september 2013 family connection newsletter

7/30/2019 September 2013 Family Connection Newsletter

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The

CenterFleet & Family Support

OmbudsmanAppreciation 43 Years o

Standing Watch over our Families

Contents

eptember is Child Saety Month

aby-Proofng Your Home

eady and Resilient Navy FamiliesWebinar Series

re You Prepared?

mployment and Transition Corner

The Navy Family Ombudsman Program has been in place or 43 years and is a strong compone

o amily readiness. During the month o September, the Navy community will take time to

recognize the contributions o our command ombudsmen.

Ombudsmen represent both the command and the amilies; they perorm a service which is

oten very challenging. These volunteers help during all phases o deployment, disasters and

crises. They are also there to assist with general questions and challenges acing Navy amilies.

They serve because they are passionate and want to make a dierence.

In spite o increasing challenges, ombudsmen continue to volunteer their time with a smile and

a heartelt interest in command amilies. Their ability to move orward in the ace o adversity is

one o the extraordinary characteristics exhibited by ombudsmen.

Take comort in the act that your command ombudsmen understand the challenges you ace

on a daily basis, because they too, are Navy Family members. Please take this opportunity to

recognize and thank your command ombudsmen or all they do or you and your amily.

View the 2013 Ombudsman Appreciation Events in your area.

Impact o Deployment on Young ChildrenAt a time when the U.S. military has the highest number o parents among its active-duty servi

members and is engaged in the longest sustained military conict in its history in Iraq and

Aghanistan, new research is showing that the strain on military amilies is being elt acutely by

even its youngest members, children under the age o 6. Young children can exhibit the same

anxiety, depression, stress and aggression that some older children and adults experience ater

living with multiple deployments, long separations and oten tense and awkward reunions wit

Do what you can to show you caabout other people, and you will mour world a better place.

Rosalynn Ca

(Continued on next pag

Familyc o n n e c t i o n

S E P T E M B E R 2 0 1 3

mily Connection is a publication o the Fleet

d Family Support Program.

e Navy's Fleet and Family Support Program

omotes the sel-reliance and resilience o

ilors and their amilies. We provide inormation

at can help you meet the unique challenges o

e military liestyle.

e appearance o external links in this newsletter

es not constitute ofcial endorsement on behal

the U.S. Navy or Department o Deense.

you have questions or comments, contact

mothy McGough at [email protected] .

Visit us online at:
http://www.cnic.navy.mil/ffr/family_readiness/fleet_and_family_support_program.htmlhttp://www.cnic.navy.mil/ffr/family_readiness/fleet_and_family_support_program.htmlhttp://www.cnic.navy.mil/ffr/family_readiness/fleet_and_family_support_program.htmlhttp://www.cnic.navy.mil/content/dam/cnic/hq/pdfs/n91_fleet_and_family_support_program/ombudsman_program/OmbudsmanAppreciationEvents2013.pdfmailto:%20timothy.mcgough%40navy.mil?subject=mailto:%20timothy.mcgough%40navy.mil?subject=http://www.cnic.navy.mil/content/dam/cnic/hq/pdfs/n91_fleet_and_family_support_program/ombudsman_program/OmbudsmanAppreciationEvents2013.pdfhttp://www.cnic.navy.mil/ffr/family_readiness/fleet_and_family_support_program.htmlhttp://twitter.com/#!/Fleet_Familyhttp://www.facebook.com/navyffsc?ref=mf


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Add JSS to your

Mobile Network

www.jointservicessupport.jss/Mobile.aspx

iPhone, iPad User

Download JSSat the App Store

JSS Dial-in Access 24/7?

1-877-JSS-NOW1(577-6691)

Youve

arrived!

Your children

may still have

some big

adjustments

ahead o

them. It is

normal or kidsto take three months or more to

to a new home. Spend time listen

explaining and reassuring and th

adjustment will go more smooth

your entire amily.

New Spouse Orientation

is now available on-demand.

