Reference:
Wilson, S., Wilkum, K., Chernichky, S., MacDermid Wadsworth, S., & Broniarczyk, K. (2011). Helping children and families reconnect after a military deployment. Communication Currents, 6(4), np. doi: 10.1037/a0035055
Summary:
Since 9/11, more than two million service members deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan; many have served multiple tours in combat zones far from home. Although service members have been stressed by repeated deployments, so have their spouses and children. In response to these statistics, MFRI, in cooperation with the Indiana National Guard, created “Passport Towards Success,” a program designed to strengthen communication skills that help children and families reconnect following a parent’s military deployment. This article summarizes findings from the program’s evaluation, and found:
- children who attended Passport events were experiencing a number of stressors associated with their parent’s deployment and return;
- research observers perceived that the Passport program was delivered consistently, and as intended, at most events; and
- children as a group rated the program very favorably in terms of the degree to which they got new ideas about sharing feelings, coping with stress and managing conflict.