Supporting Military Families
Being part of a military family can be filled with many surprises, challenges, and opportunities. Part of the military life is moving to new locations every few years or even more frequently. This can be a bit more challenging when there’s a child in the family who has a disability. Lots of questions naturally arise:
- Will special education services be available in the new location?
- What about the types of therapists or expertise your child needs?
- What do you need to do to get ready?
Fortunately, there is help available to make the family’s transition from one location to another a bit more smoothly. Below you will find organizations and resources that will be of help.
Your Parent Training and Information Center
Your Parent Training and Information Center
Every state has at least 1 Parent Training and Information Center (PTI). Many states also have a CPRC, a Community Parent Resource Center. These Parent Centers are there to connect parents of children with disabilities with resources, information, and connections. This includes military families of children with special needs. Contact either the Parent Center in your current state or, if you are looking ahead to a relocation, contact the Parent Center in the state to which you’re moving.
Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA)
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.
DoDEA can be reached at:
Department of Defense Education Activity
4800 Mark Center Drive
Alexandria, VA 22350-1400
Telephone: 703.588.3104
Military-Connected Family Resources
The Military Family Resource Collection provides materials that include interactive maps to connect you with the military installations or entities in across the country, downloadable products, and other resources on topics that increase knowledge and effectiveness when working with military families.
Featured Resource
Other Helpful Resources
Voluntary Self-assessment for States to Support Military-connected Children with Disabilities and Their Families.
OSEP has developed a two-part self assessment as a voluntary technical assistance tool to assist States in supporting military-connected children with disabilities served under IDEA.
Military OneSource
http://www.militaryonesource.mil/
Military OneSource is your 24/7 connection to information, answers and support to help you reach your goals, overcome challenges and thrive. As a member of our military family, you are eligible to use this Defense Department-funded program anytime, anywhere. Turn to Military OneSource for tax services, spouse employment help, webinars and online training, relocation and deployment tools, and much more. Learn about some of the ways we serve you. Offers help with parenting and child care, education, relocation, financial and legal concerns, and everyday issues.
School Liaison Resources on Military OneSource:
- https://www.militaryonesource.
mil/special-needs/educational- needs/school-liaison-special- education-support/ - https://installations.
militaryonesource.mil/search? program-service=12/view-by=ALL - https://www.militaryonesource.
mil/benefits/school-liaison- program/
EFMP & Me tools and resources: https://efmpandme.
EFMP Podcast Series: https://www.
State Support for Military Families with Special Education Needs
State Support for Military Families with Special Education Needs
Courage To Care, Courage to Talk…about War Injuries | Available in English and Spanish
https://www.courage2talk.org/
The Courage to Care Courage to Talk campaign focuses on the importance of injury communication between healthcare providers and the family of the injured service member, as well as within the family itself, especially communicating with children. Find helpful tipsheets here to guide conversations with family, veterans, and children. Available in English and Spanish.
OneOp (formerly the Military Family Learning Network): https://oneop.org/
Military Child Education Coalition
www.militarychild.org/ Helps military children cope with being transferred from school to school around the world.
Military and DoD Child Care Assistance
https://usa.childcareaware.org/fee-assistancerespite/
Child Care Aware® of America partners with the United States Military and Department of Defense to serve and support their families through the Fee Assistance and Respite Child Care Programs.
National Military Family Association
http://www.militaryfamily.org/ Provides education and information regarding rights, benefits, and services for military families.
Military Family Resource Guide for Civilian Providers
Military and Veteran Families Support
https://www.zerotothree.org/parenting/military-and-veteran-families-support ZERO TO THREE has developed resources specially designed for military and veteran families and the professionals who serve them. This includes tools for parents to use as they navigate the many transitions that are a part of military-connected life.
Military Interstate Children’s Compact Commission (MIC3): https://mic3.net/
Important resources from OSEP Director Williams from across the federal government for military-connected families.
Compiled resources in support of military families and their children.
Celebrating Military-Connected Children, Youth, and Teens. Of the 1.6 million military children, approximately 915,000 are school-age (6 to 18). Assuming that 15% of the school-age military children receive special education services, there are at least 61,000 military children with individualized education programs (IEPs) who are entitled to a free appropriate public education in Department of Defense
Coming Soon:
Model demonstration projects to develop equitable family engagement with underserved families of children with disabilities. Learn more about the model demonstration projects created as part of the First Lady’s Joining Forces Initiative. These projects will focus on sites with large numbers of military-connected students. We look forward to what we can learn as best practices from these upcoming model demonstration projects.
Readings and Activities
Little Listeners in an Uncertain World.
https://www.zerotothree.org/resources/1102-little-listeners-in-an-uncertain-world
This 8-page book’s subtitle is: Coping strategies for you and your child during deployment or when a crisis occurs. It 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.
Moving to a New Location.
https://www.parentcenterhub.org/moving/
Lots of practical suggestions for planning that move.
Relocation for Military Families.
From the experts at the Branch.
Helping children handle deployments.
https://survivingdeployment.com/
Your child’s moodiness and behavior during the deployment may be a sign of stress or anxiety. Here’s what you can do to help your children handle deployment.
Helping children cope with deployments and reunions.
From Real Warriors: Children respond differently to a parent’s deployment depending on their age and maturity level. These materials will help families negotiate the stages of deployment with tips on helping children cope while Mom or Dad is deployed. Families can also use these materials to organize pre-deployment family meetings and review age-leveled activities, books, and videos.
For more Military Resource information, view our search feature by clicking here.
Updated November 2024