Mona M' Johnson MA, CPP, CDP

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Presented By Mona M. Johnson MA, CPP,
CDP Washington State Office of Superintendent of
Public Instruction Mona.johnson_at_k12.wa.us (360)
725-6050
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Why Should the WA State Dept. of Education Care
About Military Kids?

• Addressing needs of the whole child (physical,
  social, emotional, behavioral) are key to
  measurable/sustainable academic success and
  student resilience
• Providing practical and applicable information to
  educators will increase their awareness and
  day-to-day support for these students
• Recognizing and addressing issues of risk
• Early prevention, intervention,
  resources/strategies
• Fostering resilience in practical and applicable
  ways

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What Is Our Role In Supporting WA State Military
Kids?

• Increase educator (and other civilian) awareness
  regarding the unique issues facing military kids
  and their families through resource development,
  sharing, and training
• Link schools with existing national, state, and
  local programs/services currently available to
  support military kids and their families
• Actively participate in related national, state,
  and local initiatives supporting military kids,
  families, and schools

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Military Kids Whose Parents or Loved Ones Are
Deployed . . .

• Daily life is disrupted by the departure of a
  loved one
• Experience multiple deployments and reunions
• Are impacted by frequency/intensity of media
• Can access technology, instant communication -
  potential for distortion misperception
• Lack connection to like others - particularly
  National Guard and Reserve kids and families
  (geographically dispersed)
• Find usual support systems are no longer adequate
• Struggle with school performance and behavior
• Look the same but feel different
• Deserve extra understanding and support from
  others

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The New Emotional Cycle of Deployment

• Each stage is characterized by time frame and
  specific emotional challenges
• Failure to negotiate successfully can lead to
  strife
• Seven distinct stages
• Stage One Anticipation of Departure
• Stage Two Detachment Withdrawal
• Stage Three Emotional Disorganization
• Stage Four Recovery Stabilization
• Stage Five Anticipation of Return
• Stage Six Return Adjustment Renegotiation
• Stage Seven Reintegration Stabilization

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Stage One Anticipation of Departure

• Timeframe When family members receive orders
• Increased feeling of stress in home
• Reality of change ahead is sinking in
• Denial anticipation of loss
• Focus is on completing family pre-deployment
  activity checklist
• Members may feel more emotional
• In case of multiple deployments . . . new cycle
  may begin before family has had time to
  renegotiate shared vision from last deployment

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Stage Two Detachment Withdrawal

• Timeframe Last week before Service Member leaves
• Service Member is focused on preparing for
  mission and may distance self from family
• Anger, arguments may occur as family prepares to
  protect themselves from hurt of separation
• Communication may be difficult
• In preparation for loss, family may begin to act
  like Service Member is already gone
• Multiple deployments can result in need to
  repeatedly create distance to feel numb and
  avoid emotional connection

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Stage Three Emotional Disorganization

• Timeframe 16 weeks into deployment
• Life without Service Member may initially feel
  overwhelming
• Routines change, responsibilities added
• Kids may feel . . .
• Numb and not interested in doing much
• More irritable than usual
• Have difficulty concentrating particularly at
  school
• Wish things would go back to normal
• Surprised because things seem to be moving more
  smoothly now that Service Member is gone

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Stage FourRecovery Stabilization

• Timeframe Usually between weeks 3 and 5 after
  deployment
• Family finally starts to settle into routine of
  life without Service Member
• Coping with changes can be positive for kids
• May enjoy new found responsibilities
• Sense of independence
• Relief that family is functioning well
• Coping with changes can be challenging for kids
• Difficult time accepting changes
• Stressed, depressed, and having difficulty
  getting things done
• Feel unsupported and worried how will make it
  through
• Most of the time there is a mixture of both
  responses!

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Stage FiveAnticipation of Return

• Timeframe About 6 weeks before the Service
  Member Returns
• Homecoming is coming!
• Family is happy, excited, and feeling boost of
  energy
• Trying to make everything perfect for return
• Sense of relief that Service Member will be home
  combined with worries about whether or not they
  will be the same
• If Service Member came home on leave at some
  point during deployment, that experience may be
  what family members expect
• Positive Leave Experience Positive Homecoming
• Challenging Leave Experience Challenging
  Homecoming

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Stage SixReturn Adjustment Renegotiation

• Timeframe About 6 weeks after the Service Member
  returns
• During time of separation Service Member and all
  family members have changed
• Changes may hold pleasant surprises or may cause
  conflict
• Family members may feel overwhelmed by Service
  Member attempts to get to know everyone again
• Everyone needs space and time to readjust
• Entire family must begin to renegotiate how
  household will look now that everyone is together
  again

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Stage SevenReintegration Stabilization

• Timeframe Up to 6 month (and beyond) after the
  Service Member returns
• Family continues to adjust to having Service
  Member home
• A new normal is established regarding routines
  and expectations
• Members may begin to feel secure, relaxed, and
  comfortable with one another again
• If readjustment challenges resurface, support is
  important. . . Its okay to ask for help if you
  need it!