It provides inormation on bene

support services, military culture

resources tohelp new Navy

Spouses adapt

to the military

liestyle.

parents returning rom war, particularly when the parent has been physically or mentally

traumatized.

A new report released by Child Trends, a nonprot research center, ound that while

children are resilient, war can take a steep and potentially long-lasting toll during their

critical early years, when the brain is growing rapidly and children are developing a

sense o trust in the world. The report, Home Front Alert: The Risks Facing Young

Children in Military Families, surveys scientic literature over the past decade and

notes that stress levels or military amilies are unprecedented. Nearly one in ve service

members returning rom Iraq or Aghanistan reports acute stress, depression or anxiety,

including high numbers diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder or traumatic

brain injury.

When a parent is depressed or anxious, the researchers say, stress acts like a contagion

and spreads throughout the amily. Inants can become listless, cranky, unable to sleep

or unwilling to eat. Toddlers can be alternately clingy or withdrawn. They may be sullen

or explode with unexpected tantrums. Preschoolers may eel guilty and responsible or

a death or or amily discord. They may regress, begin wetting the bed or be unable to

sleep alone.

Many resources are available to assist amilies. Contact the Clinical Counseling Sta

at your local Fleet and Family Support Center, Military Treatment Facility or Military

OneSource or assistance.

September is Child Saety MonthMany o us rely on electronic and video gaming or various reasons to entertain us,

to minimize boredom or to relieve stress. Video gaming is a billion-dollar industry that

targets young adults. Consequently, many young parents have made electronic and

video gaming one o their avorite pastime activities. Researchers who have studied this

phenomenon reported that electronic and video gaming can have both a negative

and positive impact on the gamer and on others. For instance, research conducted

by the Ofce o Naval Research suggests that there are some video games that can

help adults process inormation much aster and improve their undamental abilities

to reason and solve problems. However, many young parents and childcare providers

are responsible or inants and toddlers but preoccupied with electronic and videogaming; they are putting their children at risk. Child atality studies indicate that many

parents are increasingly being distracted by requent electronic and video gaming

activities. According to Dr. Barbara Craig, CAPT, MC, USN (Ret.), Founder and Director

or the Armed Forces Center or Child Protection and the Department o Deenses

leading orensic pediatrician, too many parents are compromising their child saety due

Impact o Deployment

(continued rom page 1)

(Continued on next page)

S E P T E M B E R 2 0 1
http://www.jointservicessupport.org/jss/Mobile.aspxhttp://www.jointservicessupport.org/jss/Mobile.aspxhttp://www.jointservicessupport.org/jss/Mobile.aspxhttp://www.tinyurl.com/NewSpouseOrientationhttp://www.childtrends.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/2013-31MilitaryFamilies1.pdfhttp://www.childtrends.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/2013-31MilitaryFamilies1.pdfhttp://cnic.navy.mil/ffr/family_readiness.htmlhttp://www.tricare.mil/mtf/http://www.militaryonesource.mil/http://www.militaryonesource.mil/http://www.militaryonesource.mil/http://www.militaryonesource.mil/http://www.tricare.mil/mtf/http://cnic.navy.mil/ffr/family_readiness.htmlhttp://www.childtrends.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/2013-31MilitaryFamilies1.pdfhttp://www.childtrends.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/2013-31MilitaryFamilies1.pdfhttp://www.tinyurl.com/NewSpouseOrientationhttp://www.jointservicessupport.org/jss/Mobile.aspxhttp://www.jointservicessupport.org/jss/Mobile.aspx


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to their electronic and video gaming

obsession. There have been numerous

child deaths reportedly caused by young

parents or other childcare providers who

were ocusing on playing a video game

when they should have been tending

to the needs o a child. Autopsy reports

conrmed that these types o incidents

involved children who were suocated,

beaten or malnourished. As with most

lie activities, we must be take every

precaution to minimize the risk and

saety hazards.

