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Conversations about the challenges military-connected kids face as they navigate multiple education systems from birth through high school.
Episodes
Thursday Apr 07, 2022
Thursday Apr 07, 2022
Jasmine talks candidly about her struggle with anxiety and her determination to normalize the conversation about mental health.
Show Notes:
https://www.militaryonesource.mil/
https://www.cohenveteransnetwork.org/
https://www.barryrobinson.org/
Bio:
Jasmine has been a Military Kid on and off since the day she was born on Marine Corp Base Camp Pendleton in California, November 7, 2005. 16 years later she continued to be a military kid while her mom serves in the United States Air Force.
Soon after birth, Jasmine’s dad finished his commitment with the United States Marine Corps and settled on living in their hometown. Jasmine grew up near family in southern California until the age of eight when her mom’s job relocated her and the family to Okinawa Japan. Relocating to a new country was challenging for Jasmine but over the three years of living there she learned to embrace and love the Okinawan culture. Three years later Jasmine’s mom left for training and Jasmine prepared for a PCS to Royal Air Force Base Lakenheath in England. Living in England afforded Jasmine more experiences but with that came the challenge of transition once again. Jasmine attended Middle school and her first year of high school on Lakenheath and embraced the culture and sense of community of living on base. In October of 2020, Jasmines family relocated to the outskirts of San Antonio Texas. Making the transition stateside was the most challenging, as Jasmine had become accustomed to living overseas. Mid Freshman year she transitioned to a local high school in her new town but then sophomore year she started at Randolph High School on JBSA- Randolph where she currently attends as a sophomore. Jasmine is part of the AFJROTC program, S2S, Girl Scouts, and enjoys powerlifting and swimming.
Jasmine loves being a military kid and is thankful for the travels, learning, friendships, community and being close to her family but acknowledges that it has also brought challenges for her to work through.
Thursday Mar 31, 2022
Thursday Mar 31, 2022
Our “Purple Up” series kicks off with an overview of MCEC's events in April celebrating Month of the Military Child.
Use #MilKidStrong on social media to recognize a military-connected child in your community and share their story; #MOMC and #MonthoftheMilitaryChild for discussion throughout the month and #PurpleUp for promotion and celebration of Purple Up Day on April 14th in your area.
Show Notes:
Month of the Military Child (MOMC) Digital Toolkit:
https://www.militarychild.org/MOMC_Toolkit
Resources to Support Ukrainian Military Children & Their Families
https://www.militarychild.org/resourcesukrainianfamilies
Hiring Our Heroes
https://www.hiringourheroes.org/career-services/military-spouse-resources/
Bio: Lisa Witte
Lisa Witte is MCEC’s Director of Marketing and Communications. A native of Iowa, she has lived the military lifestyle for over twenty years as her family has moved around to different Navy duty stations. Lisa has an extensive background in advertising and has worked at agencies on both the East and West Coasts on national brand accounts. At MCEC, she is responsible for promoting awareness of MCEC’s services and communicating on behalf of the organization. She has a degree in Advertising from Iowa State University, and resides in San Diego, CA with her husband and two children.
Thursday Mar 24, 2022
Thursday Mar 24, 2022
Description: The Staff of STOMP-Specialized Training of Military Parents will discuss the important role that parents have in advocating for the emotional, medical, and educational needs of their loved ones with exceptional needs.
Show Notes:
https://wapave.org/links-for-military-families/
The podcast was made possible thanks to the generosity of the North Country Spouses Club and the Spouses’ Club of Fort Eustis.
https://www.northcountryspousesclub.com/
Bios:
Guest Host: Marie McGarry
Marie, a native of Massachusetts, has lived in in 5 different States and two foreign countries during her 20 years as a military spouse. She currently calls Springfield, VA home.
Marie has a son and a daughter, both in High School. Marie has a master’s degree in Literacy Curriculum and Instruction and was an Elementary School teacher for 11 years.
