Military Munchkin

Space Camp Scholarships for Military Munchkins

noreply@blogger.com (Melanie) — Wed, 20 Jul 2011 10:39:00 +0000

The Military Child Education Coalition (MCEC) created a space camp scholarship to remember Bernard Curtis Brown II, son of a Navy chief petty officer, who died in the 9/11 attack on the Pentagon. Fifteen U.S. military children throughout the world, from 6th to 9th grade, are chosen each year to attend NASA's space camp, free of charge.
For online application forms and more information, visit their website. Is your munchkin eligible? According to the MCEC website:
Student applicant must first meet the requirements below:

The child of a Military Member on Active Duty or Mobilized Guard or Reserves; OR
The child of a Military Member who died while serving on Active Duty or Mobilized Guard or Reserve Status; AND

Enrolled in grades 6 through 9

[Graphic obtained from http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c350/rl350ss/astronaut.jpg]

Keep Your Munchkins Safe Online

noreply@blogger.com (Melanie) — Sat, 09 Jul 2011 22:12:00 +0000

Do you want to keep your kids safe online?

Do you want a code for a BIG discount? Read on...

As a BzzAgent, I've been given the opportunity to try Trend Micro Online Guardian to monitor my son's Internet activity. I've really liked that it doesn't slow our computer down with a bulky program. Living out in the country, I also have to worry about programs constantly running and pulling on the bandwidth which affects our streaming videos, Internet speed, etc. We had no problem with that at all since downloading it.

I love the fact that I could install it on all computers in my home. Between my son's laptop, our PC in the office, my mac, hubby's laptop, etc., I wanted to make sure that I could keep my son safe no matter what computer he's on. Trend Micro Online Guardian allowed that. I can configure it and monitor it all online which is convenient. However, I do want to note that even though I can configure it online, my son, who's only 9, easily figured out how to bypass many features. He wanted additional Internet time and only had to change the computer's clock with a few clicks in the lower corner. (Note: Didn't have this problem on the mac.) The program was great for blocking him from sending personal information which he has a problem with (when he likes to write celebrities!). However, he figured out how to disable the web filtering (with a mere couple of clicks and without doing it intentionally) which concerns me. You can select age groups for filtering, but their interpretation of ages 8-12 differed than my parenting style for my 9 year-old, but you can easily select and de-select categories.

Overall, it is definitely better than not having anything and it doesn't drain your bandwidth. If your child isn't too tech savvy, they won't be able to disable the features either. As a technology teacher, I've encouraged my son's skills so some of these aspects are affected by it; however, he's also 9 and if you're using this with teens, they can easily bypass a great deal of the features.

But don't take my word for it - get your own subscription with a great discount! Use BZZ20 for 20% off!

Financial Aid for Munchkin Care Expenses

noreply@blogger.com (Melanie) — Wed, 06 Jul 2011 01:12:00 +0000

The National Association of Child Care Resource and Referral Agencies (NACCRRA) offers financial assistance for child care to military service members. NACCRRA works with the U.S. Military services to help those who serve in the military find and afford child care that suits their unique needs. The financial aid that is offered does not depend on the rank of the servicemember. The spouse must be working, looking for work, or attending school. The organization also has specific programs to help out with the Families of wounded warriors and survivors of fallen service members. For more information visit NACCRRA's website.

Seeking Parents of K-6th Grade Military Children

noreply@blogger.com (Melanie) — Sun, 03 Jul 2011 10:56:00 +0000

As many of you know, I’m conducting my doctoral study on parental involvement in a military child’s education. I have permission to seek participants online, through organizations, etc. If you are a parent of a military child in K-6th grade, I’d love your input. It is all anonymous & all multiple choice. SURVEY The maximum burden is 15 minutes (though some respondents did it in 5 minutes). Please feel free to share the link, too! If this is not applicable to you, please feel free to share with those whom may be interested. I need at least 600 participants to maintain my confidence level with such an unknown sized population.

“You are invited to take part in a research study about parental participation in the education of military children. The purpose of this study is to examine parental viewpoints of parent-school partnerships in educational experiences and to construct strategies that may enhance and strengthen involvement to create stronger parent-school partnerships. If you agree to be in this study, you will be asked to participate in an anonymous, online survey about how you perceive parental involvement as it relates to your elementary-aged child’s education, which will take approximately 15 minutes to complete. Any information you provide will be kept confidential. Also, the researcher will not collect your contact information in any part of the study. If you would like more information and/or to participate in the brief survey, please visit http://tinyurl.com/militarychildseducation “

This research is not affiliated in anyway with the Department of Defense nor supported by the Department of Defense. The researcher is married to a medically retired wounded warrior, mother to a military child, and teaches in a military elementary school and desires to research ways to enhance military parent-school partnerships.