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Strengths for Youth Resulting from Deployment

• Fosters maturity and personal growth
• Encourages independence, flexibility, and
  adaptability
• Builds skills for adjusting to separation loss
  faced later in life
• Strengthens family bonds
• Increases understanding of civics relationship
  with community, etc.
• Builds resilience
• What other strengths result from deployment?

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Symptoms of Deployment Stress in the School
Setting

• Unable to resume normal class assignments/
  activities
• Continued high levels of emotional response
  (i.e., crying intense sadness)
• Difficulty concentrating in school
• Angry, violent, or depressed feelings expressed
  verbally or through drawings and play

• Intentionally hurt self or others
• Gain or lose significant amount of weight in
  period of weeks
• Discontinue care of personal appearance
• Exhibit possible alcohol/drug use/abuse
• Frequent absences
• Experience decline in performance grades that
  doesnt improve over time

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• The Tough Topics Series for Educators
• Booklet
• 2-Page Topic Sheets
• Available at no cost at
• http//www.k12.wa.us/ OperationMilitaryKids/
  Resources.aspx

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• Overview
• 17 Pages
• Overview of Topics
• How to Help Strategies
• Additional Resources

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• How Educators Can Offer Support to Kids
• Listen
• Ask questions as needed
• Acknowledge feelings and support healthy
  expression
• Help them feel physically safe
• Help maintain sense of hope by taking action
• Expect respond to significant changes in
  behavior
• Coordinate communicate effectively between
  school home

Content Page 1
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Content Pages 3 4

• Strength Resulting from Deployment
• Fosters maturity
• Emotional growth insight
• Encourages independence, flexibility and adapting
  to change
• Builds skills for adjusting to separations
  losses faced later in life
• Strengthens family bonds
• Promotes awareness understanding of importance
  of civic duty

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Content Page 5

• Homecoming Reunion Tips for Educators
• Focus on students classroom learning
  environment
• Provide structure
• Maintain objectivity
• Be patient and reduce workload as needed
• Listen
• Be sensitive to language and cultural needs
• Acknowledge validate feelings

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Content Page 9

• Stages of Grief Loss
• Shock ? Denial ?Anger ? Bargaining ?Acceptance
• Developmental Impact How to Help
• Infants Toddlers
• Pre-School
• Elementary School
• Middle School
• High School

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• Tough Topics 2-Page Information Pages
• Deployment
• Homecoming Reunion
• Coping with Stress
• Impact of Grief Loss
• Dealing with Death
• Fostering Resilience
• Talking About Violence, Terrorism War

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Supporting Military Kids During Deployment

• Content
• Stages of Deployment
• Symptoms of Deployment Related Stress in the
  Classroom
• Teacher Intervention Strategies
• Strengths Resulting from Deployment

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Welcome Home Military Kids, Homecoming Reunion

• Content
• 3-Stages of Homecoming/Reunion
• Kids Developmental Reactions
• Tips for Educators

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Helping Kids Cope with Stress

• Content
• Spectrum of Stressors
• Developmental Signs of Stress
• Age Specific Strategies to Help
• Tips for Educators

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Impact of Grief Loss

• Content
• Understanding the Grief Loss Process
• Response of Grieving Child/Youth
• Academic
• Behavioral
• Emotional
• Social
• Physical
• Spiritual
• How to Help Infants Toddlers through High
  School

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Fostering Resilience In Kids

• Content
• Reducing Risk Increasing Protection
  Resilience
• Four Steps to Help Foster Resilience
• Tips for Fostering Resilience in the Classroom

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Dealing with Death

• Content
• Basic Understanding of How Kids Deal with Death
• Developmental Impact of Death on Kids
• Elementary
• Middle School
• High School
• Behaviors Indicating Need for Professional Help

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Talking to Kids About Violence, Terrorism War

• Contents
• How Educators Can Offer Support
• Tips for Talking to Kids About Tough Stuff

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How might these be helpful to you?
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Questions?
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For more information contact Mona M.
Johnson WA State Office of Superintendent of
Public Instruction [phone] Mona.johnson_at_k1
2.wa.us http//www.k12.wa.us/
OperationMilitaryKids/ Resources.aspx
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Final Thought . . . Never doubt that a small
group of thoughtful, committed citizens can
change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing
that ever has. - Margaret Mead