MCEC Podcast

We are fortunate to have Michelle Norman, founder and director of Partners in Promise, back to discuss the Navy EFMP three-year pilot program to expand support for service members enrolled in the Exceptional Family Member Program. Hear why she's so passionate about special education resources and how this program can have a tremendous impact on all military families.

Show Notes:

Link to Last week’s episode with Partners in Promise: Special Education and Military Families Partners in Promise: Part 1

https://thepromiseact.org/

Partners in Promise | The PROMISE Act

The PROMISE Act asks for increased accountability, standardization and assistance to help special needs and EFMP military families.

thepromiseact.org

https://thepromiseact.org/2020/12/navy-hires-special-education-attorneys-as-part-of-pilot-program-for-families/

Navy hires special education attorneys as part of pilot program for families | The Promise Act

Military family members at a hearing on the Exceptional Family Member Program, Feb. 5, 2020 on Capitol Hill. By ROSE L. THAYER | STARS AND STRIPES Published: December 14, 2020. AUSTIN, Texas – The Navy has hired two special education lawyers as part of a three-year pilot program to expand support for service members enrolled in the Exceptional Family Member Program.

thepromiseact.org

S.4049 - 116th Congress (2019-2020): National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021 | Congress.gov | Library of Congress

S.4049 - 116th Congress (2019-2020): National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021 | Congress.gov | Library of Congress

Summary of S.4049 - 116th Congress (2019-2020): National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021

www.congress.gov

This podcast has been brought to you thanks to the Hickam Officer Spouses’ Club.

Michelle Norman, Founder & Executive Director, and Jennifer Barnhill Chief Operating Officer, of Partners in PROMISE talk about the Special Education and Military Families issue paper and the “way forward” in protecting the rights of military children in special education.

This podcast has been made possible thanks to Hickam OSC.

Show Notes:

Military Child Education Coalition Issue Paper: Special Education and Military Families https://www.militarychild.org/upload/files/resources/issue%20papers/MCEC_Special_Education_MilitaryFamilies.pdf

https://thepromiseact.org/2021-survey/

S.4049 - 116th Congress (2019-2020): National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021 | Congress.gov | Library of Congress

S.4049 - 116th Congress (2019-2020): National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021 | Congress.gov | Library of Congress

Shown Here: Passed Senate (07/23/2020) National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021. This bill authorizes FY2021 appropriations and sets forth policies for Department of Defense (DOD) programs and activities, including military personnel strengths.

www.congress.gov

Partners in Promise | The PROMISE Act

Partners in Promise | The PROMISE Act

The PROMISE Act asks for increased accountability, standardization and assistance to help special needs and EFMP military families.

thepromiseact.org

2021-NDAA-2021-Signed.pdf (thepromiseact.org)

It's college scholarship season and it can be an overwhelming time for parents and students. Podcast host, Susan Sellers and Happy Garner, Master Parent Educator from the MCEC webinar team, share their experiences. They discuss how to start the scholarship search as well as helpful resources and lessons learned. 

This podcast has been made possible thanks to the generous support provided by Military Spouses' Club of Albany, GA. 

Links for Show Notes:

https://www.road2college.com/

The Scoop on Paying For College

Road2College provides education, tools, and access to experts to help families make smarter college decisions. We provide trustworthy information on financial aid, college search, private scholarships, merit scholarships, FAFSA, borrowing options, and all things related to paying for college. Our tools match students to colleges offering them the most merit scholarships.

www.road2college.com

https://militaryfamilies.com/military-education/35-scholarships-for-military-connected-students/

35+ scholarships for military-connected students | Military Education | Military Families

Headed back to school in 2021 or working on your degree? Here are over 35 military scholarships that can help relieve some financial burden.

militaryfamilies.com

https://www.militarychild.org/webinars

Webinars - Military Child Education Coalition

MCEC Parent to Parent community-based teams are available via webinar to support parents who are remote or not located near a major military installation.

www.militarychild.org

No matter where you are located in the world the MCEC MSC’s, Sue Lopez and Mark Patton, can help with real-world situations and provide assistance in overcoming transitional barriers associated with the military lifestyle.

Contact an MSC today at:

Website: militarychild.org/contact

This podcast has been made possible thanks to the generous support provided by United Club Spouses & Civilians Association Camp Humphreys United Club in South Korea.

Top Resources mentioned in this podcast:

https://www.militarychild.org/

School Quest https://schoolquest.militarychild.org/

Military Interstate Children's Compact Commission (MIC3) http://www.mic3.net/

Installation School Liaison Officers https://www.dodea.edu/partnership/schoolliaisonofficers.cfm

Tutor.com https://military.tutor.com/home

Military One Source https://www.militaryonesource.mil/ 800-342-9647

Cohen Veterans Network https://www.cohenveteransnetwork.org/

America Serves- 360 care (8 state branches) https://americaserves.org/

Exceptional Family Member Program (EFMP) https://www.militaryonesource.mil/family-relationships/special-needs/exceptional-family-member/the-exceptional-family-member-program-for-families-with-special-needs

https://branchta.org/maps-military-installations-and-contacts-by-region-state/

MFLC https://www.militaryonesource.mil/confidential-help/non-medical-counseling/military-and-family-life-counseling

Installation Family Programs- Army Community Services, Fleet and Family Readiness Centers https://installations.militaryonesource.mil/?looking-for-a=program/program-service=26/focus=program

Center for Parent and Teen Communication https://parentandteen.com/

Military One Source https://www.militaryonesource.mil/

College Board https://www.collegeboard.org/

Blue Star Families https://bluestarfam.org/family-life/

Boys and Girls Clubs of America https://www.bgca.org/about-us/military

Child Mind Institute https://childmind.org/

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) https://www.samhsa.gov/

Partners in Promise https://thepromiseact.org/who-we-are/

Understood.org https://www.understood.org/

Wrights Law https://www.wrightslaw.com/

Deputy Director of the National Center on Improving Literacy (NCIL), Dr. Sarah Sayko, seeks to improve awareness about evidence-based literacy information by sharing free resources for improving reading outcomes for both children with dyslexia and for those who are at-risk for literacy-related disabilities.