Camp C.O.P.E. (Courage, Optimism, Patience, & Encouragement)

noreply@blogger.com (Melanie) — Fri, 01 Jul 2011 10:43:00 +0000

On September 17th, Camp C.O.P.E. will be coming back to Fort Sam Houston and Brooke Army Medical Center, specifically to Robert G. Cole High School on Fort Sam Houston, an Army installation. This is a remarkable organization benefiting military munchkins. "Camp C.O.P.E. was designed to help our young heroes cope with the effects of war, deployments, and the sacrifices they are asked to make everyday."

You can access the event information on their site as well as download their flyer. Here are the applications if your service member is deployed, wounded, or fallen.

[Graphic used from http://campcope.org]

2011 Guide to Federal Benefits

noreply@blogger.com (Melanie) — Tue, 28 Jun 2011 12:04:00 +0000

Veterans Affairs has released a 2011 guide to Federal Benefits for Veterans, Dependents, and Survivors which can be found here. This is a comprehensive guide which includes benefits for dependent children for health care, education, and more. This is a valuable resource!

[graphic from http://www.va.gov/opa/publications/benefits_book.asp]

Scholarships and Financial Aid

noreply@blogger.com (Melanie) — Sun, 12 Jun 2011 16:10:00 +0000

Don't forget to check out our Scholarships page which is constantly updated as more scholarships are located.

Scholarship for Surviving National Guard Children

noreply@blogger.com (Melanie) — Wed, 08 Jun 2011 09:09:00 +0000

The National Guard Educational Foundation (NGEF) created a college scholarship fund for the children of more than 650 National Guardsmen killed in the war on terrorism. The DRS Guardian Scholarship Fund, which will be administered by the NGEF and underwritten by DRS Technologies, Inc. of Parsippany, N.J., will provide up to $6,250 per year to selected students attending a four-year institution or a two-year program at a community college or technical school.

The DRS Guardian Scholarship Fund is open to any high school or college student who is a son or daughter of a Guardsman killed in an operational or training mission in support of operations Enduring Freedom, Iraqi Freedom, or New Dawn. Scholarship funds will be paid directly to the school and can be applied to tuition, applicable room and board, fees and books. Funds for the scholarships will be provided by the DRS Charitable Foundation, which has given more than $5 million to charities, including the USO, Operation Mend and the Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund.

Applicants must have already been accepted by a nationally or regionally accredited college, university, or trade school. A panel created by NGEF will review the applicants and determine recipients based on a combination of academic merit and financial need. Deadline for applications for the 2011-2012 school year is June 30, 2011. Recipients will be notified by August 1, 2011.

Complete details, an application and an explanation of how to contribute to the fund are available at http://www.drsfoundation.net/guard. (Source: http://www.ngef.org/index.asp?bid=302)

Be sure to visit our scholarship page, too.

DoD Summer Reading Program for Your Munchkins

noreply@blogger.com (Melanie) — Sat, 28 May 2011 12:18:00 +0000

Defense Department (DoD) libraries will launch a summer reading program in the hopes of inspiring children -- and adults -- of all ages to read throughout the summer. Visitors to libraries on 270 military installations around the world are invited to join "A Midsummer Knight's Read," an activity-packed reading program with a medieval twist. Military family members from all service branches, whether active, reserve, National Guard, or retired are welcome to participate. Libraries host events for both munchkins and adults and the summer reading program runs from June 1st - August 13th. For more information, contact your local DoD library.

[Graphic provided by Fort Sam Houston post librarian Robbye Durham]

DoDEA Schools Seek Parent Input

noreply@blogger.com (Melanie) — Sat, 21 May 2011 00:07:00 +0000

The Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA) wants people who use the schools to provide their ideas on how to modernize education for the military schools of the future including the design and furnishing of them. Parents and community members are invited to share ideas at the DoDEA website.

They're seeking your feedback by June 16, 2011.

