Description

Strong Families Strong Forces is a home-based reintegration program designed to support military families with very young children when a parent returns from war. U.S. military operations have placed tremendous demands on families who have served since the September 11th terrorist attacks. Two million children, 42% of whom were younger than five years, have experienced at least one parental deployment. Very young children are especially vulnerable in the face of prolonged separation from a parent or primary caregiver, and maintaining the parent-child relationship through a deployment is extremely challenging. This presentation will include discussion of the impact of deployment upon young children; the at-home parent and military parent, with a specific focus on combat stress in the returning parent; parenting and co-parenting transitions and roles; and the realities of reintegration. An in-depth overview of the 8-module SFSF reintegration program, along with illustrative case examples will also be presented, while highlighting engagement strategies and the process of conducting home-based intervention with military families. Implications for working with military families with children of all ages are addressed.

Ellen Ramsel DeVoe, PhD, MSW; Associate Professor, BUSW; Principal Investigator, Strong Families Strong Forces

Michelle Acker, PsyD; Director of Training and Clinical Services, Strong Families Strong Forces

June 14, 2013 // 9am - 4pm // 6 CECs // $110