When we think of military families, we rightly think of sacrifice and duty. But do we also think about resiliency, perseverance, and a sense of community? The unique sense of identity that comes with military service comes with a complex set of supports and struggles for service members. Dr. Stephen Cozza, a researcher and professor at the Uniformed Services University, joins us to explore the unique strengths and challenges of military families. What are the risks and protective factors that we should be aware of in working with military families? How does the phases of deployment and re-entry create some points of unique vulnerabilities that we need to attend to? And at a time when many soldiers are returning, how can we support families?

Topics in this episode:

• An interest in the impact of trauma on military families (1:23)
• Protective factors (2:52)
• Risk factors (8:37)
• Support for military families (13:48)
• Neglect (24:36)
• Current research (33:26)
• CAC-military partnerships (38:52)
• Learn more about our work (47:07)

Links:

Stephen J. Cozza, MD, is a retired Army psychiatrist who served as chief of the Department of Psychiatry at Walter Reed and is now a researcher and professor at the Uniformed Services University’s Center for the Study of Traumatic Stress

Attack on the Pentagon

Child development centers on military bases

2019 Demographics Profile of the Military Community  60% of children in the military are under 11 years old, and 40% are 5 years old or younger

Military OneSource

Family Advocacy Program (FAP)

New Parent Support Program

2020 U.S. Department of Defense report on FAP

NCA’s CAC-military partnerships program

CAC-military coverage map

For more information about National Children’s Alliance and the work of Children’s Advocacy Centers, visit our website at NationalChildrensAlliance.org. And visit our podcast website at OneInTenPodcast.org.

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