http://www.health.mil/blog/10-06-24/Family_Resiliency_Webinar.aspx.

Providing policy, tools, and resources to further enhance the quality of life of service members and their families.

This Week in MC&FP October 22, 2010

___________________________________________________________

We’ve had some beautiful fall days here recently – perfect runner’s weather for

Army’s Ten-Miler. We wish all the participants well and hope this great weather continues for those

planning a similar, but much longer, trek at the Marine Corps Marathon. We all know that skier’s weather

will be upon us soon enough!

Have a good week and take care.

Your MC&FP Team

Please note: Some hyperlinks in this text are lengthy, sometimes extending more than one line. For best results,

cut and past the entire link into your Web browser.

From DoDEA

DoDEA Offers Parents Helpful Tips for Successful Parent-Teacher Conferences Parent-Teacher conferences allow parents the opportunity to ask questions about their child's

classes or progress in school. These conferences are a great way to discuss how parents and

teachers can work together to help students perform at their best in school. See

http://www.dodea.edu/parents/dodea.cfm?cId=ptc

DoDEA Hosts Successful Educational Partnership 2010 Grant Kickoff Meeting

DoDEA's Educational Partnership hosted a successful the 2010 Grant Kickoff event October

18th and 19th in Alexandria, Va. The Honorable Mr. Robert L. Gordon III, deputy under

secretary of defense for military community and family policy provided opening remarks for the

conference. In 2010, DoDEA's Educational Partnership awarded more than $38 million in grants

to public schools serving military children throughout the nation. The grants were awarded to 32

military-connected Local Education Agencies to increase student achievement and ease the

challenges military students face due to transitions and deployment. These schools, located

throughout the U.S., serve communities near more than 30 military installations. There are more

than 37,000 students from military families within these schools, and more than 190,000 total

students.

DoDEA Schools to Participate in Red Ribbon Week, Oct. 23-31

DoDEA schools around the world will join military installations and schools throughout the

United States in participating in Red Ribbon Week, October 23-31, 2010. Sponsored by the

This Week in MC&FP October 22, 2010

P a g e 2

National Family Partnership, Red Ribbon Week provides schools and families a perfect

opportunity to discuss the dangers of drug abuse and the benefits of a healthy and drug-free

lifestyle. The Red Ribbon Campaign is now the oldest and largest drug prevention program in

the nation, reaching millions of young people each year. For more information about Red

Ribbon Week activities at DoDEA schools, contact the principal of the school in your area.

DoDEA Customer Satisfaction Survey to Begin Nov. 1st

DoDEA will administer its biennial Customer Satisfaction Survey from November 1, 2010,

through December 15, 2010. The survey provides valuable feedback to DoDEA from its most

important customers – students and parents – about the quality of education it provides and areas

needing improvement. The 2010 DoDEA Customer Satisfaction Survey represents a departure

from tradition in that the survey will be open for a shorter window. It is administered to students

in grades 4-12 and sponsors for each child enrolled in DoD schools from Pre-kindergarten/

SureStart through 12th grade. As with prior Customer Satisfaction Surveys, participation

remains voluntary and maximum participation is encouraged in order to obtain reliable and valid

data.

DoDEA Acting Director Meets with Command, School Leaders in Europe

DoDEA Acting Director, Ms. Marilee Fitzgerald, was on official travel this week to

Kaiserslautern, Ramstein, and Stuttgart, Germany, and also Vicenza and Naples, Italy. She

conducted office calls with the command leadership and visited DoDEA schools. While in

Vicenza, she participated in meetings and training sessions with the Overseas Federation of

Teachers and DoDEA Administrators in pre-decisional involvement under the new executive

order on labor management relations. She returns to Washington, D.C. next week.

From the Office of Family Policy/Children and Youth

Deaths prompt CPSC, FDA Warning on Infant Sleep Positioners

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) and the U.S. Food and Drug

Administration (FDA) today warned consumers to stop using infant sleep positioners. Over the

past 13 years, CPSC and the FDA have received 12 reports of infants between the ages of 1

month and 4 four months who died when they suffocated in sleep positioners or became trapped

and suffocated between a sleep positioner and the side of a crib or bassinet. Most of the infants

suffocated after rolling from a side to stomach position. In addition to the reported deaths, CPSC

has received dozens of reports of infants who were placed on their backs or sides in sleep

positioners, only to be found later in potentially hazardous positions within or next to the sleep

positioners. See http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml10/10358.html

College Grants Up For Grabs

The Air Force Aid Society plans to award up to 3,000 grants to dependents of Air Force

members for their college education through the General Henry H. Arnold Education Grant

Program. Applications for these $2,000 need-based grants are now available from the Society’s

Web site. Completed forms must be received by AFAS no later than March 11, 2011.

