lunes, 9 de abril de 2018

Military Kids Connect shares new resources to support our youngest heroes | Health.mil

Military Kids Connect shares new resources to support our youngest heroes

This month the MHS will focus on the health of the more than 2 million military children in the United States and overseas

FALLS CHURCH, Va. — Military Kids Connect, a Defense Department program to help military children improve their psychological health, will release four new videos to celebrate military kids during the Month of the Military Child.

“Throughout the month of April, it’s important to recognize and celebrate the resilience of America’s military kids,” said U.S. Public Health Service Capt. Amy Park, a clinical child psychologist with the Defense Health Agency Connected Health Branch.

According to recent Defense Department data, there are about 1.7 million military kids 18 years or younger worldwide. To highlight what it’s like to be a military child and how real kids cope, Military Kids Connect will share the real stories of Joe, Grace, Ava and Neils with a video campaign featured on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. The first video, “Grace,” is now available on the Military Kids Connect YouTube channel.

“Military kids often experience many challenges, like coping with a parent’s combat injury, the deployment of a family member, and frequent military moves,” said Park. “Military Kids Connect addresses the unique situations that military kids face and offers resources for them to stay positive and strong.

”The Military Kids Connect website also has updated features. A new message board provides a safe environment for kids to connect with others just like them. A multimedia learning resource helps children who may have a parent coping with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) or a traumatic brain injury.

Other website resources to help children manage the challenges of military life include:

Stress management tools
Interactive, age-appropriate games
Arts and crafts ideas
An activity book with puzzles to help kids handle the challenges of military life

Parents, caregivers and educators can also find free resources from Military Kids Connect to help them support military kids at home and school.

“Month of the Military Child is all about showing military kids that we are proud of them,” said Park. “Military kids are special year-round, but let’s do all we can to make military kids feel extra special this month.”

Visit Military Kids Connect to learn more, and follow Military Kids Connect on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.

2018 Month of the Military Child - Grace

Video

4/4/2018

2018 Month of the Military Child - Grace

In celebration of Month of the Military Child, 13-year-old Grace talks about moving and how she finds opportunities to remember the good things about where she'd lived before.

Recommended Content:

Children's Health

For Military Children's Health Month, focus on cyberfitness

Article

4/2/2018

Servio Medina is acting chief of the Defense Health Agency’s Cyber Security Division Policy Branch. (Courtesy photo)

Well-being goes beyond vaccines, regular checkups

Recommended Content:

Children's Health

Parents and doctors watch over a tiny heart

Article

3/19/2018

Hudson Moore, son of Army Sgt. Shane Moore and his wife Dionna, is a survivor of four heart surgeries, cardiac arrest, cancer, and many other medical complications. Today he is attending pre-K with a routine daily life after spending most of his baby years in and out of the hospital. (Courtesy Photo)

A military family’s rocky medical road with congenital heart disease

Recommended Content:

Children's Health | Heart Health

Pediatric care in the military rated 'excellent' but can improve

Article

2/27/2018

Experts say pediatric care within the Military Health System is excellent as they strive to improve and provide top-quality care for military children

Recommended Content:

Children's Health | Health Readiness | Preventive Health | Military Health System Review Report

Children's Dental Health Month: What parents need to know

Article

2/13/2018

Air Force Senior Airman Caitlyn Hollowell, 81st Dental Squadron dental technician, prepares to take an x-ray on Katelyn Landolt. February is Children’s Dental Health Month. (U.S. Air Force photo by Kemberly Groue)

Teaching children about taking care of their teeth can be challenging

Recommended Content:

Children's Health

Rocky and Elmo want providers to "Watch. Ask. Share."

