Partners in PROMISE is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to protect the rights of military children in special education and disability communities to ensure they receive equal access to education.  Listen as Dr. Jenna Kremkow and Carla Wyrsch discuss how the PROMISE advocates for military children with special and exceptional needs.

This podcast is made possible by generous funding from the Tinker Spouses Club. To learn more, visit https://www.tinkerspouses.org/.

Audio mixing by Concentus Media, Inc., Temple, Texas.

Partners in PROMISE

https://thepromiseact.org/

Partners in PROMISE Special Education & EFMP Binder 

https://thepromiseact.org/binder/

Educator Report

https://thepromiseact.org/educators-report-partners-in-promise-2022-research-findings/

Jenna Kremkow is an associate professor in the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders at Elmhurst University. She completed her MS and PhD at The Pennsylvania State University with an emphasis in autism, augmentative and alternative communication, child language disorders, and stakeholder training and perspectives. Clinically, Jenna has worked as a speech-language pathologist in elementary schools, outpatient clinics, and early intervention settings.

Jenna teaches courses in augmentative and alternative communication, autism, language disorders in children, and research methods. One of her research areas focuses on the experiences of military families with children with autism and the use of technology to improve communication outcomes and quality of life for children with autism and their families. Her goal is to use research to support data-driven recommendations and policy changes to improve special education services for military families.

Carla Wyrsch is the spouse of a retired United States Marine and mother of two. She has devoted her career to educating and advocating for children with disABILITIES. Her experience spans a variety of settings, including residential treatment facilities, military bases, public schools, and the Lerner School for Autism at the Cleveland Clinic. Currently, she is a School Operations Director with MIYO Health. In addition to her work with MIYO Health, Carla enjoys volunteering with Best Buddies of Greater Memphis, the Organization for Autism Research, and Partners in PROMISE as a content creator and advisory board member.

Dr. Kimberly Dickman discusses an epidemic of loneliness across the United States and the impact that it's having on mental health.  She also shares the importance of developing meaningful connections, and how those connections influence our overall well-being.  

This podcast is made possible by generous funding from the USAA Foundation.  

Audio mixing by Concentus Media, Inc., Temple, Texas.

Dickman, K. (2024, July). Loneliness: The New Global Pandemic. On the Move. Summer 2024

https://militarychild.org/news-and-publications/

PERMA Theory of Well-Being

https://ppc.sas.upenn.edu/learn-more/perma-theory-well-being-and-perma-workshops

Barbara Fredrickson: How Love and Connection Exist in Micro-Moments

https://psychology.unc.edu/2021/11/30/barbara-fredrickson-explains-how-shared-positive-emotions-make-us-happier-healthier-and-more-connected/

Dr. Kimberly S. Dickman serves as an assistant professor at the U.S. Air Force Academy Center for Character and Leadership Development (CCLD), where she leads the Healthy Relationship Education and Emotional Intelligence branch of the Development Division in the Center. CCLD’s mission is to advance the understanding, scholarship, practice, and integration of character and leadership development, resulting in cadets and permanent party prepared for service to the nation.

Dr. Dickman is a licensed clinical professional counselor and certified educator. She began her work in education for the Department of Defense in 1991. During her 20+ years of civilian service she has performed at the Wing and Headquarters Air Force level before coming to USAFA. Of note is her work in the Sexual Assault Prevention and Response program where she focused on education, analysis, and prevention science. Her extensive experience allows her to serve at USAFA as faculty and lead in topics such as healthy relationships, emotional intelligence, positive psychology, prevention science, human sexuality, and leadership development. She teaches Human Sex, Reproduction, and Sexuality in the Biology Department and Applied Positive Psychology in the Behavioral Science and Leadership Department. 

Dr. Dickman is widely recognized and is frequently requested to present across the DoD and on a national scale.

September 15th through October 15th is National Hispanic American Heritage Month, celebrating the contributions of Hispanic Americans who have positively influenced and enriched our nation.  Listen as Dr. Jessica Meléndez-Carrillo, a lifelong educator, discusses the importance of embracing a cultural community with understanding, respect, and support.  In addition, she shares best practices for supporting military-connected students and their families.

This podcast is made possible by generous funding from the Air and Space Forces Spouses’ Club of Washington DC. To learn more, visit https://www.afoscdc.com/.