Marie has been an Educator with the MCEC® since 2017. In her free time Marie enjoys reading, cooking, and traveling.
Dee Bosworth:
Over twelve years of marriage to her Active-Duty sailor, Dee has been a Navy Command Ombudsman for six years (cumulatively) while raising their child with exceptional needs. She is a mom, teacher, therapy facilitator, and active volunteer with state and national programs for persons with disabilities. As a Political Science major and a graduate from her state’s Partners in Policymaking Program, Dee is passionate about advocacy and empowering military parents to advocate for a better world for our loved ones with exceptional needs
Keishawna Smith
Keishawna A. Smith is the wife of retired disabled combat veteran and mother of two children with special healthcare needs. Keishawna began working in the disability community when her first child was born at Ft. Hood, Texas. Later, she became involved with the Mississippi Parent Training and Information Center (MS PTI) as the Executive Assistant to the Director. She added on the responsibility and position of Parent Educator/Advocate, where she educated parents about their rights and responsibilities under IDEA/ADA. She has also been the Parent Coordinator for the Mississippi Family 2 Family Health and Information Center, helping families navigate health care systems and advocating for children with special health care needs across the state. She also serves on the Board of Directors for the Mississippi Sickle Cell Foundation and was a consultant with Community Links coordinating for The Respite Connect (TRC) Program.
A major charge for Keishawna is to help parents/caregivers become better advocates for their children and their communities by assisting them in navigating health care and educational systems, accessing resources, and discovering the power of their voice. She wants to make sure that parents/caregivers are involved and have a seat at the table regarding their child(ren)’s health, education, and overall well-being.
Thursday Mar 17, 2022
Thursday Mar 17, 2022
The Staff of STOMP-Specialized Training of Military Parents discuss the important role that parents have in advocating for the emotional, medical, and educational needs of their loved ones with exceptional needs.
Thanks to the Naval Officers Club of San Diego for sponsoring this episode.
https://noscsandiego.com/
Show Notes
https://stomp-trainings.padlet.org/STOMP30/ony2yec5gpky800o
https://wapave.org/toolkit-basics-where-to-begin-when-a-student-needs-more-help/
Bios:
Guest Host: Marie McGarry
Marie, a native of Massachusetts, has lived in in 5 different States and two foreign countries during her 20 years as a military spouse. She currently calls Springfield, VA home.
Marie has a son and a daughter, both in High School. Marie has a Master’s Degree in Literacy Curriculum and Instruction and was an Elementary School teacher for 11 years.
Marie has been an Educator with the MCEC® since 2017. In her free time Marie enjoys reading, cooking, and traveling.
Dee Bosworth:
Over twelve years of marriage to her Active-Duty sailor, Dee has been a Navy Command Ombudsman for six years (cumulatively) while raising their child with exceptional needs. She is a mom, teacher, therapy facilitator, and active volunteer with state and national programs for persons with disabilities. As a Political Science major and a graduate from her state’s Partners in Policymaking Program, Dee is passionate about advocacy and empowering military parents to advocate for a better world for our loved ones with exceptional needs.
Jolynn Lee
Jolynn Lee is the spouse of a Marine Veteran and a mother to three adult military-connected children. With two children still at home, Jolynn is also the mother of a child with exceptional needs. Jolynn worked as a Special Education teacher for 11 years and has a Master’s degree in counseling. She has utilized her military-life experiences to facilitate a site branch of Reboot Combat Recovery, a 12-week PTSD recovery program for military personnel, veterans, and their families. Motivated by a passion for supporting military families in need, Jolynn is eager to help bring awareness and training within the military community. She knows first-hand the challenges faced raising a child with exceptional needs. One of her favorite mottos is, “People only know what they know, but we can work together to expand that knowledge base as we learn and grow together.”
Thursday Mar 10, 2022
Thursday Mar 10, 2022
Description: The health and satisfaction of Army Families today directly impacts the future of the fighting Force of our Nation. Representatives from the US Army Public Health Center discuss the Health of the Army Family report and their hope it will bring attention to the Army Family health and aid in the understanding of the health needs and concerns of Army Families.