[graphic from http://www.isle-dso.eu.dodea.edu/images/DoDDS.gif]

Free SAT/ACT Software for Military Munchkins

noreply@blogger.com (Melanie) — Sat, 14 May 2011 13:02:00 +0000

With the approach of Memorial Day, eKnowledge is reminding all that they are continuing to offer their free SAT/ACT prep software for servicemembers, veterans, and their families.
In alliance with the Department of Defense and supported by patriotic NFL players, eKnowledge is donating $200 SAT and ACT PowerPrep™ Programs to military service members and their extended families. In five years, eKnowledge has donated over 165,000 PowerPrep™ Programs with a value of $36 Million.

[Graphic from eKnowledge http://www.eknowledge.com/military.asp]

Military Brats Online - Social Networking for Military Munchkins

noreply@blogger.com (Melanie) — Sun, 08 May 2011 09:40:00 +0000

Did you know there is a social networking site just for military munchkins? The site is Military Brats Online. There's almost 5,000 members (at the time of this post) and is a great way to connect and relate with others just like your munchkins!

Education Services for Military Dependent Children w/ Autism

noreply@blogger.com (Melanie) — Fri, 06 May 2011 10:59:00 +0000

The Department of Defense (DoD) is working with Ohio State University (OSU) to review the access and availability of evidence-based educational practices for military dependents with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) in the states of California, Georgia, North Carolina, Texas, and Virginia. According to the DoD (2010), "Nationally, the number of children identified with ASD continues to increase. The number of children with ASD served by special education programs in public schools almost tripled between the 2001-02 and 2007-08 school years. The number of military dependents with ASD increased more than 35% between FY 2006 and FY 2008." They have published an Executive Summary about this review.

These particular states were selected due to the number of military personnel assigned there. To access the DoD Information Directory for Autism Spectrum Disorders visit HERE.

2011 MilBlog Conference Live Stream

noreply@blogger.com (Melanie) — Tue, 26 Apr 2011 10:59:00 +0000

The 2011 MilBlog Conference is quickly approaching! Tune in Saturday, April 30th for live coverage on another great blog, YouServed! They have posted the agenda below the chat and have said that select questions from chat will be asked during question and answer sessions as well. Why does the MilBlog Conference matter to Military Munchkin readers looking for tips, resources, and insight for their military munchkins?Military Munchkin's readers care because of the other blogs and resources that they can find to help their military munchkins!

Military Brat Life - a military munchkin magazine

noreply@blogger.com (Melanie) — Sat, 02 Apr 2011 00:50:00 +0000

Social networking can expose you, too much, at times when you really just want to share with others who can relate. Military Brat Life is a military munchkin magazine written entirely by military munchkins! There are essays, articles, poetry, and more. If you'd like to contribute, check out
their Writer's Guidelines as they're always looking for more writers! Additionally, on the site, you can join and participate with blogs, polls, forums, groups, events, chats, and more. Celebrate the military munchkin lifestyle with others who understand and can relate!

Register for Operation Purple Camp TODAY

noreply@blogger.com (Melanie) — Thu, 31 Mar 2011 14:18:00 +0000

Remember my post last month telling you about Operation Purple? Well, today is the day to register! They are offering 40 weeks of camp in over 25 states AND overseas in Japan. Want more information,
read last month's post or visit NMFA's camp page.

NMFA 2011 Operation Purple® Camp

noreply@blogger.com (Melanie) — Mon, 28 Feb 2011 17:09:00 +0000

The National Military Family Association (NMFA) has just issued a press release for their upcoming Operation Purple Camps. It is a free camp to support our military munchkins who have dealt with the stress of war.

The National Military Family Association is excited to announce the states that will have 2011 Operation Purple summer camps. This free summer camp program was developed by the Association to support military children dealing with the stress of war. The eighth summer of Operation Purple camps will host children for 40 weeks of camp in 25 states as well as in Japan.

States: Alabama, Alaska, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Indiana, Massachusetts, Maryland, Minnesota, Mississippi, North Carolina, Nebraska, New Mexico, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia

Overseas: Japan

Information about the camp program and eligibility is available online. Specific camp locations, dates, and contact information will be available when registration opens on March 31, 2011. Until then, interested families can sign up to receive email notices and announcements on the website.

Camps are free to all participants thanks to support from Goldman Sachs Gives, the Sierra Club, and the Sierra Club Foundation.

I will post a blog reminder on the 31st so you can get your applications in!

