Coming Together Around Military Families - Oct. 24

The West Virginia National Guard Family Programs, Military OneSource & the Learn & Play Center are pleased to announce special training provided by Julia Yeary from the ZERO TO THREE program.

The event, titled "Coming Together Around Military Families: Supporting Infants & Toddlers Affected by Military Deployments," is scheduled for Oct. 24 in the Kanawha Valley Room of the Schoenbaum Center.

ZERO TO THREE’s mission is to promote the health & development of infants & toddlers. It is a national, nonprofit organization that informs, trains & supports professionals, policymakers and parents in their efforts to improve the lives of infants and toddlers.

The care & resources that parents and other adults provide for infants and toddlers has an enduring effect on their health & development. "Coming Together Around Military Families" works to strengthen the resilience of young children and families who are experiencing trauma, grief and loss as a result of a service member’s deployment to Iraq and/or Afghanistan.

By assisting professionals through training and resources to help parents maintain a focus on the needs of their children, the overall family unit can be strengthened to more effectively surmount the special stresses that may come with separations due to deployment, injury, illness or death. This training will focus on providing professionals who support and care for very young children and their families the knowledge, skills, resources and tools to help nurture the relationships young children have with the significant adults in their lives, whether at home or at war.

Target populations:

· Mental Health providers
· Child Care providers
· Medical care staff including pediatricians & OB office staff
· State leaders in early childhood education, including NACCRA/Childcare referral & training staff.
· Chaplains & other religious leaders in community
· Early Head Start & Early Learning programs from your state/county
· Public Health Department (for Home visiting nurses)

Agenda

9:30-10:00 Registration
10:10-10:15 Welcome & Introductions
10:15-11:15 What Babies & Toddlers Need to Thrive
11:15-12:15 Trauma & Stress & Its Impact on Infants & Toddlers
12:15-1:00 Lunch Served
1:00-2:00 From a Young Child’s Perspective: Reintegration & Reunion
2:00-3:00 Developing Activities for Strengthening Connections, at Home & While Deployed
3:00-3:15 Wrap up, Reflection & Evaluation

This training will be facilitated by Julia Yeary, LCSW, a senior training and consultation specialist for ZERO TO THREE. She has been involved in supporting military families since 1980. As a part of CTAMF, Julia has focused on working with early childhood leaders and professionals in establishing stronger support for military families from the National Guard and Reserve communities who have very young children including those who do not have access to services found on military installations.

For additional information & to register, please contact:

Susan Izzo, BSW
WV National Guard Family Programs
State Youth Coordinator
1703 Coonskin Drive, Charleston, WV 25311
304-561-6821, Fax 304-561-6621
Toll Free 1-866-986-4326
susan.izzo@wv.ngb.army.mil

To learn more about ZERO TO THREE and the special resources they have developed to support military families, please visit their website at www.zerotothree.org/miliary.