health.mil

April 08, 2010

The Military Child and Adolescent Deployment Support Video Program was developed by military pediatricians and behavioral health specialists to support military children and adolescents during deployment and to sensitize the community to the unique culture and support needs of military children.

The first video, “Military Youth Coping With Separation: When Family Members Deploy” is narrated by Cameron, a teen who experienced family deployment. Cameron interviews older children and teens who have also experienced separation during deployment. The videos are candid and capture the true feelings and coping strategies of military youth. The video emphasizes the resilience of military children and thanks them for their sacrifice.

The second video, “Mr. Poe and Friends Discuss Reunion After Deployment,” features the animated host, Mr. Poe, interacting with families at the airport as they await the return of loved ones who have been deployed. Mr. Poe mentors and provides guidance to children and family members as they discuss the challenges and accomplishments accompanying various stages of deployment. The video features the voices of actual military children, parents and youth-serving professionals who have experienced deployment concerns.

“We hope these videos will support the healthy emotional development of military children and adolescents during potentially difficult times in their lives,” said Maj. (Dr.) Keith Lemmon of the pediatrics department at Madigan Army Medical Center at Fort Lewis, Wash., during an episode of Dot Mil Docs, the Military Health System’s official podcast. “We also hope these videos will decrease feelings of stigma and isolation in our military children while sensitizing the larger American community to military child and adolescent culture and support needs.”

Lemmon is the co-founder of the Military Child and Adolescent Center of Excellence (MCA CoE), a center developed to publicize prevention and treatment programs, with a focus on children whose parents are deployed. Click here for a poster from the MCA CoE.

The initial program was funded by a grant from the Healthy People 2010 Chapter Grant Program of the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and has been further funded and distributed by the United States Army Medical Command.

The videos can be ordered free of charge at Military One Source or by calling 1-800-342-9647.

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