[Press Release Contact: Bailey Bernius; PR@MilitaryFamily.org; www.MilitaryFamily.org; 703.931.6632]

What Do You Think?

noreply@blogger.com (Melanie) — Thu, 11 Nov 2010 11:29:00 +0000

An article just published on ABC News says that stress from deployment is hitting military munchkins hard. "A study released Monday in the journal Pediatrics suggested that children whose military parents have been deployed are more likely to suffer from behavioral or mental health disorders." The impact of deployment on military munchkins hasn't been studied thoroughly or in enough trials outside of the current war, but this study expresses the magnitude of the impact war has on military munchkins.
Are they finally seeing the light? I wonder who funded the study as I know that the military wouldn't want any negativity surrounding the war and impact on families as it would hurt retention and recruitment. The study is led by a military commander, though, so it may have some validity. The munchkins are often an after thought.

Register for Operation Purple Camp TODAY

noreply@blogger.com (Melanie) — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 10:00:00 +0000

Remember my post last month telling you about Operation Purple? Well, today is the day to register! They are offering camp in over 35 states AND 2 locations overseas. Want more information,

read last month's post or visit NMFA's camp page.

NMFA 2010 Operation Purple® Camp

noreply@blogger.com (Melanie) — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 10:50:00 +0000

The National Military Family Association has announced the locations for its 2010 Operation Purple summer camps, which support military children dealing with the stress of war.
The seventh summer of Operation Purple camps will host children at 67 locations in 35 states as well as 2 overseas locations. Individual camp sites and information will be available on March 15 when registration opens. For more information, and to sign up to receive e-mail notices, visit the National Military Family Association website and the Operation Purple page.

I will post a blog reminder on March 15th to remind you to get your applications in as they fill quickly!

[Press Release Contact: Bailey Bernius; PR@MilitaryFamily.org; www.MilitaryFamily.org; 703.931.6632]

Tips for Contacting School Districts/EFMP Counselors/Educational Liaisons

noreply@blogger.com (Melanie) — Wed, 17 Feb 2010 04:13:00 +0000

The Department of Defense's Office of Special Needs It is strongly recommended that you contact your new school district and your new installation’s Educational Liaison well before you move to help minimize the impact on your child’s educational program. Below are some suggestions to keep in mind when preparing to contact your new district and the Educational Liaison.

Before contacting the district or liaison, take some time to prepare. Write down the questions you want to ask and the information you want to be sure to get (e.g., contact information). Sample questions to ask school districts and liaisons are provided in this section.
Identify the parts of your child’s current educational program that you think are effective and those that are not, so that you can share them with the new district. Use the transition process as an opportunity to create an even more effective program for your child.
When you contact the new school district, ask to speak to the special education department. Once connected, ask to speak to the special education director or LSSP. The administrative assistants who answer the phones are usually very knowledgeable and helpful, and will help you get to the right person.
When you contact the district, it is helpful to document the time, date, and person to whom you spoke in your records. It is also a good idea to write down some brief notes about the conversation.
Communication is a human process, so a courteous but assertive approach is usually most effective. You will have many conversations with the school district staff over the course of your child’s education, so maintaining effective communication should be a top priority. Phrasing suggestions as requests rather than demands and being open to the school district’s input will be helpful. Try to avoid becoming overly frustrated or emotional, and instead focus on working with the district to create an effective program for your child.

American Overseas Schools Historical Society

noreply@blogger.com (Melanie) — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 20:34:00 +0000

American Overseas Schools Historical Society (AOSHS), offers a wide range of information and services to Military Munchkins, including:

Obtaining American Overseas School Transcripts
Obtaining Copies of American Overseas School Yearbooks
Obtaining Replacement School Class Rings
Obtaining Replacement School Letter Jackets
Employment Opportunities in American Overseas Schools
Obtainig a Birth Certificate for U.S. Citizens Born Overseas
DoDDS/DoDEA Employment Records The American Overseas Schools Archives (AOSA) was first established on the campus of Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff in 1989.

The AOSA is dedicated to preserving the history and memorabilia of the kindergarten through grade 12 education of an estimated 4 million American children who attended more than 900 American overseas schools over the past 150 years.

In 1995 the American Overseas Schools Historical Society (AOSHS) was incorporated as a non- profit IRS 501(c)(3) organization. The AOSHS office and archives are located in Wichita, Kansas.

For more information please visit the AOSHS Website and also review their handy tri-fold.

