Progress 09/01/08 to 08/31/13
Outputs
Target Audience: During the final year of this grant, the project reached military afffiliated youth and families in all 50 State and territories. The project reached these youth directly and through training of educational and social services professionals as well as community members. Changes/Problems:
Nothing Reported
What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided? All 50 States and Territories had the opportunity to be trained through a "Train the Trainer" format to deliver military youth awareness workshops. These workshops evolved and focused on the emotional cycle of deployment and its effexts on youth and families. Annually, state teams and key leaders were brought together for continuing education on the subject and updated research. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest? Through Virginia Tech and their research group, the results of several evaluations on nthe projecthave been published and diseminated to stakeholders and interested groups. An Annual Report has been produces each year and shared with partners and decision makers. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?
Nothing Reported
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
Ready, Set, Go! Awareness Training (RSG!): State teams trained by the National Training Team delivered 227 RSG! Trainings that reached nearly 13,000 adults and teens. These trainings increase the awareness of the unique issues faced by military youth, especially those that are geographically dispersed. Teams also develop local action plans to develop a network of support for military youth in their communities. Hero Packs were assembled and distributed to over 7,000 military youth. Other Operations: Military Kids (OMK) elements being used included Speak Out for Military Kids trained 2,131 youth who delivered 84 presentations to over 10,000 community members. The Mobile Technology Labs were used in 409 events that reached 12,149 military youth and 7,014 military family members. Over 85,750 Give-a-Hug dolls were distributed to young military children across the county, Europe and Asia. The impacts of this project (being analyzed by Virginia Tech) include a strong collaboration between OMK and K-12 partners, Army, and Army National Guard personnel to support military youth. State teams have developed involvement of all partners at the community level. A variety of OMK components are being used to spread the initiative and networks of support for military youth and families being built within local communities. OUTPUTS: Ready, Set, Go! Awareness Training (RSG!) training was not held this year. Materials have been kept up-to-date online. Training material was sent to states as requested including USB Drives, teaching materials and technical assistance. Hero Pack supplies were procured to replace items used up and over 14,000 packs were shipped to states to be assembled and distributed to youth experiencing the deployment of a loved one. 85,750 Give-a-Hug dolls were procured along with photo dog tags and information cards. The dolls and accompanying materials were distributed to military personnel across the U.S., Europe and Asia. Tech Discovery Kits updates were assembled and distributed to 50 states and territories. Mobile Technology Labs were assembled and distributed to States as needed. The Webmaster tutored and provided technical assistance to State OMK personnel to keep their state webpage current. This included a webinar presented nationally for states to learn about updates to the website and what could be posted. The annual report was designed, edited, printed and posted to the website. PARTICIPANTS: Participants: Individuals: Principle Investigator: Kevin Wright and Pat BoyEs, WSU Extension 4-H Responsible for oversight of project including training material development, material logistics, supervision of staff including webmaster. Webmaster: Carey Roos, WSU Extension 4-H: Responsible for development website content and posting. The Webmaster provides technical assistance to OMK State Liaisons to proof and post local information to the national website. This position also develops educational material for use with the Mobile Technology Labs at the local level. Partner Organizations: USDA/NIFA/National 4-H Headquarters, U.S. Army Child, Youth and School Services, National Guard, Army Reserve, Air Force Child and Youth Programs, Navy Children and Youth Programs, Boys and Girls Clubs of America, National Association of Child Care Resource and Referral Agencies, Military child Education Coalition. Collaborators within Washington State: WSU Human Development Department, WSU Puyallup Research and Extension Center and WSU Extension Printing and Publications. Training or Professional Development: Ready, Set, Go! Awareness Training was offered as a "Train-the Trainer" at the national level in the past. The training is replicated at the local level and offered to community members with a focus on education, youth development social and mental health educators.
