Format

Poster Presentation

First Presenter's Institution

NA

Second Presenter's Institution

NA

Location

Harborside Center

Strand #1

Mental & Physical Health

Strand #2

Family & Community

Relevance

Through successful after school programming, the development resilience and life skills for military youth (high-risk population) is critical for their social and emotional success. Additionally, the overall health and wellness military families are concerns. While the service member is deployed or separated from the family from extended periods of time, he/she needs to focus on the mission and not b concerned with issues their dependents are facing. Building these skills in military youth is critical for the overall success of the service member.

Brief Program Description

Since the events of Sept 11, 2001, military service members have experienced frequent war-zone deployments, causing issues of separation, anxiety, and stress in military youth. Using established learning models and curriculum development tools, learn how to plan, implement, and evaluate after-school programming for military youth, enabling them to build resiliency and develop life skills to deal with these challenges.

Summary

Since the events of Sept 11, 2001, military service members have experienced frequent long-term deployments to active war zones, causing issues of family separation and anxiety. Orthner and Rose (2005) report that 37% of Army spouses state that their children seriously worry about what could happen to their deployed parent and that school issues and depression occur in about 20% of their children. Using Hendricks’ (1998) “Developing Youth Curriculum Using the Targeting Life Skills Model” and Ginsburg and Jablow’s (2011) “Building Resilience in Children and Teens: Giving Kids Roots and Wings,” the presenter has collaborated with Army Child, Youth, and School Services (CYSS) to positive outh development experiences for military children and youth. Leadership, citizenship, and life skills developed during programming can build resiliency and assist these young people during times of transition and turmoil. During this session, participants will learn how the Liberty County 4-H Agent works with Fort Stewart Training and Curriculum Specialists to train CYSS staff to plan, develop, implement, and evaluate after school 4-H programming for CYSS children and youth. Examples of successful integration of the Fort Stewart 4-H members into the Liberty County and Georgia 4-H programs will also be shared. The workshop will specifically focus on a science mentoring program that middle and high school 4-H members led with elementary children at Fort Stewart’s School Age Center. The program won a 13-state regional award for outstanding work.

Additionally, opportunities for replication with other agencies, education, and military installations will be provided. While this is based upon 4-H program planning models, it can easily replicated to meet the needs of military dependents involved in any youth organization! The session will include discussion of recent studies conducted about military families, hands-on activities, and question/answer session. See how proper engagement in after-school programming provides military youth with positive life skill development.

Evidence

Using Ginsburg and Jablow’s (2011) seven crucial “C’s” - competence, confidence, connection, character, contribution, coping, and control – the presenter has designed, implemented, and evaluation youth programming for military audiences. Through formal evaluations of youth and interviews with CYSS staff, evidence suggests that youth are feel more prepared to deal with issues because they gain confidence while participating in 4-H programming.

Ms. Joan Styles, Fort Stewart School Age Center Director, states, “the partnership is important to the School Age Center because it provides a variety of programs for our youth from agriculture to creative dance, and the 4-H program enhances programs we already have in place.”

The 4-H Science Day required participants to answer a short evaluation about the program. When asked “what did you enjoy best about 4-H Science Day?” comments included [sic]:

  • I really enjoyed the elephant toothpaste because I got to touch the foamy, colorful toothpaste and I thought that was the most fun out of all of them.
  • The butter making because now I can go home and teach it to my mom, dad, and brother.
  • I enjoy best about science was that I got to do different things and I learn more about science.
  • Meeting new people.
  • I in goy science bee kus you’re your 4H pepol or gob heprs.
  • I had fun with the butter making activity and most of all I enjoy the activitys that where pland for me, and I learnd something new in the activitys and I ate the butter with some brind.
  • I enjoyed being able to do everything the best. It was EPIC.
  • I like how me and my friend had fun.
  • I enjoy best is doing science and doing activitys with four age.
  • I had fun with everything. I wanted to circle all of them, but I had to only circle 1. All the big 4-H’s were all nice. This is the most fun I ever had!

Biographical Sketch

Kasey Bozeman is the 4-H/Youth Extension Agent in Liberty County. She holds a M.S. in Environmental Education from Nova Southeastern University and a B.S. in Environmental Science from Piedmont College. She is currently earning an Ed.D. in Curriculum Studies from Georgia Southern University. Kasey is responsible for coordinating, developing, implementing, and evaluating the 4-H program in Liberty County. She directs 800+ 4-H youth with project work, leadership, and citizenship activities, camps, conferences and public relations, and manages 50 volunteers. Her specific areas of interest include working with military families and teaching science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) activities. She has presented information about military children and youth at regional and national conferences and was recognized as the 2014 National 4-H/Military Partnership Award recipient.

Keyword Descriptors

Military, Science, Mentor, Afterschool, Youth Development

Presentation Year

2016

Start Date

3-8-2016 4:00 PM

End Date

3-8-2016 5:30 PM

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Mar 8th, 4:00 PM Mar 8th, 5:30 PM

Building Resilience & Life Skills for At-Risk Military Youth through a Science Mentoring Program

Harborside Center

Since the events of Sept 11, 2001, military service members have experienced frequent war-zone deployments, causing issues of separation, anxiety, and stress in military youth. Using established learning models and curriculum development tools, learn how to plan, implement, and evaluate after-school programming for military youth, enabling them to build resiliency and develop life skills to deal with these challenges.