Below are several indicators that

parents and childcare providers shouldbecome amiliar with to determine i

they or someone they know is in need

o support to help them prevent child

abuse and child neglect:

N Cannot stop playing

N Poor school and work

perormance

N Lying about how much they play

N Decreased attention to hygiene

N Decreased attention to amily

and riends

N Decreased sleep

N Withdrawal symptoms

N Irritability i someone prevents

them rom playing

N Negative outcomes in personal

relationships

N Intense guilt or intense pleasure in

gaming

N Spending too much money on

videogames

To learn more about how you can keep

children sae contact your local New

Parent Support Home Visitation Program

go to www.sp.navy.mil.

Baby-Proofng Your HomeWhen you have a baby, whether it is your rst or th, nothing is more important tha

ensuring his or her saety. A home can be lled with many potential baby hazards, bthere are a ew easy saety precautions you can take to baby-proo your home:

N Lock your window latches or window guards to prevent children rom alling

out o upper oor windows.

N Ensure window coverings are sae; corded window coverings and blinds can

a strangulation hazard. TheWindow Covering Saety Council oers ree repair

kits to make corded window coverings saer.

N Install cabinet and drawer latches to prevent children rom getting into

hazardous chemicals.

N Stay up-to-date on saety recalls or all home products.

N Find additional important home saety inormation atwww.cdc.gov/saechild

and kidshealth.org/parent/rstaid_sae/.

I your home does not meet your saety needs, contact the Navy Housing Service

Center (HSC) or assistance. You can nd Navy HSC contact inormation online at

www.cnic.navy.mil/HousingQuickReerence.

Navy Fleet and Family Readiness has

developed a series owebinars

specically

designed

to help Navy

amilies adjust

to the challenges

o deployment.

These 60-minute webinars will provide

Sailors and amily members with the

knowledge, resources and tools to

promote and enhance amily resilience.The September webinar will take place on

September 19 at 1 P.M. Eastern Time and

will ocus on suicide prevention. Empower

yoursel with the knowledge to ACTso

that a Sailor, riend or amily member in

distress receives the help needed to stay

aoat.

To enter and attend the webinar, Sailors

and amily members should ollow the

instructions below:

1. Open Internet Explorer on your

computer. Click on the ollowing link:

http://zeiders.adobeconnect.com/

deploymentamilies/.

2. Type your name in the box next to th

Enter as a Guest label.

3. Click the Enter button. The classroo

will open in a new screen window. Th

is a pop-up window, so you may hav

to disable that security setting or this

instance.

Ready and Resilient Navy FamiliesWebinar Series

Child Saety Month(continued rom page 2)

S E P T E M B E R 2 0 1
http://www.cnic.navy.mil/ffr/family_readiness/fleet_and_family_support_program/new_parent_support.htmlhttp://www.windowcoverings.org/http://www.windowcoverings.org/http://www.recalls.gov/http://www.cdc.gov/safechildhttp://kidshealth.org/parent/firstaid_safe/http://www.cnic.navy.mil/HousingQuickReferencehttp://www.public.navy.mil/bupers-npc/support/21st_Century_Sailor/suicide_prevention/Pages/default.aspxhttp://zeiders.adobeconnect.com/deploymentfamilies/http://zeiders.adobeconnect.com/deploymentfamilies/http://zeiders.adobeconnect.com/deploymentfamilies/http://zeiders.adobeconnect.com/deploymentfamilies/http://www.public.navy.mil/bupers-npc/support/21st_Century_Sailor/suicide_prevention/Pages/default.aspxhttp://www.cnic.navy.mil/HousingQuickReferencehttp://kidshealth.org/parent/firstaid_safe/http://www.cdc.gov/safechildhttp://www.recalls.gov/http://www.windowcoverings.org/http://www.cnic.navy.mil/ffr/family_readiness/fleet_and_family_support_program/new_parent_support.html


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Employmentand Transition CorneVeteran Pledge Initiative frothe Small Business Associatio

The Small Business Administration (SBA

announced the SBA Veteran Pledge

Initiative, a commitment by its top lend

to collectively increase lending activity

veterans

by ve

percent

per year

or the

next ve

years! SBA expects to assist an additiona2,000 veterans with support rom some

their top 20 national lending partners, a

approximately 100 additional regional a

community lending partners across the

United States. The loans will help vetera

start or expand small businesses. The

increase in lending looks to be about $4

million over the next ve years. To read

on the Veteran Pledge Initiative visit the

webpage. To learn more about addition

opportunities or veterans available throthe SBA visit http://www.sba.gov/vetera

Returning Warrior Workshops (RWW)

Returning Warrior Workshop Schedule and IA Family Events www.ia.navy.mil.

