Operation: Florida Military Kids 2010 Annual REPORT
Mission Florida OMK builds partnerships throughout the state to increase capacity for youth, families and communities to support our military families and the youth affected by deployments. Goals Create local community support networks for coordinating service for military youth in our own backyard when service member parent(s) are deployed Deliver recreational, social, and educational programs for military youth living in civilian communities Support military kids coping with the stress of knowing their deployed parents may be in harm s way Collaborate with schools to ensure that staff are attuned to the unique needs of military students Educate the public on the impact of the deployment cycle on service member families, kids and the community as a whole 2010 Highlights Served 13,540 military youth (60% increase over 2009) through Family Days, 4-H clubs, holiday gatherings, community events, Yellow Ribbon events and camps. All branches served. 3,041 citizens (80% increase over 2009) attended informational briefings of 30-45 minutes at community meetings. Community partners with OMK provided over $26,000 of in-kind and dollar donations to our program in addition to our grant funding. 677 volunteers (125% increase over 2009) gave 9,689 hours of service Hosted 8 SOMK sessions with 122 teen attendees Hosted 25 Ready, Set, Go! Training sessions for 909 attendees 2 Florida Operation: Military Kids 2010 Annual Report
Military Youth Programs 107 events and programs were held this year across the state of Florida. Program focus was in the Panhandle, Jacksonville, Orlando and Miami areas. This is where the largest concentration of military personnel exists in Florida. 66% of the youth who attended summer camp in 2010 had a parent or parents currently deployed, pending deployment or recently returned from deployment. 59% of the youth who attend summer camp this year did so for the first time. 8% were returning campers from our very first camp in 2008 and 33% attended our camps in 2008 and 2009. Of the returning campers, 13% traveled from out of state. Campers want to continue attending our Florida camps, even though they have been transferred. $26,882 in monetary and/or in-kind donations were received this year to assist with our programs (an increase of 8%). HERO PACKS 602 Hero Packs (55% increase over 2009) were distributed to military children throughout Florida as the Florida National Guard conducted their largest deployment of Soldiers since World War II. Volunteers from Girl Scout Troops, Temple Beth Orr in Coral Springs, 4-H Clubs and State 4-H Service Projects throughout Florida assembled 827 Hero Packs. MOBILE TECH LAB (MTL) The MTL was used at every residential camp during the summer of 2010. This year, campers were tasked to partner and create short videos using MovieMaker software. 120 military youth learned how to download, edit and create their own video. Videos were then placed on the parent BlogSpot for them to view each night. At the end of camp, videos were shared with all participants. Another great way to connect military youth to hands-on technology! Florida Operation: Military Kids 2010 Annual Report 3
SPEAK OUT FOR MILITARY KIDS (SOMK) Two groups of teens were invited to attend a training session using the SOMK manual. Military and civilian youth from the Jacksonville and Tampa areas participated in creating SOMK video presentations and established goals for speaking in their communities. 4-H Camp Ocala staff welcomed the 22 SOMK participants and led them through many teambuilding activities throughout the weekend. OMK in the COMMUNITY Florida OMK conducted a community partner volunteer training in the Orlando area. Community volunteers and agencies interested in serving military children and youth during Deployment Family Conferences received information and materials to use. OMK partnered with Florida s Operation Homefront to present Touchdown for the Troops at Bolles High School in Jacksonville. Former NFL players put on a football clinic for over 90 military and civilian youth. Youth were taught the importance of staying in school, teamwork and dedication. As teachers we are so happy to have a contact and resource to help our military children during the cycle of deployment. So many times we don t know what to do when a child starts acting out. So thank you very much for this valuable information. Teacher, Sheffield Elementary School OMK in the SCHOOLS In 2010, Florida OMK added a Navy School Liaison Officer (SLO) to the state advisory team. By doing so, 138 teachers and school counselors in Bay County and Escambia County have participated in a Ready, Set, Go! training session, preparing them to work with military youth during the deployment cycle. The Gifted and Talented Education Program at Chett s Creek Elementary School participated in a three day Speak Out for Military Kids training. 45 students packed over 115 Hero Packs, wrote letters to military youth, and participated in a 50 second PSA within their school. OMK continued to support the Military Child Education Coalition Living in the New Normal and Supporting Children of Guard and Reserve training events by presenting our program to school administrators, counselors and teachers revealing the various ways we support military youth in the community. OMK s Joint Family Support Assistance Program representative trained 14 Naval School Liaison Officers (SLO) at their Regional Conference. Materials from Ready, Set, Go! training and the new OMK: Deployment Cycle Support Activity Guide were used. 4 Florida Operation: Military Kids 2010 Annual Report
A Valued Partner: florida s National Guard Since our beginning, the Florida National Guard has been supportive of our mission and an active partner in serving military youth. Under the leadership of Captain Amy Green and program implementation of Lou Dougherty, State Youth Coordinator, FLNG, military youth programs have grown in Florida. Together we taught 7 Habits for Effective Teens at a Teen Summit for 30 National Guard youth, conducted 4 residential camps and provided 3 days of programming for youth of all ages at the Annual Florida Officer s Association Conference in Orlando. Lou Dougherty sits on our OMK State Advisory Team and is also a member of the Youth Development Advisory Council for the Florida 4-H Program. Together, we share resources, staff and talent all in the mission to serve the military youth of Florida. We couldn t do what we do for our military youth without the contributions and support of our Florida National Guard THANK YOU! Joint Family Support Assistance Program Contribution to OMK Florida s JFSAP team is invited to present at many venues across the state. From Deployment Family Conferences to Senior Military Leaders Conferences, JFSAP has briefed over 6,000 new military personnel, families and community leaders. Consisting of 2 licensed Military Family Life counselors, 1 certified finance counselor, 1 American Red Cross Military Family Manager, 1 Military OneSource Consultant, and 1 OMK Youth Program Specialist, JFSAP is an integral part of our OMK team. This year, JFSAP Military OneSource Consultants began adding Florida s OMK events to the OneSource website. 2,974 families have viewed the information and many have inquired about OMK services. The American Red Cross Military Family Manager assisted in conducting babysitting training in northeast Florida. Both Military Family Life counselors participated in our residential camps leading small discussion groups dealing with stress management and other issues faced by our military youth.