Audio mixing by Concentus Media, Inc., Temple, Texas.

2022 Demographics Profile of the Military Community

https://s3.documentcloud.org/documents/24177791/2022-demographics-report.pdf

https://www.militaryonesource.mil/data-research-and-statistics/military-community-demographics/

Economic and International Development Population Demographics- City of El Paso

https://www.elpasotexas.gov/economic-development/economic-snapshot/population-demographics/

Texas Education Agency Purple Star Campus Designation

https://tea.texas.gov/about-tea/other-services/military-families/purple-star-campus-designation

Congressman Silvestre and Carolina Reyes Elementary School

https://res.canutillo-isd.org/

Canutillo Independent School District

https://www.canutillo-isd.org/

Dr. Jessica Meléndez-Carrillo serves as Principal at Congressman Silvestre and Carolina Reyes Elementary School in El Paso, Texas in the Canutillo Independent School District. Dr. Meléndez-Carrillo has worked in public education for 20 years working with students ranging from PreK through 5th grade as well as teaching college courses. Over the years, she has served as a teacher, instructional coach, curriculum district coordinator and assistant principal. She is a proud graduate of the University of Texas at El Paso where she received her bachelor's and a master’s degree. In 2018, she was selected as the National Assistant Principal of the Year for Texas by TEPSA (Texas Elementary Principals and Supervisors Association) and in November 2021, El Paso Inc., a local magazine, named her as the top 5 school principals in the region.

Dr. Meléndez-Carrillo currently serves on the Executive Board of El Paso TALAS (Texas Association of Latino Administrators and Superintendents) as the President-Elect. In June 2022, she was invited to attend Harvard University as part of the Raise Your Hand Texas cohort to focus on School Turnaround Leadership. In December 2022, she graduated from West Texas A&M University with a doctorate in educational leadership focusing on teacher retention and leadership. She has been invited to participate in national webinars as a guest speaker such as NAESP (National Association of Elementary School Principals) and Principals of Success to share her educational journey and work in public education.

Under her leadership, Congressman Silvestre and Carolina Reyes Elementary School has been awarded the Texas Education Agency Purple Star designation, being the first school in the Westside area of El Paso to earn this designation, due to their work commitment to meeting the unique needs of military-connected students and their families. Additionally, the school has earned the recognition of a Best Elementary School in 2024 by the U.S. News and World Report and the Honor Roll School designation by the Educational Results Partnership.

As an educator and transformational leader, Dr. Meléndez-Carrillo believes education is the opportunity equalizer and advocates for equitable education for all students providing a culture of excellence and giving a voice to the voiceless.

Technology has had an incredible impact on how we live and work in the world today.  Our access to videos, websites, and social media platforms are just at our fingertips.  But does digital media usage affect our mental health?  Listen as Dr. Justin Rowberry discusses the impact that this usage has on our mental, emotional, and behavioral health… especially for our kids.

This podcast is made possible by generous funding from the Luke Spouses' Club and Tyndall Spouses Club.  To learn more, visit https://www.lukespousesclub.org/ and https://www.tyndallsc.org/.

Audio mixing by Concentus Media, Inc., Temple, Texas.

Resources:

Justin R. Rowberry, MD leads an innovative health program designed to provide developmental, behavioral, and mental health care to remote or underserved locations across the world.  Dr. Rowberry ensures timely delivery of needed remote care through a combination of virtual video visits, specialty provider extender training, and provider travel, improving health care for those who need it most.

The topic of mental health continues to be a priority in our world today.  Listen as Ashley Jensen discusses why our emotional, psychological, and social well-being are so important.  She also shares how the Cohen Veterans Network is helping support our military-connected families.

This podcast is made possible by generous funding from the Fort Bliss Spouses’ Association. To learn more, visit https://www.thefbsa.org/.

Audio mixing by Concentus Media, Inc., Temple, Texas.