Publications
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Progress 09/01/11 to 08/31/12
Outputs
OUTPUTS: Ready, Set, Go! Awareness Training (RSG!) training was not held this year. Materials have been kept up-to-date online. Training material was sent to states as requested including USB Drives, teaching materials and technical assistance. Hero Pack supplies were procured to replace items used up and over 21,000 packs were shipped to states to be assembled and distributed to youth experiencing the deployment of a loved one. 127,000 Give-a-Hug dolls were procured along with photo dog tags and information cards. The dolls and accompanying materials were distributed to military personnel across the U.S., Europe and Asia. Tech Discovery Kits were assembled and distributed to 50 states and territories. Mobile Technology Labs were assembled, distributed and technical assistance provided to States. The Webmaster tutored and provided technical assistance to State OMK personnel to keep their state webpage current. This included a webinar presented nationally for states to learn about updates to the website and what could be posted. The annual report was designed, edited, printed and posted to the website. Ready, Set, Go! Awareness Training (RSG!): State teams trained by the National Training Team delivered nearly 400 RSG! Trainings that reached over 15,000 adults and teens. These trainings increase the awareness of the unique issues faced by military youth, especially those that are geographically dispersed. Teams also develop local action plans to develop a network of support for military youth in their communities. Hero Packs were assembled and distributed to over 20,000 military youth. Other Operation: Military Kids (OMK) elements being used included Speak Out for Military Kids trained over 2,000 youth who delivered over 150 presentations to over 10,000 community members. The Mobile Technology Labs were used in 440 events that reached over 24,000 military youth and family members. PARTICIPANTS: Participants: Individuals: Principle Investigator: Kevin Wright, WSU Extension 4-H Responsible for oversight of project including training material development, material logistics, supervision of staff including webmaster. Webmaster: Carey Roos, WSU Extension 4-H: Responsible for development website content and posting. The Webmaster provides technical assistance to OMK State Liaisons to proof and post local information to the national website. This position also develops educational material for use with the Mobile Technology Labs at the local level. Partner Organizations: USDA/NIFA/National 4-H Headquarters, U.S. Army Child, Youth and School Services, National Guard, Army Reserve, Air Force Child and Youth Programs, Navy Children and Youth Programs, Boys and Girls Clubs of America, National Association of Child Care Resource and Referral Agencies, Military child Education Coalition. Collaborators within Washington State: WSU Human Development Department, WSU Puyallup Research and Extension Center and WSU Extension Printing and Publications. Training or Professional Development: Ready, Set, Go! Awareness Training was offered as a "Train-the Trainer" at the national level in the past. The training is replicated at the local level and offered to community members with a focus on education, youth development social and mental health educators. TARGET AUDIENCES: Target Audience: The target audience for this project at the national level is Operation: Military Kids State Team members. These include Extension/4-H personnel; School personnel; Military personnel, especially those working with family programs; child care providers; social, medical and mental health providers. A special emphasis is placed on those military families experiencing the deployment of a loved one and not located near a military installation. Training and materials are designed to be adapted and replicated to meet local needs and develop support for military families in local communities. All necessary materials are provided in electronic format so that adapting the material to local need and duplication is user-friendly. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period.
Impacts
Over 127,000 Give-a-Hug dolls were distributed to young military children across the county, Europe and Asia. The impacts of this project (being analyzed by Virginia Tech) include a strong collaboration between OMK and K-12 partners, Army, and Army National Guard personnel to support military youth. State teams have developed involvement of all partners at the community level. A variety of OMK components are being used to spread the initiative and networks of support for military youth and families being built within local communities.
Publications
- No publications reported this period
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Progress 09/01/10 to 08/31/11
Outputs
OUTPUTS: Ready, Set, Go! Awareness Training (RSG!) training was not held this year. Materials have been kept up-to-date online. Training material was sent to states as requested including USB Drives, teaching materials and technical assistance. Hero Pack supplies were procured to replace items used up and over 21,000 packs were shipped to states to be assembled and distributed to youth experiencing the deployment of a loved one. 120,000 Give-a-Hug dolls were procured along with photo dog tags and information cards. The dolls and accompanying materials were distributed to military personnel across the U.S., Europe and Asia. One hundred eight Tech Discovery Kits were assembled and distributed to 50 states and territories. Over 40 Mobile Technology Labs were assembled and distributed to 40 States. The Webmaster tutored and provided technical assistance to State OMK personnel to keep their state webpage current. This included a webinar presented nationally for states to learn about updates to the website and what could be posted. The annual report was designed, edited, printed and posted to the website. PARTICIPANTS: Participants: Individuals: Principle Investigator: Kevin Wright, WSU Extension 4-H Responsible for oversight of project including training material development, material logistics, supervision of staff including webmaster. Webmaster: Carey Roos, WSU Extension 4-H: Responsible for development website content and posting. The Webmaster provides technical assistance to OMK State Liaisons to proof and post local information to the national website. This position also develops educational material for use with the Mobile Technology Labs at the local level. Partner Organizations: USDA/NIFA/National 4-H Headquarters, U.S. Army Child, Youth and School Services, National Guard, Army Reserve, Air Force Child and Youth Programs, Navy Children and Youth Programs, Boys and Girls Clubs of America, National Association of Child Care Resource and Referral Agencies, Military child Education Coalition. Collaborators within Washington State: WSU Human Development Department, WSU Puyallup Research and Extension Center and WSU Extension Printing and Publications. Training or Professional Development: Ready, Set, Go! Awareness Training was offered as a "Train-the Trainer" at the national level in the past. The training is replicated at the local level and offered to community members with a focus on education, youth development social and mental health educators. TARGET AUDIENCES: Target Audience: The target audience for this project at the national level is Operation: Military Kids State Team members. These include Extension/4-H personnel; School personnel; Military personnel, especially those working with family programs; child care providers; social, medical and mental health providers. A special emphasis is placed on those military families experiencing the deployment of a loved one and not located near a military installation. Training and materials are designed to be adapted and replicated to meet local needs and develop support for military families in local communities. All necessary materials are provided in electronic format so that adapting the material to local need and duplication is user-friendly. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period.
