Being part of a military family can be filled with many suprises. Part of the military life is moving to new locations every few years or even more frequently. Don't despair! There is help available to make the transition from one location to another a bit more smoothly. Below you will find organizations and resources that will be of help.

How do I find out about programs and services for military families whose young children have special needs?

You can find out about early intervention and special education programs and services for military families from several sources.

The Specialized Training of Military Parents (STOMP) organization provides information and help to military families (both in the U.S. and overseas) who have children with special needs. The STOMP staff is made up of parents of children with special needs who are trained to work with other parents of children with special needs. As spouses of members of the military, the staff understands the unique needs of military families. To contact STOMP, call or write:

Specialized Training of Military Parents (STOMP)
6316 So. 12th Street
Tacoma, WA 98465
253.565.2266 (V/TTY);
1.800.5.PARENT (V/TTY)
rfullerton@washingtonpave.com
Web: www.stompproject.org


The office of the Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA) issues extensive guidance for military families with children who have special needs and who are receiving, or are eligible to receive, a free appropriate public education either domestically or overseas. Take a look online at:
http://www.dodea.edu/curriculum/specialEduc.cfm

DoDEA can be reached at:

Department of Defense
Education Activity
4040 N. Fairfax Drive
Arlington, VA 22203
Telephone: 703.696.4493

What support groups are available to help families?

There are several types of parent groups in the U.S., including:

• Support groups (such as Parent-to-Parent) for families of children with disabilities;
  
  
• Parent training and information (PTI) centers and community parent resource centers (CPRC) in every state (funded by the federal government); and
  
  
• Groups concerned with a specific disability, such as United Cerebral Palsy Associations, Inc. (UCPA) or the Arc (formerly the Association for Retarded Citizens).
  

The contact information for all these types of groups is listed on the NICHCY State Resource Sheet for your state. The state sheets are available on our Web site (www.nichcy.org) and by contacting us directly (1.800.695.0285). You can also identify groups on many of the Web sites we’ve listed in the resource section of this publication.

References
Anderson, W., Chitwood, S., & Hayden, D. (1997). Negotiating the special education maze: A guide for parents and teachers (3rd ed.). Bethesda, MD: Woodbine House. (Available from Woodbine House, 6510 Bells Mill Road, Bethesda, MD 20817, 1.800.843.7323, www.woodbinehouse.com.)

Selected Resources & Web Sites

"Over There" Activity book 

Dear Parent or Caregiver,

Here is an opportunity to create your own Over There Children's book!  Download the attached PDF (either the mommy version or the daddy version, depending on which parent is deployed), print it out, and attach photos that represent the spirit of the text.  If you and your child are feeling extra creative, you can even draw your own illustrations.  Do whatever feels right to capture your family's unique deployment story.  After completing the book, keep it on hand and read it to your child as often as each of you would like.

Over There Download [63.0 KB ] (Daddy PDF)

Over There Download [63.0 KB ] (Mommy PDF)

*Please note-- The Over There Children's Board Book is not currently available for order.

Little Listeners in an Uncertain World
Brochure outlines what parents may see in their babies and toddlers during stressful times and offers concrete guidance and activities to support their young children throughout these challenging events.
[310 KB ]

 

Web sites:

Military OneSource
www.militaryonesource.com/skins/MOS/home.aspx
Offers help with parenting and child care, education, relocation, financial and legal concerns, and everyday issues.

Military Homefront
www.militaryhomefront.dod.mil/
DOD web site for reliable Quality of Life information designed to help troops and their families.

National Military Family Association
www.nmfa.org/site/PageServer
Provides education and information regarding rights, benefits and services for military families.

Courage To Care For Me 
www.couragetocareforme.org/offline/
Provides Fact sheets on timely health topics relevant to military life developed by military health experts at Uniformed services University of the Health Sciences.

Military Child Education Coalition
www.militarychild.org/
Helps military children cope with being transferred from school to school around the world.

NACCRRA
www.naccrra.org/MilitaryPrograms/
Child care Resource and Referral agencies help parents find quality child care.

Parents As Teachers: Heroes At Home 
www.parentsasteachers.org/site/pp.asp?c=ekIRLcMZJxE&b=272091
A parent education and family support program for young military families.

Military Family Resource Center (MFRC)
www.mfrc-ncr.org
The Military Family Resource Center was established to support the professional community that helps families cope with the unique challenges of military life. Information is available on all aspects of military family life, including family separations, reunions, child and youth services, the Exceptional Family Member Program, the Family Advocacy Program, and work-related issues..

 

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