MFRI director joins expert panel in DC

On Wednesday, April 18, Sesame Street will present analysis and key findings on the impact of its Military Families Initiative. Evaluation of this initiative was conducted by the Military Family Research Institute (MFRI), Russell Research and Center for the Study of Traumatic Stress and Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences. Expert panelists will discuss the implications of this work and the need for continued efforts to support military families.

The following experts will be participating in the panel discussion:

  • General Martin Dempsey
    Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff;
  • Charles E. Milam
    Principal Director for Military Community and Family Policy
    Office of the Secretary of Defense;
  • Mrs. Patty Shinseki
    Member, Military Child Education Coalition
    Advisor, Joining Forces;
  • Dr. Stephen Cozza (Colonel, USA ret.)
    Associate Director
    Center for the Study of Traumatic Stress
    Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences;
  • Jeanette Betancourt, Ed.D.
    Senior Vice President
    Outreach and Educational Practices
    Sesame Workshop;
  • Shelley MacDermid Wadsworth, Ph.D., M.B.A.,
    Director, Military Family Research Institute at Purdue University
    Professor, College of Health and Human Sciences at Purdue University; and
  • Major Nico Marcolongo, USMC (ret.),
    Challenged Athletes Foundation
    Program Manager, Operation Rebound

The panel discussion begins at 9 a.m. EST. Viewers can watch the discussion and submit questions via livestream and tweet using hashtag #SesameMilFam. It will be moderated by Bob Woodruff, ABC News correspondent, and Lee Woodruff, author and journalist.