Show notes:
Army Public Health Center: https://phc.amedd.army.mil/Pages/default.aspx
2020 Health of the Force report: https://phc.amedd.army.mil/PHC%20Resource%20Library/2020-hof-web.pdf
Army Health and Wellness Portfolio: https://phc.amedd.army.mil/organization/hpw/Pages/default.aspx
Health of the Army Family: https://phc.amedd.army.mil/Periodical%20Library/haf-2021-report.pdf
Bio:
Dr. Theresa Jackson Santo is the Division Chief of the Public Health Assessment Division within the Health Promotion and Wellness Directorate at the United States Army Public Health Center in Aberdeen Proving Ground, MD. Her division’s mission is to build, document, and apply the evidence base of community-based programs, policies, and practices within the U.S. Army. Her multidisciplinary team of more than 2 dozen scientists, epidemiologists, program evaluators, and public health practitioners executes formative and summative evaluations for a multitude of interventions each year within the United States Army. These projects strive to systematically assess what’s working, what’s not, and how the Army’s public health enterprise can be improved to best meet Soldiers’ needs and achieve favorable outcomes. Dr. Santo holds a Master of Public Health from the University of North Carolina and a PhD in Public Health from the University of Maryland. Her professional passions include mixed methods designs, survey development, applied program evaluation, and public health program planning. In her personal life, Dr. Santo has four children ages five and under, including her newest addition, Abigail, who was born in January of this year.
Ms. Laura A. Mitvalsky is the Director of the Health Promotion and Wellness Directorate at the United States Army Public Health Center in Aberdeen Proving Ground, Md. Her directorate’s mission is to advocate for global force fitness through strategically developing, integrating, standardizing and evaluating health promotion and wellness services within the Army public health system. Ms. Mitvalsky directs all programmatic and administrative activities for health promotion and wellness at Army Public Health Center and has enterprise oversight for four program areas within her directorate: Health Promotion Operations, Army Wellness Centers, Integrated Health Education, and Public Health Assessment. She leads approximately 75 scientists, program and policy officers, program developers, health educators, and more, across CONUS and OCONUS locations to realize the directorate’s vision and mission. She has served in this role for nearly 11 years; prior to this, she worked on various health promotion and wellness initiatives for the Army, including developing the Army’s first standardized commander’s councils to strategically and systematically integrate health, readiness and resilience at Army installations. In September 2019, she was named Aberdeen Proving Ground’s Supervisor of the Year in recognition of Women’s Equality Day. She was recognized then for her mentorship, positive guidance to employees, especially to female employees, both within and outside of the Army Public Health Center. Her professional passions include making strategic connections and taking a systems perspective to help individuals, units, and communities realize optimal health and wellness. Ms. Mitvalsky is a Florida native and spent many years living overseas. She is the proud parent of two college-aged children.
LTC Virgil Rivera
LTC Virgil Rivera is currently serving as the deputy chief for the Health Education and Application Division under the Health Promotion and Wellness Directorate. His primary duties are focused across a variety of Army enterprise level projects. Additionally, he has been selected to serve as the lead action officer for the Health of the Army Family strategic objective. LTC Rivera is a board certified diplomate and supervisory licensed clinical social worker where he recently completed the Child and Family Fellowship under the National Capital Consortium, Walter Reed National Military Medical Center. Some of his previous assignments include chief of the Family Advocacy Program behavioral health service line at Carl R. Darnall Army Medical Center, behavioral health officer for the 3d Cavalry Regiment, deputy chief for the Health Facilities and Plans office for Regional Health Command Europe (formerly Europe Regional Medical Command), aide-de-camp, and platoon leader during his time with the 173rd Airborne Brigade in Vicenza, Italy. He graduated with a bachelor’s of science from Xavier University in Cincinnati, Ohio and completed the U.S. Army masters in social work program at Joint Base San Antonio. He is also a graduate of the U.S. Army Medical Department Captains Career Course, Command and General Staff College, and has deployed twice to Afghanistan. LTC Rivera is a first generation Army officer and third generation soldier as his family originates from the Philippines. His late grandfather was a Philippine Scout and a survivor of the Bataan Death March while his late father served in the signal community during the Cold War period. He is married to LTC Kelly Rivera who is also a U.S. Army social work officer and they have two children.
