Plenty avenues of relief for children of deployed members Published July 30, 2008 By Tech. Sgt. Gloria Wilson 354th Fighter Wing Public Affairs EIELSON AIR FORCE BASE, Alaska -- The deployment of a military member can be a difficult time for families, especially kids. Over the years an increasing amount of programs and resources have become available to support military families with children during the various deployment phases. The Airmen Family and Readiness Center is a good starting point for information and assistance, but it is not the only place that offers support. Some of the other free resources are available from, or originate from, Operation Military Kids, Operation Kid Comfort and Military One Source. Operation Military Kids One of the items available through OMK program is a Hero Pack. Hero Packs are OMK knapsacks filled with a variety of items from the OMK Partner Agencies, which are given to military youth as a "Thank You" for the sacrifices that they make while their parents are deployed. According to the OMK Website, OMK has presented Hero Packs to over 45,000 military youth since 2004. The Hero Packs available to the military stationed here in Alaska have been put together by the local 4-H program with the help of various community volunteers. They contain a variety of items intended to provide children with fun activities and ways to stay connected to their deployed parents and are available through the AFRC. There will be a booth at the Tanana Valley State Fair Sunday for families to help build Hero Packs for children that will have a parent deployed. Candi Dierenfield, OMK director Alaska, said that in addition to the usual type of items included there is an opportunity to add a personal touch to the packs that will be built at the fair. "Children of the families that help build the Hero Packs will have the opportunity to write a letter to the child that will be receiving the Hero Pack as well, she said. "The letters have always been my favorite part." Donated items to include in the packs are always welcome, such as coloring books, crayons, disposable cameras, stamps, and more. More information on the various programs available through OMK can be found at their Website at www.operationmilitarykids.org. Operation Kid Comfort The Armed Services YMCA's Operation Kid Comfort provides free quilts for children of deployed military members who are six-years-old and younger and pillows for children who are older. ASYMCA volunteers collect photographs from military families to make "photo-transfer" quilts or pillows that feature images of the deployed military member. The quilt or pillow is then given to the child to hopefully comfort them as they miss their deployed parent. Valerie Jamison, Anchorage Office Operation Kid Comfort coordinator, said that the program was "heart-warming." "Just seeing the kids faces when they receive the quilts is amazing," she said, "it's a piece of their mom or dad." "I've had parents tell me that since the military parent deployed the child had been sleeping with the parent at home, but after receiving the quilt the child started sleeping on their own again," she said. For military in Alaska there is a participating office located in Anchorage that a request can be sent to. There is a form that must be filled out and six to nine photos should be sent as well. For more information visit their Website at www.asymca.org/opkidcomfort.aspx. Military OneSource Military OneSource is provided by the Department of Defense at no cost to active duty, Guard and Reserve, regardless of activation status, and their families. While they offer a range of resources, there are two video programs that can be obtained for free through their Website for children of deployed military members. Talk, Listen, Connect: Deployments, Homecomings, Changes is bilingual multimedia outreach program is designed to support military families with children between the ages of 2 and 5 as they cope with the feelings, challenges, and concerns experienced during different phases of deployment. The DVD kit includes a copy of the first Sesame Street video "Talk, Listen, Connect: Helping Families During Military Deployment" and new additional video and parent/caregiver materials designed to help children of injured veterans and other returning service members adjust to the changes in their parents. Another video program is "Mr. Poe and Friends Discuss Family Reunion After Deployment." This video program, developed by military pediatricians and designed for school-age children, can help military children understand that they are not alone as they experience family separation. While awaiting the return of deployed service members at the airport, the animated host, Mr. Poe, provides guidance to children and family members as they discuss the challenges and accomplishments during the stages of deployment. Children can learn to understand and cope in healthy ways with their feelings and emotions as they hear the stories of real military children, parents, and youth-serving professionals who have experienced deployment. For more information about these resources and others offered by Military OneSource visit their Website at www.militaryonesource.com.