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The grant program is open to dependent children of active duty, Title 10 Reservists on extended

active duty, Title 32 AGR performing full-time active duty, retired, retired reservists and

deceased Air Force members. Spouses of active duty members and surviving spouses of

deceased personnel are also eligible. All applicants must be enrolled as full-time undergraduates

at an accredited college or university during the 2011-2012 academic year, and are required to

maintain a minimum 2.0 Grade Point Average (GPA). For more information, see

http://www.afas.org

“Staying Strong as a Couple” Webinar Offered

Military OneSource will offer the Webinar, “Staying Strong as a Couple,” Monday, October 25,

2010 at 12:00 p.m. (EDT). The Webinar will address conflict and compromise, understanding

and trust. Staying strong as a couple is a constant challenge no matter how long you’ve been

together. This Webinar is designed to help you get through the common challenges that couples

face. You will be able to:

· Identify seven practices that serve as the core of satisfying marriages.

· Generate techniques for putting each practice into action.

· Discover effective ways to strengthen your couple relationship.

See http://www.militaryonesource.com/MOS/OnlineCommunity/Webinars.aspx

“Positive Discipline for Children” Webinar Offered

Military OneSource will offer the Webinar, “Positive Discipline for Children,” on Thursday,

October 28, 2010 at 7:00 p.m. (EDT) and on Friday, October 29, 2010 at 10:00 a.m. (EDT).

Studies show that a positive approach to discipline is more effective than using punishment. An

alternative to nagging, yelling, and punishing, positive discipline involves helping a child learn

self-control. It's a matter of setting clear limits and expectations, and following through

consistently. Participants in this webinar will learn how to:

· Set limits

· Avoid daily battles

· Acknowledge and respond to your child’s feelings constructive ways

See http://www.militaryonesource.com/MOS/OnlineCommunity/Webinars.aspx

“Forging the Partnership” Conference Planners Call for Proposals

Thinking about presenting at the DoD/USDA 2011 Family Resilience Conference? Proposals

for workshops, computer labs, research posters, and program showcase exhibits are due

Wednesday, November 3, 2010.

If you haven’t done so yet, mark your calendar now to be in Chicago on April 26 - 29, 2011, at

the Hyatt Regency. The interagency conference, Forging the Partnership, will bring together

professionals from DoD and USDA and will build connections, competency and the capacity of

our agencies and programs.

The conference will feature keynote speakers, current youth and family research presenters,

interactive workshops and computer labs. For more information, see

http://www.militaryhomefront.dod.mil/service/conferenceandworkshops/fy2011

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From the Office of Morale, Welfare and Recreation

2010 National Recreation and Park Association Congress – “Hot Topic” Session Carol Potter will present an education session at the National Recreation and Park Association

Congress 2010 national conference about “Building Resilience for Healthy Families and

Communities in the Military” on Wednesday, October 27, in Minneapolis, Minn. Participants

will gain information about the current military environment, the challenges facing today’s

service members and their families, how recreation opportunities build resilience, and the

benefits of implementing recreation that impacts military readiness.

Based on session content and speaker qualifications, the congress has identified her session as a

“Hot Topic.” Sessions with this branding will receive special marketing in the preliminary and

final programs, on the association’s Web site, in promotional materials, and on-site.

From Resale

AAFES Announces “My Hero” Essay Contest

A 300-word essay could be worth $2,000 in the Army & Air Force Exchange Service’s “My

Hero” Essay Contest. To qualify, authorized shoppers must write an essay on their hero,

including what makes the nominee unique or what accomplishment or influence they have

achieved.

The “My Hero” contest is open to for submissions by military members and all military ID card

holders who are 18-years-old or older at the time of entry. Essays of 300 words or less must

include name, address, daytime phone number, rank or occupation, as well as information

regarding the nominee (name, address and contact information).

See http://www.shopmyexchange.com/pa/news/10news/10-049.htm

DECA is delivering the benefit at the following Guard and reserve locations. For more

information, visit http://www.commissaries.com/guard_reserve_sales.cfm:

Oct 28-29 National Guard Tulsa, Okla.

Oct 28-29 Guard and Reserve Bourne, Mass.

Oct 30 Guard and Reserve Green Bay Wis.