Article

2/12/2018

Defense Health Agency Director Vice Admiral Raquel “Rocky” Bono joined Sesame Street’s Elmo to record a welcome video for the new provider section of the Sesame Street for Military Families website. (Photo by MHS Communications)

How DHA teamed with Sesame Street to help care for military families

Recommended Content:

Mental Health Care | Public Health | Preventive Health | Children's Health | Deployment Health

Cold and influenza season is underway – and it’s nothing to ‘shake off’

Article

1/12/2018

Cold and flu season usually runs from October to March, and peaks between December and February. Young children, adults 65 years and older, pregnant women, and people with chronic medical conditions have a higher risk for complications. Military Health System experts encourage everyone to take steps to prevent these viral illnesses from spreading. (U.S. Army photo by photo by Rachel Larue)

Military Health System experts share advice on how to prevent, treat, and distinguish between these two viral illnesses

Recommended Content:

Health Readiness | Preventive Health | Immunizations | Children's Health

Cancer vaccine for youth is effective, safe

Article

10/25/2017

The HPV vaccine is very safe, and most people don’t have any problems or side effects. Studies have shown the vaccine caused HPV rates to decline 64 percent among teenaged girls ages 14 to 19, and 34 percent among women ages 20 to 24. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Kristin High)

Experts share what parents need to know about the HPV vaccine

Recommended Content:

Children's Health | Women's Health

Midwives expand women's options

Article

10/19/2017

Valerie Miller, nurse midwife, Department of Women’s Health Services, William Beaumont Army Medical Center, holds a newborn baby while she conducts a group prenatal care session with parents of newborns to discuss concerns, expectations and answer any questions the couples may have regarding their birthing experience. (U.S. Army photo by Marcy Sanchez)

According to the American College of Nurse-Midwives, in 2014, 8.3 percent of all U.S. births were delivered by CNMs

Recommended Content:

Children's Health | Women's Health

Sleepy teen? Military sleep specialist says help is available

Article

10/16/2017

Electronic devices play a significant role in keeping teenaged children from the sleep they need to remain healthy and productive. (Courtesy photo)

Sagging grades, behavior problems could point to sleep deprivation

Recommended Content:

Children's Health | Sleep

Advice to young athletes: A variety of sports is the spice of life

Article

9/25/2017

Children participate in a sports clinic at Schriever Air Force Base, Colorado. The installation partnered with the YMCA of Pikes Peak Region to teach young athletes the fundamentals of baseball, gymnastics, soccer, and basketball. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff. Sgt. Wes Wright)

Young athletes who focus on one sport instead of sampling a variety are more likely to suffer overuse injuries

Recommended Content:

Children's Health | Physical Activity

New school year, same risk: Don’t forget the sunscreen

Article

9/20/2017

Whether at recess or recreational sports, children and teens are exposed to UV rays and it’s important to protect their skin throughout the school year. Experts recommend re-applying sunscreen after an hour and a half – especially while playing sports outside or swimming. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Kristen Wong)

As children and teenagers return to school, experts remind parents to make sunscreen application part of their daily routines throughout the school year

Recommended Content:

Preventive Health | Children's Health | Operation Live Well

Resources, resiliency help military children turn away from suicidal thoughts

Article

9/12/2017

A note about social media written by one of the participants of an Air Force resiliency teen camp is displayed in a classroom. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Jared Trimarchi)

Children of military parents face some real challenges, such as frequent relocations, which can make them feel isolated and turn to thoughts of suicide; Find out more about how you can keep them resilient

Recommended Content:

Suicide Prevention | Children's Health

Vaccinations: Important part of back-to-school checklist

Article

8/16/2017

Air Force Senior Airman Antoinette Fowler shows a 4-year-old how to give a vaccination during a teddy bear clinic at Eglin Air Force Base, Florida. The event taught children about the importance of vaccination and immunization. Getting necessary vaccinations now is as much a rite of going back to school as picking up pencils and paper for the first day. (U.S. Air Force photo by Ilka Cole)

Making sure children have all their vaccinations before going back to school is as important as making sure they have the right supplies

Recommended Content:

Preventive Health | Children's Health

Pumping on the job is worth any hassles, breast-feeding moms say

Article

8/3/2017

Navy Lt. Alea DePauw (left) with Ethan, 6 months, and Lt. Cmdr. Melissa Rosloniec (right) with Jack, 10 months, pump when they work at Naval Medical Center San Diego. (U.S. Navy photo by Petty Officer 1st Class Elizabeth Merriam)

August 1-7 is World Breastfeeding Week, an annual global campaign to promote the benefits of nursing; this year marks the 25th annual event, which is recognized in more than 170 countries

Recommended Content:

Preventive Health | Children's Health