Cohen Veterans Network

https://www.cohenveteransnetwork.org/

National Alliance on Mental Illness

https://www.nami.org/

Foulkes, L. (2024, January 4).The adolescent mental health mess. Medium.

https://lucyfoulkes3.medium.com/the-adolescent-mental-health-mess-c93f23f8ed56

Ashley Jensen is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist who has been serving children and families with complex behavioral health diagnosis and relational distress for over thirteen years. As a clinician, she developed specialties in Trauma-Focused CBT (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy), Solution-Focused Therapy, parent coaching, and evidence-based practices. Ashley has extensive experience as a Clinical Supervisor and Service Director of non-profit behavioral health services provided via clinic-based settings, home-based wraparound services, and crisis response teams. As a Senior Manager of Clinical Practice at Cohen Veterans Network, Ashley's aim is to drive innovation in clinical leadership and spark creativity in child and family therapy.

Dr. Patricia Jennings discusses the importance of supporting our educator’s mental health and well-being, especially those that work with our military-connected students.  She introduces us to CARE for Teachers (Cultivating Awareness and Resilience in Education), a professional development program designed to help teachers with stress management and rediscover the joys of teaching.

This podcast is made possible by our partnership with The National Child Traumatic Stress Network and their generous support. To learn more, visit  https://www.nctsn.org/.

Audio mixing by Concentus Media, Inc., Temple, Texas.

CARE for Teachers (Cultivating Awareness and Resilience in Education)

https://care4teachers.org/

Compassionate Schools Project

https://www.compassionschools.org/

Patricia A. Jennings M.Ed., Ph.D. is an internationally recognized leader in the fields of social and emotional learning and mindfulness in education. A Professor of Education at the School of Education and Human Development at the University of Virginia, her research places a specific emphasis on teacher stress and how it impacts the social and emotional context of the classroom, as articulated in her highly cited theoretical article "The Prosocial Classroom." Jennings led the team that developed CARE, a mindfulness-based professional development program shown to significantly improve teacher well-being, classroom interactions, and student outcomes in the largest randomized controlled trial of a mindfulness-based intervention designed to address teacher stress. CARE research has been validated by What Works Clearinghouse (WWC) and the CARE program is recommended by the U.S. Center for Disease Control (CDC) for supporting teachers’ well-being. She is a co-author of Flourish: The Compassionate Schools Project curriculum, an integrated health and social and emotional learning program. She is the author numerous peer-reviewed journal articles and chapters and several books including Mindfulness for Teachers: Simple Skills for Peace and Productivity in the Classroom and Mindfulness in the Pre-K-5 Classroom: Helping Students Stress Less and Learn More. Earlier in her career she spent 22 years as a teacher, school leader, and teacher educator.

We were delighted to be able to sit down with Lucy a year after our first conversation.  Listen as she discusses her recent PCS, how it feels to start all over again as the new kid, and how her love of music helps during those challenging times.

This podcast is made possible by generous funding from the Mountain Home Officers’ Spouses’ Club and Naval Officers’ Spouses’ Club Washington, D.C. To learn more, visit  https://www.mountainhomeosc.org/ and https://www.noscdc.org/.

Audio mixing by Concentus Media, Inc., Temple, Texas.

If you would like to hear part of Lucy’s original song and listen to her discuss her experiences growing up a military child, we have shared the link to our earlier podcast.

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/hello-my-name-is-lucy/id1386801038?i=1000626814063

Lucy is a 14-year-old military child.  Her father is in the US Navy and she just completed her fourth move!  Last year, Lucy was a member of the National Junior Honor Society and held the Parliamentary position.  She was captain of her school’s dance team, a member of the jazz band, and was asked to sing the National Anthem at the opening season of softball.  She loves to sing, dance, and write her own songs.  She is a kind and compassionate daughter, sister, and friend.  This year she will be starting high school as a freshman at Jamestown High School in Williamsburg, Virginia and is looking forward to making new friends.  

Student 2 Student is a peer-to-peer student-led program that brings military and civilian students together to welcome new students, create a positive environment for all, support educational opportunities, build connections through service, and ease transitions.  Listen as Emily discusses how her S2S is helping new students start the school year with a great support network.  

This podcast is made possible by generous funding from the Maxwell Gunter Spouses’ Club and Mountain Home Officers’ Spouses’ Club. To learn more, visit https://www.maxwellgunterspousesclub.com/ and https://www.mountainhomeosc.org/.

Audio mixing by Concentus Media, Inc., Temple, Texas.

