Supporting Children and Families of Deployed and Returning Members of the Reserves and National Guard

INFORMATIONAL LETTER: 54
POLICY CODE: GCID

TO: Superintendents; Principals; School Counselors; Nurses; Teachers
FROM: Susan A. Gendron, Commissioner of Education
DATE: January 21, 2009
SUBJECT: Supporting Children and Families of Deployed and Returning Members of the Reserves and National Guard

The Maine Department of Education, as a partner with Operation Military Kids and the Reserves and National Guard, is supporting training to help school personnel and service providers in deployment areas to learn about resources and supports available to families and youth of Reserve and Guard members. Each step of deployment offers challenges to families. School staff are an important part of a student and family’s support system.

I encourage you to attend the training to learn how to help support the children of deployed service members. A day-long professional development session to learn about military culture, deployment and the issues and stressors facing these military youth and families will be available in two locations. Cost includes lunch and materials.

January 23, 2009 Houlton Regional Hospital 8:30 am -3:30 pm $25.00

March 25, 2009 Auburn (site TBD) 8:30 am-3:30 pm $25.00

Lunch and materials (including books) are provided.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I wish to register for ( ) January 23rd ( ) March 25th

Name___________________________________Email___________________________

District and School Name __________________________________________________

Address_________________________________________________________________

City, State, Zip____________________________________________________________

Phone Number___________________________________________________________

January 23rd and March 25th sessions require a $25.00 fee (scholarships are available).
Checks are payable to KCEA (Kennebec County Extension Association).

Send checks and registration to: Karen Hatch Gagne-OMK, Kennebec County Extension Association, 125 State St., suite 3, Augusta, ME 04330-5692.

Directions to Houlton and Auburn sites will be forwarded upon receipt of your registration.

For registration information contact: Chris Bozak at 1-800-287-1481 or email cbozak@umext.maine.edu .

Two-day “Living in the New Normal: Supporting Children Through Trauma and Loss”

The Department is also supporting a new two-day free training opportunity with the University of Maine Cooperative Extension Operation: Military Kids (OMK) program, in conjunction with the Military Child Education Coalition (MCEC) and the Military Joint Family Support Assistance Program (JSAP). The Living in the New Normal (LINN) Institute is a two-day professional development program targeting school personnel, health service providers, the spiritual community, youth and family-serving professionals, and community members to help them recognize and address the issues of military children experiencing uncertainty, trauma, grief, and loss. Many resources will be available. Participants will acquire a basic knowledge of:

how to identify deployment, combat, injury, illness, or death of a parent affects children;
how to identify methods of building resilience and fostering courage in children; and
how to identify available resources to support children.

CEUs will be available as well for the two-day training. 1.2 Continuing Education Credits Cost $25.00 and/or 1 hour of Graduate Credit costing $175.00 from a branch of Texas A&M University.

February 25th & 26th, 2009 8:30 am-3:30 pm Free

Four Points Sheraton-Bangor Airport
308 Godfrey BLVD
Bangor, Maine 04401
(207) 947-6721

Registration information: Register on line at www.MilitaryChild.org .
For further information concerning the above trainings contact Shelly Reed at 207-624-6637 or email shelley.reed@maine.gov .