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Resources for Military-Connected Youth

Military-Connected Youth include any children with an immediate family member currently serving in the Armed Forces. There are approximately 30,000 to 34,000 Military Connected Youth in the State of Ohio and chances are they are in all of the school districts in the state.

The greatest challenge in serving the needs of Military-Connected Youth is identifying them. They often do not identify themselves as part of a military family. The ESSA military student identifier only designates active families. In Ohio, the National Guard and the Reserves greatly outnumber the active component of the military. Students may be identified by a checkbox on enrollment forms (electronic or paper), Emergency Medical Cards or surveys; identification during Veterans Day and other patriotic activities, class meetings, clubs or conferences; as well as through newsletters, bulletin boards, websites, and announcements.

 This is a unique group of students with a unique set of challenges and needs such as dealing with the deployment of a family member or missing major family events like high school graduation. If they are part of an active-duty family, they will attend an average of six to nine different schools during their K12 experience. There are resources available for Military-Connected Youth to support their academic, social/emotional, physical well-being and help them connect with others with similar experiences.

Educational Resources

Military Tutor is a 24-hour live chat homework hotline for K-12 students in 150+ subjects.

March2Success is an interactive online test preparation system. It is an online, self paced course designed to improve student performance on standardized tests. March2Success is free for everyone.

eKnowledge is a leading provider of interactive e-learning products and services at a much-reduced price for military families.

The Military Interstate Children’s Compact Commission purpose is to facilitate timely enrollment of K-12 students in schools during any point in an academic year due to Active Duty assignments of the U.S. Armed Forces. The MIC3 looks to remove barriers due to variations in local school districts and states.

Contact:

Ohio Commissioner Pete LuPiba

pete.lupiba@obm.ohio.gov

The mission is to educate, engage, and empower each student to succeed in a dynamic world. As a part of Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA), the Non-Department of Defense Schools Program (NDSP) adopts the DoDEA mission and vision statement.

The Post-9/11 GI Bill allows service members to transfer unused education benefits to immediate family members (spouse & children). Transferred benefits may be able to pay for college, tuition, housing, books, and supplies after high school. Service members must transfer benefits before separation from the service.

The Purple Star Award recognizes schools that show a major commitment to students and families connected to our nation’s military. Schools that earn the award will receive a special Purple Star recognition to display on site.

A school will be honored with the Purple Star Award if it completes all the required activities, plus one optional activity. The Purple Star Advisory Board helps decide a school’s eligibility for the award.

Contact:

Valerie Kunze

valerie.kunze@education.ohio.gov

614-981-9003

The Military Child Education Coalition (MCEC) supports all military-connected children by educating, advocating, and collaborating to resolve education challenges associated with the military lifestyle with programs for parents, students, and professionals.

The Clearinghouse for Military Family Readiness at Penn State developed online learning modules for school personnel to increase understanding and awareness related to the unique challenges faced by military-connected students and families, and to provide school personnel with strategies and resources to support military-connected students. 

Resources for special needs students.

General Resources

Ohio Military Kids (OMK) is a collaboration between the Ohio National Guard and The Ohio State University’s 4-H Youth Development Program. The goal of OMK is to create community support networks for military youth when they experience a loved one’s deployment.

Our Military Kids recognizes the sacrifice of children of deployed National Guard, deployed Reserve, or post 9/11 combat-injured service members by offering extracurricular activity grants that build the child's self-confidence, enhance family wellness, and strengthen a shared sense of community. Up to $300.00 grants for dependents ages 3 - 18 deployed out of country service members.

Military OneSource is a Department of Defense program that provides FREE services to all members of the military regardless of branch or component and their family members.

Military Kids Connect is an online community where kids, tweens and teens can connect with other military kids their own age. The website helps military connected youth develop coping skills and build psychological health and resilience.

Sesame Workshop provides much-needed support and practical education through Talk, Listen, Connect, a multiphase outreach initiative to help young kids through deployments, combat-related injuries, and the death of a loved one.