My name is Emily, and I am a Senior at Fort Campbell High School, KY. My step-dad serves in the Army, and I am proud to be a military kid! However, unlike most of my friends I did not grow up in the military, my mom married my step-dad only four years ago! Since then I have had the privilege of being a member of my school's Student 2 Student program, helping new students navigate moving and adjusting to a new environment. I am super involved at school and have been on the Varsity Volleyball team all four years! Additionally, I am a part of the National Honors Society, Mu Alpha Theta, Book Club, Fellowship of Christian Athletes, and I manage the Track and Field team. However, my biggest passion is helping others feel loved and safe, which is why I hope to pursue a career in nursing and midwifery after high school. 

Listen as Scott Arcuri, Vice President of Field Operations at Operation Homefront discusses their mission to build strong, stable, and secure military families.  They provide relief and recurring family support programs, including events like the Back-to-School Brigade, Holiday Meals for Military, and Star-Spangled Babies.  Operation Homefront is truly focused on helping military families not just survive but thrive. 

This podcast is made possible by generous funding from the Military Spouse Association of Camp Pendleton. To learn more, visit  https://www.msa-cp.org/.

Audio mixing by Concentus Media, Inc., Temple, Texas.

Operation Homefront

https://operationhomefront.org/

Back-to-School Brigade

https://operationhomefront.org/back-to-school-brigade/

Family Events

https://operationhomefront.org/events/

“Our military families face constant change, uncertainty, and separation, yet they willingly devote their lives to service. We owe them an enormous debt of gratitude, and it’s an honor to come alongside them to help when they need it most.”

Scott Arcuri joined Operation Homefront as Vice President of Field Operations in January 2023 after serving a distinguished 32-year career in the Air Force. He spent the majority of his time in uniform as a personnel officer and he commanded units in Korea and in South Carolina. Scott held a variety of staff and leadership positions during his career, including Director of Personnel for U.S. Air Forces in the Middle East, and later in Europe and Africa; two tours at the Air Force Personnel Center; and three tours at Headquarters Air Force at the Pentagon. His career was devoted to leading, developing, and assisting Airmen and their families across the globe and he is passionate about continuing that work at Operation Homefront. Scott holds a Bachelor of Science degree from the U.S. Air Force Academy and a master’s degree from Central Michigan University, Air Command and Staff College, and Air War College.

Positive childhood experiences (PCEs) are foundational to a child’s healthy development and well-being.  Listen as Dr. Elizabeth Hisle-Gorman and Dr. Binny Chokshi discuss promoting PCEs and how the Healthy Outcomes From Positive Experiences (HOPE) model supports strengthening families.

This podcast is made possible by generous funding from the Ramstein Officers’ Spouses’ Club. To learn more, visit  https://www.ramsteinosc.org/.

Audio mixing by Concentus Media, Inc., Temple, Texas.

MCEC Global Training Summit

Don’t miss Dr. Hisle-Gorman and Dr. Chokshi’s presentation at the Global Training Summit.

Virtual Session, Thursday, August 1, 2024

Promoting Positive Childhood Experiences in Military Connected Children and Youth

Promoting healthy child development necessitates a focus on positive childhood experiences (PCEs).  Though military life can provide children with a bounty of resources and opportunities, military children also routinely experiences the stressors associated with military life, such as parental separation and frequent moves.  Promoting PCEs in military children can help to buffer the impact of the unique challenges for military connected children and adolescents and can support their academic and future success.  This interactive workshop will first review the connection between adversity, positivity, and wellbeing, then discuss the four building blocks of the Healthy Outcomes from Positive Experiences (HOPE) model, and conclude with an opportunity for participants to discuss PCEs as they relate to military children, including a discussion of relevant community and advocacy organizations, whose programs promote PCEs in military children and adolescents.

https://www.militarychild.org/event/gts/gts-register/

Healthy Outcomes From Positive Experiences (HOPE)