Camping Makes an Impact on Youth In the past 3 years, our camping program has grown with the assistance of local support and nationally funded grants. We have gone from 1 residential camp (one or more overnights) to 11 residential camps and 4 day camps. A total of 632 youth participated an increase of 70%! Since our camps are dispersed geographically throughout the state, we present a pre-camp orientation webinar for the families and campers. In addition, each 5-day residential camp has its own private blog containing camp information, photos and daily updates a great connection for parents and service members. 46% of the families partipated in the pre-camp webinar and 90% visited the camp blog during camp. In 2010, 66% of our campers had a parent in the deployment cycle while attending camp. More than 55% of the campers were camping with us for the first time and 70% of these families learned about OMK camping opportunities through their respective military channels, our OMK website or from a past camper. My kids loved Camp Timpoochee and can t wait to go back next year!! The site is amazing, the staff even more amazing, I can t give you enough praise!! The kids were there for one week, but will have wonderful memories that will last a lifetime. That s what summer camp should be about, and yours is!! Parent 6 Florida Operation: Military Kids 2010 Annual Report
My daughter had success in meeting new people and an increase in confidence level. Most of all I believe she was able to assess what made her happy and define things that she liked, not just because her friends liked it. She was able to make decisions for herself. She was a different, more well-rounded beautiful young woman after the week she spent at camp Ocala! Parent Annually, we survey our campers and parents about their experience. Here is a summary of our findings. Parents surveyed reported: 82% felt their child learned skills related to responsibility 82% agreed their child improved their leadership skills 82% indicated their child gained or improved their decision making skills 84% believed their child improved their respect for others or tolerance 86% felt their child gained or improved their teamwork skills, working with others 86% agreed their child s self-confidence was improved from their camp experience 90% overwhelmingly made new friends and improved their social skills 96% reported their child shared the information they learned at camp Florida Operation: Military Kids 2010 Annual Report 7
Operation: Military Kids Partners National 4-H National Headquarters The American Legion Family US Army Child and Youth Services Boys & Girls Clubs of America Military Child Education Coalition National Association of Child Care Resources & Referral Agencies Florida Florida 4-H Youth Development University of Florida IFAS Extension Florida National Guard Florida American Legion Auxiliary Florida American Legion Sons of Legion Florida American Legion Posts Joint Familiy Support Assistance Program (JFSAP) Florida Child Care Resource & Referral Agency for Workforce Innovation- Office of Early Learning 7-Dippity, Inc. Military Support Programs Florida Naval School Liaison Officers For more information about Operation: Military Kids, contact: www.operationmilitarykids.org or http://floridaomk.blogspot.com Cliff Lewis, State Program Coordinator Florida Operation: Military Kids (863) 519-8677 ext 135 sgmlewis@ufl.edu Authors: Georgene Bender, December James, Janet Psikogios and Cliff Lewis Copy Editor: Darryl Palmer Graphic designer: Raghu Consbruck Photographs: Cliff Lewis, Louisa Grayford, Mike Kincaid, Janet Psikogios, George Taylor, December James, Connie Mirrop Operation: Military Kids is a partnership of Army Child and Youth Services, the 4-H National Headquarters/USDA, and University of Florida 4-H Youth Development. The program is funded by the 4-H/Army and Kansas State Youth Development Project # 2007-48661-03868. The Florida Program is administered through the Florida 4-H Foundation. All programs and related activities sponsored for, or assisted by, the Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences are open to all persons without discrimination with respect to race, creed, color, religion, age, disability, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, national origin, political opinions, or affiliations. Information from this publication is available in alternate formats. Contact IFAS Communication Services, University of Florida, PO Box 110810, Gainesville, FL 32611-0810. Printed January 2011.