is WOW! Thank you for so much information. One of the links which especially caught my attention is the “duty to care”. You know I had not ever really thought about how the children were being affected by their parents repeated deployments or extended deployments. That has got to be so very difficult. It sounds as if this e-learning program can be very helpful for others as well. With many parents caught up in the business world and having to take frequent trips they are away from their children a lot. So possibly some of the challenges faced by military families are also felt by civilian families as well. Any way thank you for some very good and informative reading.
Hi Ashley,
ReplyDeleteI am so sorry that I called you Brittany in the post. I get everyone all mixed up sometimes. I truly enjoyed reading all about how Zero to three has provided so much encouraging assistance for the families in the military. You mentioned that your husband is also in the military, what branch is he in? Again, I just want to apologize for getting the name wrong.
Thank you! No worries! I completely understand. He is in the Air Force. He will be deploying for 6 months in October :(
DeleteI smiled reading your post because I am a military wife as well. I am familiar with Military OneSource, but I had no idea about the E-Learning Course. My husband will be going on his second deployment soon and this course seems like it will help me to help my four-year old. Thank you for your post, professionally and personally.
ReplyDeleteYou're welcome! My husband is deploying soon as well. He leaves in October for 6 months...
DeleteHi Ashley,
ReplyDeleteThis is a phenomenal post that with an amazing amount of information. I am not a military family, but there is an Air Force Base in my community and quite often I get students in my classroom that are from military backgrounds. I had no idea there was so much support for families and veterans. I think you posted great information that I can pass on to the families in my classrooms. I know when parents are deployed it is extremely hard on many of the children, especially the younger ones. It breaks my heart to see them go through this. In fact I had one second grader tell me her dad was going on a trip with friends to the desert and wouldn't be back for several months. I don't know if that was better for the child to know the truth or not. Thank you again for this information!
Hi Ashley,
ReplyDeleteI can only imagine your relief to know that there is more support for the military family. I have friends and family that are either in the military or married to the military, so all the support and help they can get is always welcomed especially when they are away from home. Personally I think that any help with learning anything about child development is important. The Zero to Three website is a great website and resource that helps with understanding child development. Your post is very informative and enlightening, I will use it to pass along to my military friends and family's.
HI Ashley,
ReplyDeleteWhat great supports military families have in America and deservedly too. I think this is wonderful. I have read about and viewed documentaries about the trauma that military persons can experience and also how children of military parents can lose the early opportunities of attachment when their parents are deployed. I am happy to learn of all the support that are in place not only for the children but parents as well. Hats off to your government and Zero to three for these initiatives.
Ashley,
ReplyDeleteMy husband is also in the military. I am always excited to hear about any support or resources for military spouces and children. My husband is on his second deployment and taking care of our three young children by myself is a heavy burden to bear. Thanks for the info!