https://positiveexperience.org/

Hidden Heroes- Elizabeth Dole Foundation

https://hiddenheroes.org/

Operation Purple Camp- National Military Family Association

https://www.militaryfamily.org/programs/operation-purple/operation-purple-camp/

The Military Child Well-being Toolkit

https://www.militarychild.org/resource/wellbeing-toolkit/

Military OneSource

https://www.militaryonesource.mil/non-medical-counseling/

Dr. Hisle-Gorman is Director of the Military Family Research Division and Associate Professor in the Department of Pediatrics. She began her career as a social worker working in neighborhood development efforts in Washington, DC to support and strengthen families to prevent family violence and overcome hardship. However, a move to a military town with her active-duty military spouse, re-focused her on work with military families. She served as a Child Protective Services officer in Onslow County, North Carolina and worked extensively with military families. After completing her Ph.D. in Social Work at the University of Maryland, Dr. Hisle-Gorman taught and worked in community development and was the senior author on one of the first articles to document the clinical effects of military deployment on children. She subsequently moved to USUHS to expand its research portfolio exploring the effects of military life on children. Her research interests are focused the impact of past military deployment on military children, effects of parental injury and family violence on pediatric health and mental health, and healthcare usage trends in military pediatrics. However, she has also worked on projects examining autism in children, indicators of immunization completion, neonatal health, care for transgender individuals, healthcare disparities, and the effects of medications on children. Dr. Hisle-Gorman has significant experience working with the Military Health System Data Repository and conducting retrospective research studies about military-connected children using the MDR. Dr. Hisle-Gorman most enjoys mentoring medical students, residents, and junior faculty on research projects, and teaching them the research process on an individual basis.

Dr. Binny Chokshi is a general pediatrician, with a focus on adolescents and young adults. Dr. Chokshi's research and education interests are focused on understanding the impact of early life stressors on health across the life course. To mitigate the effects of trauma and stress on children, Dr. Chokshi advocates for a trauma-informed approach to healthcare. She has developed web-based e-modules to train outpatient pediatricians in responding to childhood adversity with a trauma-informed care approach and has also trained medical students and residents at George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences. In a prior role at Children's National Hospital, she also worked with hospital leadership to develop hospital wide trauma-informed practices. In her current role at USUHS, Dr. Chokshi examines how military specific factors may impact child and and family health, with a current focus on how social determinants of health such as food security impact military child health.  Dr. Chokshi is also passionate on promoting positive childhood experiences, to foster healthy development in children and counter the impacts of stressful experiences.  Dr. Chokshi has a vested interest in medical education and completed Masters in Education at the George Washington University School of Education and Human Development. On a national level, Dr. Chokshi serves on the Expert Leadership Team for the American Academy of Pediatrics project “Building Capacity for Trauma-Informed Pediatric Care”. 

BigFuture’s mission is to ensure every student has free resources to plan for life after high school.  Listen as Greg Rafal, Director of BigFuture Program Implementation at College Board, shares how they are focused on supporting all students plan for their future.  He also discusses the importance of consistent college and career guidance for our military-connected students, and how BigFuture is helping do just that.

This podcast is made possible by generous funding from the Sheppard Spouses’ Club. To learn more, visit  https://sheppardspousesclub.org/.

Audio mixing by Concentus Media, Inc., Temple, Texas.

MCEC Global Training Summit Pre-Summit Professional Development

Don’t miss Greg Rafal’s session at the Global Training Summit.

Distinguished Lecture Session, Tuesday, July 30, 2024

Where Students Can Own Their Future

In 2021, the College Board published research that showed students were 25% more likely to attend college and 31% were more likely to complete a bachelor’s degree after connecting with colleges and scholarship programs through the College Board Student Search Service™. Using the College Board BigFuture School mobile app can help students plan for college and career options after high school, and even empower students to drive their own conversations with colleges and scholarship providers across the country by joining the Student Search Service™. Learn from the Director of the BigFuture Program Implementation himself, Gregory Rafal, on how to find and support military-connected students with free tools and resources that can help them get ready for their next big adventure.

https://www.militarychild.org/event/gts/gts-register/

 The College Board

https://www.collegeboard.org/

BigFuture

https://bigfuture.collegeboard.org/

Student Search Service

https://bigfuture.collegeboard.org/student-search-service

Greg Rafal is the Director of BigFuture Program Implementation at College Board. In this role, his focus is to increase K-12 and caring adult awareness of BigFuture and to lead the BigFuture Live virtual community event strategy. Prior to his role at College Board, he worked in higher education. Most recently he was at the University of Maryland’s Robert H. Smith School of Business where he oversaw global programs for undergraduate and MBA students.  He also worked in international student admissions and student affairs at several other institutions.  He received his MA in International Education and Training from American University and BA in Spanish/Political Science from Christopher Newport University. Greg is originally from northern Virginia and is based in Washington, DC.