Click Links and Resources.

IA Discussion Group Schedule

View the Fleet-wide list o classes, support

groups and events.

U.S. Navy IndividualAugmenteesLike us on Facebook.

S E P T E M B E R 2 0 1

Are You Prepared?I a catastrophic disaster were to occur today, would you be prepared?

Would you have an emergency kit ready or use? I you and your amily were

separated, would you know what to do? September is National Preparedness

Month and it is the perect time to evaluate i you and your amily are prepared or

an emergency or disaster.

Be informed. Find out what disasters are most likely to happen in your area and

the history o their occurrence. Local emergency management ofces can help

you identiy the potential hazards, provide an outline o the local plans, and make

recommendations or you and your amily. You should also become amiliar with

the location o emergency acilities.

Have a plan. Talk with your amily about dierent disasters and what actions

to take or each o them. Find out the various evacuation routes and establish a

designated meeting place. Discuss how you will communicate with each other i

you are separated and designate one or two out-o-state contacts who you can

check in with and make contact cards with important phone numbers or each

amily member to carry. Practice your plans and ensure that your children know

what they are supposed to do.

Have an emergency kit. This is a collection o basic items you may need in the

event o a disaster. Having emergency kits or your home and vehicle will permit

you to evacuate more quickly and or ensure that you and your amily can meet

your basic needs until help arrives. Review the inormation available on www.

Ready.Navy.mil and www.Ready.gov to nd out what supplies you should have in

your kit.

The time and eort you and your amily invest in planning will make a dierence

in your ability to handle any potential emergency situation or disaster and will help

each o you to stay sae.

Download the Navy Family Accountability and Assessment System (NFAAS)

App. This app is a great resource or emergency preparedness inormation and

can connect you directly to NFAAS. Download it today or your iPhone or Droid.

Search or NFAAS or scan the appropriate QR code below.

Droid iPhone
http://www.sba.gov/content/sba-announces-new-initiative-with-top-lenders-help-veterans-become-entrepreneurs-0http://www.sba.gov/veteranshttp://www.ia.navy.mil/http://cnic.navy.mil/ffr/family_readiness/fleet_and_family_support_program/individual-augmentees--ias--.htmlhttp://cnic.navy.mil/ffr/family_readiness/fleet_and_family_support_program/individual-augmentees--ias--.htmlhttps://www.facebook.com/navyIAhttp://www.ready.navy.mil/http://www.ready.navy.mil/http://www.ready.gov/http://www.ready.gov/http://www.ready.navy.mil/http://www.ready.navy.mil/http://www.careeronestop.org/militaryspouse/http://www.usajobs.gov/http://navymwr.org/jobs/http://www.militaryonesource.mil/http://www.bluestarfam.org/http://www.novonicsttl.com/CNIC/FFR/VirtualOffice/N91/docs/MFIT?target=_blankhttps://msepjobs.militaryonesource.mil/https://aiportal.acc.af.mil/mycaa/default.aspxhttps://www.facebook.com/navyIAhttp://cnic.navy.mil/ffr/family_readiness/fleet_and_family_support_program/individual-augmentees--ias--.htmlhttp://cnic.navy.mil/ffr/family_readiness/fleet_and_family_support_program/individual-augmentees--ias--.htmlhttp://www.ia.navy.mil/http://www.sba.gov/veteranshttp://www.sba.gov/content/sba-announces-new-initiative-with-top-lenders-help-veterans-become-entrepreneurs-0


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To contact your ombudsman go to

www.ombudsmanregistry.org

of standing watchover our families

september 2013 family connection newsletter

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