Thursday Mar 03, 2022
Thursday Mar 03, 2022
Description: Rylie, a cadet at the West Point Prep School, chats about her experience with MCEC’s Student to Student and how it has influenced her future.
Show Notes:
https://www.westpoint.edu/usmaps
https://www.militarychild.org/programs/student-2-student
Bio:
Hi! My name is Rylie and I attend the United States Military Academy Preparatory School (USMAPS/ Prep School). I am a military child. Within my life I have moved 7 times and have attended 6 different schools. I first joined the Student 2 Student program in 8th grade and have been an active member all throughout high school. Being apart of the Student 2 Student program has taught me several valuable life skills I still use to help me succeed within USMAPS.
Thursday Feb 24, 2022
Thursday Feb 24, 2022
Mil-Kid Tyler and his dad, share their experience of exploring ROTC programs and the Army Service Academy.
Show Notes:
West Point Summer Leader experience: https://www.westpoint.edu/admissions/summer-program?gclid=CjwKCAiA9tyQBhAIEiwA6tdCrExoQnrhKQUts-ch-oz40D1sQBjjURwYFuCtoT7mTlIN-s3znXmVqxoCpGYQAvD_BwE
DOD INSTRUCTION 6130.03, VOLUME 1 MEDICAL STANDARDS FOR MILITARY SERVICE: APPOINTMENT, ENLISTMENT, OR INDUCTION: https://www.esd.whs.mil/Portals/54/Documents/DD/issuances/dodi/613003v1p.PDF?ver=7cPFjXiGqfqNSF2HHw-X6w%3D%3D
West Point Application Timeline: https://www.westpoint.edu/sites/default/files/pdfs/ADMISSIONS/Admissions%20Timeline.pdf
College Application Process Webinar https://events-na5.adobeconnect.com/content/connect/c1/968319730/en/events/event/private/1825780098/3001957119/event_registration.html?sco-id=3157525450&_charset_=utf-8
Bio: Tyler
Tyler is currently a sophomore at the United States Military Academy and majoring in Economics. He grew up as a military child in the Army and had seven moves before he entered West Point. His choice to attend a service academy built upon a family tradition of service, as his father, grandfather and great-grandfather were all career military officers. He hopes that his experience applying to both USMA and Army ROTC can help others navigate the unique requirements of those and similar programs.
Thursday Feb 17, 2022
Thursday Feb 17, 2022
The value of a trusted relationship between parents and teachers.
Show Notes:
-Learning Heroes
- Team Up for Success: Resources & Tools for this School Year
https://bealearninghero.org/team-up-for-success/
https://bealearninghero.org/readiness-check-02/
https://bealearninghero.org/dear-teacher-letter/
- Parent-Teacher Planning Tool
https://bealearninghero.org/parent-teacher-planning-tool-2021/
Bio: Bibb Hubbard - Founder and President of Learning Heroes
Bibb founded Learning Heroes to help parents most effectively advocate for their children’s educational success. She brings extensive experience in communications, policy, and advocacy from the public, private, and philanthropic sectors. She held leadership positions at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Widmeyer Communications, and Scholastic. Her public-sector experience includes positions at the White House and the U.S. Labor Department. Bibb sits on the board of the New York City Leadership Academy and is the proud mother of two teenage sons.
Guest Host Bio: Georgia McKown- Director of Planning, Analysis and Evaluation
Georgia McKown is the Director of Planning, Analysis, and Evaluation at MCEC. Her work experience prior to this role included instructional design, pre-service teacher education, and elementary education. Georgia is currently finishing her PhD in Learning Sciences at Clemson University, where she has focused on education of military-connected children, education technology, and teacher preparation.