Impacts
Ready, Set, Go! Awareness Training (RSG!): State teams trained by the National Training Team delivered 379 RSG! Trainings that reached over 16,000 adults and teens. These trainings increase the awareness of the unique issues faced by military youth, especially those that are geographically dispersed. Teams also develop local action plans to develop a network of support for military youth in their communities. Hero Packs were assembled and distributed to over 21,000 military youth. Other Operation: Military Kids (OMK) elements being used included Speak Out for Military Kids trained 2,215 youth who delivered 166 presentations to over 13,000 community members. The Mobile Technology Labs were used in 440 events that reached 13, 973 military youth and 10, 4609 military family members. Over 127,000 Give-a-Hug dolls were distributed to young military children across the county, Europe and Asia. The impacts of this project (being analyzed by Virginia Tech) include a strong collaboration between OMK and K-12 partners, Army, and Army National Guard personnel to support military youth. State teams have developed involvement of all partners at the community level. A variety of OMK components are being used to spread the initiative and networks of support for military youth and families being built within local communities.
Publications
- No publications reported this period
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Progress 09/01/09 to 08/31/10
Outputs
OUTPUTS: Ready, Set, Go! Awareness Training and Materials: The Ready, Set, Go! (RSG!) manual was updates to be inclusive of all branches of the Military and a national training was delivered in December 2009 and twice in April 2010. This training reached over 250 Extension professionals, social service and educational professional and military personnel. Trainees were provided with manuals, electronic resources and training kits to replicate the training information in their state. Operation: Military Kids (OMK) material logistics: Hero Packs supplies were procured to produce 50,000 Regular Hero Pack and 50,000 Young Hero Packs. Over 40,000 packs were sent to states for distribution to youth experiencing the deployment of a loved one. Give-a-Hug dolls were also procured (120,000). The dolls along with photo dog tags and information cards were distributed to military personnel across the U.S., Europe and Asia. The OMK website was maintained and improved. The Webmaster tutored and provided technical assistance to state OMK personnel to keep their state webpage current. The 2009 OMK Annual Report was designed, edited, printed and distributed to all states and national partners. PARTICIPANTS: Participants: Individuals: Principle Investigator: Kevin Wright, WSU Extension 4-H. Responsible for oversight of project including training and material development, material logistics, supervision of staff including webmaster. Co PI: Mona Johnson, Washington state Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction. Responsible for key social/emotional training material as it relates to stress and resilience of youth during deployment of a loved one and key member of the training team. Webmaster: Carey Roos, WSU Extension 4-H: Responsible for development of website content and posting. Provides technical assistance to OMK State Liaisons to post local information to the national website. Develops educational material for use with Mobile Technology Labs at the local level. Partner Organizations: Partners include: USDA/NIFA/National 4-H Headquarters, U.S. Army Child Youth and School Service, National Guard, Armey Reserve, Air Force Child and Youth Programs, Navy, Boys and Girls Clubs of America, National Association of Child Care Resource and Referral Agencies, Military Child Education Coalition Collaborators: Within Washington State University collaborator include the Human Development Department, Puyallup Research and Extension Center and WSU Extension Printing and Publications. Training or Professional Development: Ready, Set, Go! Training is offered as a "Train-the-Trainer" at the national level and then is replicated at the state and local level. Training is offered to community members with a focus on education, youth development, social, and mental health educators. TARGET AUDIENCES: Target Audience: The target audience for this project at the national level is OMK State Team members. These include Extension/4-H personnel, School Personnel, Military personnel especially those working with family programs, Child Care providers, Social, medical and mental health providers. A special emphasis is placed on military families that are experiencing deployment and are not located near a military installation (geographically dispersed). Training provided is designed to be adapted and replicated to meet local needs and develop networks of support for military youth and families in communities. All necessary materials are provided in electronic format so that adapting the material to local needs and duplication is user-friendly. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period.
Impacts
Ready, Set, Go! Awareness Training (RSG!): State Teams trained by the National Training Team delivered 322 RSG! Trainings that reached over 17,000 adults and teens. These trainings increased the awareness of the unique issues faced by military youth, especially those that are geographically dispersed. Teams also developed local action plans to develop a network of support for military youth in their communities. Hero Packs were used in over 850m programs. This involved 64,000 youth and adults assembling the packs and distributing them to over 40,000 military youth. Other OMK elements being used included Speak Out for Military Kids reaching over 29,000 participants and the Mobile Technology Lab being used in 29% of the programs and reaching 48,000 participants. The impact of this project (implications analyzed by Virginia Tech) include the emergence of a strong collaboration between OMK and K-12 partners, Army, and Army National Guard personnel to support military youth. State teams have developed involvement of all partners at the community level. A variety of OMK components are bring used to spread the initiative and networks of support for military youth and families are being built within the general community.