?s to Ask School Districts (When You're Enrolled in EFMP or Have a Special Needs Child)

noreply@blogger.com (Melanie) — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 11:24:00 +0000

Are you wondering what questions you should ask of the school district(s) at your new duty station? Do you want to insure they will be able to meet your child's needs? Here are a list of questions you may want to ask when speaking directly with the LSSP or other school district personnel:

Whom should I contact at the school when we arrive?
What information should I bring with me or provide to you before we arrive?
Could I fax/e-mail you a copy of my child’s IEP to help you prepare for his/her arrival? To whom should I send it and what number/e-mail address should I use?
The parts of my child’s IEP that worked really well were (insert information). Does your staff have experience doing this?
What types of evidence-based practices does your district provide students with *(diagnosis) ?
How many students with *(diagnosis) attend the school my child will attend?
Do my child’s teachers have experience and training for teaching students with *(diagnosis) ?
Would it be possible to have my child’s teacher(s) e-mail me brief weekly progress updates?
If my child requires transportation to his/her program, how will that be provided and coordinated?
Does your staff have experience supporting children with *(diagnosis) in an inclusive environment?
What elective classes (e.g., art, music, PE) are available in which my child can be enrolled?
Is there a local support group for families with children with *(diagnosis) or children with disabilities? If yes, how do I connect with it? What other area resources are available for families that have children with disabilities?
Whom should I contact at the school district if I have questions about my child’s program?
Do you have a similar program? How do you help children with *(diagnosis) develop social skills?
What opportunity will I have to talk with the staff about what has been successful for my child in the past?
If upset, my child might try to run or leave the building (or engage in some other type of response behavior). What precautions can you take to help ensure her/his safety?

?s to Ask Educational Liaisons/EFMP Counselors

noreply@blogger.com (Melanie) — Tue, 05 May 2009 18:21:00 +0000

EFMP Counselors and Educational Liaisons at military installations are a valuable resource for information about specific school districts. Are you wondering what some ideal questions would be? Look below!

What kinds of educational support do you provide to military families?
What suggestions do you have for helping our child/children make a smooth transition to the district?
What are some positive aspects of this school district?
What are some challenging aspects of this school district?
What experiences have other families of children with ASD reported with this school district?
Is there a family support group for families with children with ASD at this installation?
Are there resources at the installation or in the community that would be helpful for families that have dependents with disabilities, especially ASD?
Could you provide me with the Exceptional Family Member Program contact information?

Munchkins' Special Needs Glossary of Terms

noreply@blogger.com (Melanie) — Fri, 03 Apr 2009 11:16:00 +0000

A

Asperger Syndrome: developmental disability that affects a person's ability to socialize and communicate effectively with others.

Autism: developmental disability significantly affecting verbal and nonverbal communication and social interaction, generally evident before age three;

Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD): categorical term that encompasses the various syndromes related to autism. Often used interchangeably with autism and pervasive developmental disorders.

B

Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA): behavior analyst certified through the Behavior Analysts Certification Board

C

Childhood Disintegrative Disorder (CDD): developmental disability in which children develop normally until ages 2 to 4, but then demonstrate a severe loss of social, communication and other skills.

D

Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA): a field activity of the Office of the Secretary of Defense with the mission to plan, direct, coordinate, and manage the education programs for eligible dependents of U.S. military personnel and civilian personnel of the Department of Defense.

Diagnostic & Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM): publication of the American Psychiatric Association (APA) that contains the diagnostic criteria for all mental health disorders for children and adults, including autism. DSM-IV is the current edition and DSM-V is expected to be published in 2013.

Dispute Resolution: under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), parents have the right to request mediation, file an administrative complaint, or request a due process hearing to resolve special education conflicts with school districts.

E

Evidence Based Practices (EBP): educational practices supported by research findings and/or demonstrated as being effective through a critical examination of current and past practices.

Exceptional Family Member Program (EFMP): component within the military that provides support to military families that include members with exceptional needs, including ASD. Each branch of the military administers its own EFMP for its members.

I

Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA): federal law that requires public school districts to identify children with disabilities and provide them with a free and appropriate public education in the least restrictive environment.

M

Military Interstate Children’s Compact Commission (MICCC): created to address education transition issues faced by military families when they are reassigned so they are afforded the same opportunities for educational success as other children.

O

OCONUS Directory of Special Needs: provides information about the level of special education services available in overseas military communities.

P

Pervasive Developmental Disorder: categorical term that encompasses several developmental disorders, such as autism or Asperger syndrome, characterized by severe deficits in social interaction and communication or by the presence of repetitive, stereotyped behaviors.

R

Rett Syndrome: rare genetic disorder that affects the way the brain develops. It occurs almost exclusively in girls.

T

TRICARE: health care program serving active duty service members, National Guard and Reserve members, retirees, families and survivors worldwide.