In the News

From the American Forces Press Service – Family Care Plan Requirements Change A recent

change in Defense Department policy highlights why servicemembers and deployable civilians

who also are custodial parents may want to seek legal help in arranging their children’s care

during deployment. DoD Instruction 1342.19, “Family Care Plans,” was revised in May to

require such plans from troops and expeditionary civilians who have legal custody or joint

custody of a minor child. The new policy requires these parents to attempt to obtain the consent

of the noncustodial or adoptive parent to any family care plan that would leave the child in the

custody of a third party. See http://www.defense.gov//News/NewsArticle.aspx?ID=61319

This Week in MC&FP October 22, 2010

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From the Family Matters Blog – Looking Back, Moving Forward

More than 20 years ago, the first federal funds were authorized for the establishment,

maintenance and expansion of programs and projects to prevent incidents of family violence and

provide shelter and assistance for victims and their children. See

http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/fysb/content/docs/FVPSA_program_summary.pdf. Over the

past two decades, the momentum of the domestic violence movement has continued to build.

See http://afps.dodlive.mil/2010/10/19/blogger-urges-readers-to-move-forward/ From TRICARE Communications – Oral Tips for Halloween and Year-round

Trick or Treat! It’s that time of year again, when kids look forward to Halloween sweets and

parents worry about the damage sugar does to their kids’ teeth. TRICARE officials remind

beneficiaries that brushing and flossing after eating sugary treats is the best way to keep cavities

away and maintain their child's oral health, Halloween and year-round.

See http://www.tricare.mil/pressroom/press_article.aspx?fid=497

Tips of the Week

Nutrition Tip of the Week – What’s a serving from the milk group?

One cup (8- ounces) fluid milk or yogurt, 1½ ounce natural cheese, or 2 ounces processed cheese

can be considered as a 1-cup serving from the milk group.

For more information on making healthy and nutritious food choices, check out the

Commissary’s Web site at http://www.commissaries.com/ .

Parenting Tip of the Week – Write a letter –stay connected

The next time you spend quality time with your child, consider writing a friendly letter to a

friend, deployed parent or other relative, or neighbor with him/her. Be sure to include the date,

salutation, and closing with the body of the letter. You can practice writing friendly letters with

your child by sending servicemembers a general message via the DoD Community Relations

website at http://www.ourmilitary.mil/Message.aspx?SectionID=5 .

Let’s Move/Childhood Obesity Tip of the Week – Help Kids Stay Active

Children and teens should participate in at least 60 minutes of moderate intensity physical

activity most days of the week, preferably daily. Remember that children imitate adults. Start

adding physical activity to your own daily routine and encourage your child to join you. Some

examples of moderate intensity physical activity include:

Brisk walking

Playing tag

Jumping rope

Playing soccer

Swimming

Dancing

See http://www.cdc.gov/healthyweight/children/index.html#prevention.

Financial Tip of the Week – Five Sneaky Ways to Save $100 a Month

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If your savings rate is not up to snuff and you're finding it hard to pinch those pennies for a rainy

day, try some of these sneaky switches to trick yourself into saving more than the national

average.

Fire your bank? Add up all your banking fees: ATM fees, monthly account fees, overdraft

protection fees, minimum balance fees, debit card transaction fees, and the myriad of other

miscellaneous fees to see how much your bank is costing you. If you're paying a pretty penny

for the privilege of using your own money, then maybe it's time to give your banker the pink slip

and switch banks.

Make your kids pay for it! If your kids keep asking for stuff they don't need, then maybe it's time

to get sneaky by closing the bank of mom and dad and making your kids spend their own

allowance. Teaching kids the value of earning a dollar can help them grow into financially savvy

teens, and not giving in to every childhood whim could save you hundreds each month.

Lower your mutual fund fees. If you put your retirement savings into mutual funds, chances are

those sneaky investing fees -- management expense ratios (MERs), loads, and trailer fees -- are

all drastically decreasing your investment returns each year, without you even noticing! Cutting

your investment costs by over 1 percent could save you thousands per year, depending on the

size of your portfolio.

Pay your mortgage biweekly, not monthly. By opting for biweekly payments, you will pay a bit

more each month and there will be a few months where three mortgage payments are due,

depending on how the weeks fall, but if you are on biweekly paychecks, you won’t notice the

difference. For example, when compared with monthly payments, switching to an accelerated

biweekly payment plan can save you around $30,100 in interest and end your mortgage almost

four years sooner, assuming a $200,000 loan at a 5.6 percent interest rate with a 25-year term.

That's an average of $100 saved each month!

Plug in your slow cooker. Just throw a few tasty ingredients into a slow cooker the night before,

and plug in the pot before heading out the door. Not only are slow cookers easy to use and frugal

to buy, but they can also cut your grocery bill significantly by allowing you to purchase cheaper

cuts of meat and tenderizing them over low heat for a longer time.

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