Publications
- No publications reported this period
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Progress 09/01/08 to 08/31/09
Outputs
OUTPUTS: Material Development: Ready, Set, Go! Manual: School-Age/Teen: The Ready, Set, Go! Washington State University and the Washington Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction developed, edited and produced the manual. The first version of the manual was used in training state teams in April of 2005. This year the manual was revised for the fifth and sixth times. It continues to evolve to make the training better and more useful for OMK State teams. The latest editions are completely "Purple. Over 300 manuals and 250 resource Flash drives were produced for two trainings in December of 2008. Operation Military Kids Annual Report: Operation Military Kids 2008 Annual report was produced. USDA, FMWRC, Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction collected the content. OSPI designed the report and WSU produced over 6,000 copies that were distributed to participating states and national partners. Operation Military Kids Brochure: Washington State University and the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction produced an OMK Information Card that included general information about the OMK Project and all of the partner dog tags. In 2008 the card was updated with the new CYS dogtag. WSU produced over 250 Flash Drives that included the Ready, Set, Go! Manual, references, video clips and other resources. These were distributed at RSG Training and mailed to states that did not attend. These resources are also available on the Military Partnership website. Speak Out for Military Kids Manual has been printed for RSG! trainings and as needed by States. The manual is available as a PDF file on the OMK Website. The Hero Packs Guide has been printed for RSG! trainings and as needed by States. The manual is available as a PDF file on the OMK Website. The Boots On Manual has been went through final design, layout and editing. The manual was printed and sent to Garrisons, YDP Specialists and OMK states. The Boots Off Manual has been went through final design, layout and editing. The manual was printed and is waiting distribution to Garrisons, YDP Specialists and OMK states. Washington State University has purchased, received and distributed material for over 48,000 Regular Hero Packs and over 40,000 Junior Hero Packs. These packs have been sent to both stateside locations and Europe. OMK State start-up supplies and general OMK materials have been procured and distributed to OMK states as requested. Babysitting Manuals for both youth and adults are currently being stored for distribution. Also, the manual "So you want to be a Child Care Provider" has been procured and distributed to garrisons. Over 100,000 Give-a-Hug Dolls have also been procured and distributed to Garrisons. 60,000 Tag-Along Photo DogTags were also procured and are being shipped along with the dolls. ImAlone, a self care curriculum has been produced and shipped to garrisons across the world. OMK Materials including tablets, portfolios, bracelets, pens, pins, lanyards and educational materials have been procured and are being distributed to OMK states. PARTICIPANTS: Individuals: Kevin Wright, Washington Project Director, Co-PI, Material development, distribution and training Mona Johnson, Co PI, Material development and training Carey Roos, Webmaster, Develops, Updates and Maintains national OMK Website Darleen Munson, Washington Operation Military Kids Coordinator Jan Ketter, OMK Material Distribution Jean Brandenburg, OMK Material Distribution Betsy Fradd, OMK Distribution support Linda Bull, Graphic Designer Partner Organizations: Army Youth and School Services, Washington State Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction, National 4-H Headquarters, Boys and Girls Clubs, American Legion, National Association of Child Care Resource and Referral Agencies, Us Army, US Navy, US Air Force, National Guard and Reserves. Professional Development: Ready, Set, Go! Training: Two Ready, Set, Go! training sessions were held in December 2008. Logistics for the training was provided by Kansas State University. Trainings were five days long and involved over 120 participants. The December Trainings were for the final states to join the OMK project. Each participant received a copy of the training manual and flash drives. Each training team received a training kit with all the supplies to replicate the training in their home state. TARGET AUDIENCES: Youth development professionals, educators, counselors, military youth workers, community members concerned about military youth and families. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period.
Impacts
Ready, Set, Go! Training: Two Ready, Set, Go! training sessions were held in December 2008. Logistics for the training was provided by Kansas State University. Trainings were five days long and involved over 120 participants. The December Trainings were for the final states to join the OMK project. Each participant received a copy of the training manual and Flash drives. Each training team received a training kit with all the supplies to replicate the training in their home state. The Training sessions continue to evolve with new material and activities. The most significant change in the training is the personal level at with the Global War on Terror has affected many of the participants. In the first training, three years ago, very few participants had any direct contact with someone in the military. Today, we have participants that served in Iraq or Afganistan, have lost sons in the conflict, and are dealing with the issues of reintegration. The Outcomes from each state are being collected via a web-based collection system and will be analyzed for impacts.
Publications
- No publications reported this period
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