Monday Feb 14, 2022
Monday Feb 14, 2022
The Stephens family share how being a military caregiver is a family endeavor and the importance of recognizing that military-connected children and youth are often part of this support.
Show Notes:
https://caregivers-homefront.org/
https://www.elizabethdolefoundation.org/fellows/
https://hiddenheroes.org/resources/hiddenhelpers/
Bio: Noah Stephens
Hidden Helper
Noah Stephens is 19 years old and lives with his family in southern California. His father, John, is a combat wounded veteran of the Marine Corps. His mom, Nikki, is his caregiver. Noah has four siblings, and is the oldest one living at home, along with his 15-year-old sister and twin 8-year-old brothers.
Noah has never thought of himself as a “caregiver kid.” He just thought he was someone who happened to have a dad who was injured, and a mom who cared for him, and that he helped them both, because he was their son, and they love each other.
He helps his family in many ways, whether it’s helping his mom with his siblings, running errands, taking on his dad’s chores when he’s unable to after seizures, and so much more. Noah takes on all of these responsibilities to help his parents along with his own, but he says he wouldn’t have it any other way. Noah also knows what to do when his dad has a seizure. He believes it’s empowering to have some of these skills that you only pick up as a caregiver kid; but when his dad experiences a seizure, he can’t help but feel scared and overthink.
Noah has returned to college to study film production. Noah turns to television and film to help relax from the daily stress of being a caregiver kid. A particular film Noah loves is Good Will
Hunting. He relates to Will. Noah has experienced trauma and hasn’t gotten the chance to heal from it because life as a caregiver kid doesn’t let you, but he knows he’ll get his chance.
Bio: Nikki Stephens
Hidden Hero
Nikki had never heard of traumatic brain injury (TBI) until her husband, John, was diagnosed with it in 2009. John was deployed in Iraq and was honorably discharged from the U.S. Marines Corps in 2006. When he met Nikki after the Marine Corps, he experienced some symptoms of post-traumatic stress.
Nikki slowly slipped into the role of a caregiver as she helped John manage his emotions. After his health continued to unravel, it took 16 months for doctors to correctly diagnose him with left temporal lobe epilepsy, due to the TBI that went undiagnosed for so long, as well as a host of other issues. That was the moment Nikki knew she was officially his caregiver.
Since joining the Elizabeth Dole Foundation as a Dole Caregiver Fellow in 2015, Nikki has sat on numerous committees, campaigns, and is very passionate about serving families of our nation’s wounded, ill, and injured service members and veterans. Nikki is committed to building a stronger military and veteran caregiver community.
As a Dole Caregiver Fellow, Nikki advocates, not only for her husband and other caregivers, but for military children as well.
Thursday Feb 03, 2022
Thursday Feb 03, 2022
Jeremy Hester from the Fort Bragg Armed Services YMCA to chat about food insecurity and our military families.
Show Notes:
https://www.asymca.org/fort-bragg-home
https://www.asymca.org/?hsLang=en
https://militaryfamilyadvisorynetwork.org/our-programs/military-family-food-insecurity-3/
Bio:
Jeremy Hester, Armed Services YMCA Fort Bragg Executive Director
Jeremy grew up in Chesapeake, Virginia playing soccer throughout high school. He started volunteering and getting involved with the YMCA in 2012, which eventually led to interest in working for the YMCA. His first position was as membership director with the Mount Trashmore YMCA in Virginia Beach and the rest is history. He is a self-proclaimed "Y guy" now. Jeremy most recently comes from the Tampa Metropolitan YMCA after serving as their Executive Director and overseeing the opening of a brand-new YMCA location.
Jeremy recently moved to North Carolina from Tampa with his wife Aubie and 4-year-old son, Leo, who will start kindergarten in the fall. They love the outdoors and are excited about being part of the Armed Services YMCA family and this community.