JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO, Texas –
April is the Month of the Military Child and National Child Abuse Prevention Month.
It represents an opportunity to recognize the sacrifices made by military families, especially children worldwide, while also renewing the commitment to ensuring all children have the opportunity to grow and prosper in an environment that is free from abuse and neglect, an environment that fosters and bolsters their social and emotional well-being.
Military children, and their families, face unique stressors primarily associated with the military lifestyle, such as frequent moves, changing schools, and adjusting to new caretakers.
Add a deployment for one, or both parents, and the phenomenon of adjusting to a parent’s absence from the family unit for an extended period of time, and these situations may seem unsurmountable for military kids.
And then, the “separation” is followed by the parent’s return from deployment, and the subsequent “reintegration” period adds pressures, anxieties, and tensions that are uniquely specific to military children.
What is the potential scope? According to MilitaryBenefits.info, there are approximately 1.7 million “dependent children” world-wide: 876,820 are Army; 323,988 are Air Force; 295,566 are Navy; and 112,715 are Marine Corps. The site goes on to indicate that approximately 2 million military children have experienced a parental deployment since 9/11.
In 1986, April was designated Month of the Military Child by then-Secretary of Defense Casper Weinberger to recognize and thank children from military families for the sacrifices they make in living the military lifestyle.
For instance, the Department of Defense Education Activity, or DODEA, reports that the “average child in a military family will move six to nine times during a school career. That’s an average of three times more frequently than non-military families. This tumult alone deserves our commitment and support!
National Child Abuse Prevention Month was first observed in 1983, by a proclamation signed by President Ronald Reagan.
The Office on Child Abuse and Neglect continues to coordinate activities, prepare promotional materials, and host multidisciplinary forums focused on prevention, education, and awareness on an annual basis.
National Child Abuse Prevention Month recognizes the importance of families and communities working together to prevent child abuse and neglect and promotes the social and emotional well-being of children and families.
As part of JBSA’s participation in this month’s observances, we encourage people to:
1) Recognize the unique life circumstances military children experience.
2) Share information about community resources that may be invaluable in supporting youths and their parents.
3) Ensure military children and their families understand how “life circumstances” such as transitions, separation and other anxieties can be dealt with and/or overcome through proper support and effective connections
4) Understand that you play a vital role in fostering an environment of “community connectedness,” where adults and children alike feel supported and accepted.