Show Notes:

What Do We Mean By Evidence-based?

Route to Reading: Map it Out

Route to Reading: Be Your Child’s Tour Guide

What are the characteristics of effective reading instruction?

Kid Zone!

Remote Literacy Learning: Coaching Steps for Families

Other information:

National Center on Intensive Intervention (NCII) (see its academic tools chart)

EdReports

This podcast as made possible thanks to the generous support from the Naval Officers' Spouses Club Washington, DC

Linda tells her story from Student 2 Student® in Harker Heights High School to Texas A&M University in College Station, Texas.  Linda shares stories of empathy, finding herself and helping others belong at one of Texas’s largest universities.

“I knew how it felt not to belong and because I did I wanted to help provide that sense of belonging to others.”

MCEC provides support to military-connected and civilian students through our student-led, peer-to-peer mentoring programs at the K-12 levels.

https://www.militarychild.org/audience/students

This podcast as made possible thanks to the generous support from HEB.

Sierra shares her journey from Washington State to Ukraine and back.  She explains how the disappointment of cancelled summer 2020 plans taught her what is truly important.  

Then “My journey in becoming a part of Student 2 Student started when I was ten and went to the Military Child Education Conference in Washington, D.C. with my active duty Air Force dad.”

 Now“It is great to do things in big numbers…but what makes the biggest difference in the is the one on one interaction you have with individuals…”

This podcast as made possible thanks to the generous support from HEB.

Learn more about S2S here: https://www.militarychild.org/audience/students

Matthew Wilson, the Executive Director of Oasis Youth Center, talks about how this center and others like it across the country transform the lives of queer youth by creating a safe place ​to ​learn, connect, and thrive.  Envisioning a world where queer youth are valued in the community, they are committed to creating an affirming space for LGBTQ youth to be proud of who they are. 

http://www.oasisyouthcenter.org/

Oasis produces activities, programming and advocacy that:

• Supports and empowers youth

Oasis Crisis and Victim Support Services 24-hr Crisis Hotline: 1.800.346.7555

This podcast has been made possible thanks to the generous support provided by the Military & Civilian Spouses' Club of Fort Irwin.

Gay, Lesbian, & Straight Education Network (GLSEN) believes every student has the right to a safe, supportive, and LGBTQ-inclusive K-12 education.  We are a national network of educators, students, and local GLSEN Chapters working to make this a reality. https://www.glsen.org/

PFLAG (Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays) offers direct support to people

It’s incumbent upon parents, families, friends, and allies to make schools safer for ALL students. PFLAG chapters work directly with schools and stakeholders in their communities, providing support, resources, training, creative programs, and even model policy to create an environment of respect.  https://pflag.org/cultivating-respect-safe-schools-all

You are not alone!  If you’re looking for a place where LGBTQ youth and their allies can find answers to frequently asked questions or explore resources related to sexual orientation, gender identity and more please go to the Trevor Support Center at https://www.thetrevorproject.org/resources/trevor-support-center/

If you or someone you know are thinking about suicide, you deserve immediate help - please call the Trevor Lifeline at 866-488-7386 or by Text START to 678-678 

Trevor Project Trainings for Professionals include in-person Ally and CARE trainings designed for adults who work with youth. These trainings help counselors, educators, administrators, school nurses, and social workers discuss LGBTQ-competent suicide prevention.  https://www.thetrevorproject.org/education/

The Human Rights Campaign has resources to help you come out and live openly at home, at work and in your community.

https://www.hrc.org/resources/coming-out

CentreLink develops strong, sustainable LGBT community centers and builds a thriving center network that creates healthy, vibrant communities. Serving over 250 LGBTQ community centers across the country in 45 states, Puerto Rico and the District of Columbia. https://www.lgbtcenters.org/

The Jason Foundation is dedicated to the prevention of the “Silent Epidemic” of youth suicide through educational and awareness programs that equip young people, educators’/youth workers and parents with the tools and resources to help identify and assist at-risk youth.  https://jasonfoundation.com/

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention https://www.cdc.gov/lgbthealth/youth-resources.htm

Bailey Shaw shares her amazing journey from Student 2 Student® at Falcon High School in Colorado Springs to college at Arizona State University leading to her ambition and drive to be a teacher and hopefully future Student to Student Sponsor. She explains how she reached back through the core values learned in her S2S club and the Frances Hesselbein Student Leadership Program to help her transition to college and assist her through a rocky start to her Sophomore year due to Covid. 

Frances Hesslebein Student Leadership Program (FHSLP) is a highly selective leader development workshop for exemplary S2S students. This week-long experience is conducted in partnership with the US Military Academy in West Point, New York and US Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colorado. https://www.militarychild.org/programs/frances-hesselbein-student-leadership-program

This podcast as made possible thanks to the generous support from HEB.

"Breathe through the process" suggests one veteran-connected college student to families retiring from the military. As the daughter of a recently retired Army Officer, Hannah understands transition can be unpredictable and concerning. Listen in as we talk together about how she's handling this new chapter in her life as the child of a new retiree.

This podcast has been made possible thanks to the generous support provided by the Tidewater Officer Spouses’ Association.

Hannah is an 18-year-old college student, at Middle Tennessee State, where she's working on a degree for Speech Pathology.  She has spent the last 18 years living all over the world with her military family. Her father recently retired from the Army after serving over 20 years.