The USO is there to support service members and families in a variety of ways, from deployment and homecoming support to families of the fallen.

The families of our all-volunteer military make unprecedented sacrifices these days to serve our country. Blue Star Families was founded by military spouses in 2009 to empower these families to thrive as they serve. We're committed to strengthening military families by connecting them with their neighbors – individuals and organizations – to create vibrant communities of mutual support. We believe we're all stronger when we take care of one another.

Most Americans understand how important it is to support our troops. But NMFA believes it’s important to support their 2.8 million family members, too.

A national organization of school superintendents with a higher concentration of military students. Provides useful links for military families and educator resources.

Connects veterans in crisis and their families and friends with qualified, caring Department of Veterans Affairs responders through a confidential toll-free hotline, online chat, or text.

The Armed Services YMCA is proud to work with the Department of Defense to offer the Military Outreach Initiative. The Military Outreach Initiative offers gym memberships and respite child care services for qualified military members and families nationwide. Through this initiative, military members and families receive access to vital resources that promote youth development, healthy living, and social responsibility.

The Military Discount Center highlights the commitment of businesses that support our military through numerous military discounts, deals and freebies for active duty service members, veterans and their families.

For the Fallen

Provides educational scholarship to spouses and children of America's fallen and disabled service members.

The Folded Flag Foundation is a 501(c)(3) organization that provides educational scholarships and support grants to the spouses and children of the U.S. military and government personnel who died as a result of hostile action or in an accident related to U.S. combat operations.

Columbiana County

Contact:

7989 Dickey Drive, Suite 1, Lisbon, OH 44432

Phone: (330) 424-7214

Fax: (330) 424-9692

4-H is a non-formal educational, youth development program offered to individuals age 5 and in kindergarten to age 19. Ohio 4-H youth development reaches more than 240,000 youth each year – helping kids “learn by doing” through hands-on activities.

Stark County

Learn about the educational benefits available by first contacting the Stark County Vet Center.

4-H is a non-formal educational, youth development program offered to individuals age 5 and in kindergarten to age 19. Ohio 4-H youth development reaches more than 240,000 youth each year – helping kids “learn by doing” through hands-on activities.

Stark County Veterans Services.

Serving Area Military and Veterans was created to assist local heroes and their families. We are a community of veterans and military supporters working together. Formed out of the belief that we can make the lives of service members, veterans and their widows better.

Pegasus Farm is proud to partner with Rotary Districts 6650, 3131, 3132, and other community resources to develop a comprehensive, community-based Military Family Center (MFC) to meet the needs of veterans, active-duty military, first responders, and their families.

Base Resources: Wright-Patterson Air Force Base

Wright-Patterson Air Force Base is located northeast of Dayton, Ohio. Visit their homepage for updates and information.

With each move, military children face many school-related challenges. The School Liaison helps ease the transition from one school to another and helps families navigate the school system, ensuring our military youth have the opportunity to achieve academic success.

The School Liaison Office is the central point of contact for commanders, military families, and local school systems on school-related matters for grades K-12. School Liaison services are open to all WPAFB military families and DoD Civilians.

Youth Programs/Centers

Phone: 937-904-4700


Address:

Youth Centers/Services
156 Spinning Road
Bldg 6933 Prairies
WPAFB, OH 45431


Wright-Patterson AFB School Liaison Officer

Phone: 937-656-0942                                             

Address:

88th ABW/CVL
2000 Allbrook Drive 
Area A, Building 2
Wright-Patterson AFB, OH 45433-5315

Family Advocacy Program

Phone: 937-257-6429

Address:

Family Advocacy Program
4881 Sugar Maple Drive
Wright-Patterson AFB, OH 45433-5529

WPAFB Airman and Family Readiness Center

Phone: 937-257-3592

Address:

2000 Albrook Drive, Bldg. 2
Wright-Patterson AFB, OH 45433

Resources for information and referral, casualty affairs, financial services, employment resources, relocation assistance, transition assistance, deployment support, EFMP program services. Find their monthly calendar of events, workshops and activities on the web site.