military internship umcp priester 4 9 12
DESCRIPTION
TRANSCRIPT
Military Families Internship: Building Partnerships to Strengthen
Families and Communities
Sally Koblinsky Alexandra Bitonti
Family Science Department University of Maryland
Jayne Fitzgerald Operation: Military Kids
University of Maryland Extension
Context• President Obama: Military families a national priority
• Healthy People 2020
• Extension’s Military Families Initiative
• University of Maryland Land Grant Mission
Military Families• 2 million troops deployed in OEF/OIF 55% married, 44% with children
• 40% National Guard & Reserves
• Challenges
• Short supply of professionals trained to meet military family needs
Internship Program Goals• Increase student knowledge of
military culture and military families
• Enhance professional development
• Reach military families• Build partnerships• Improve community capacity
Internship Basics• Capstone Family Science internship:
120-150 hours• Internship contract• Online Army OneSource
course• Bi-weekly seminars • Military families panel
Internship Sites• Walter Reed National Military Medical Center• Fort George G. Meade and Andrews Air Force Base• Operation: Military Kids/4-H Operation Homefront and
Operation Second Chance• Easter Seals Military and Veterans Services• Women Veterans Interactive Foundation• Serving Together/Montgomery County Mental Health• State of Maryland/Maryland’s Commitment to
Veterans• UMD Office of Veteran Student Life
Issues Addressed by Interns• Family Readiness • Child and Youth Development • Respite Care • Spousal Employment• Veterans Employment Transition• Emergency Financial & Housing Aid• Mental Health Issues• Women Veteran Issues• Transition to College Life
Student Intern’s Experience
Alexandra Bitonti Senior, Family Science
Warrior Family Coordination Cell
Walter Reed Bethesda Warrior Family Coordination Cell
WFCC
• Population
• Duties and Responsibilities
• What I Learned
Extension Internships with Military Families
Jayne Fitzgerald
Operation: Military Kids University of Maryland Extension
Extension’s Military Initiatives• Operation Military Kids
• Military 4-H Clubs
• Military Extension Internship Program
• Project Y.E.S.
• Adventure Camps
• Army Youth Development
Extension’s Unique Opportunities
• Help military children deal with deployments
• Reach military families in rural areas
• Reach Guard and Reserve families• Support families of injured service members• Connect military families with local community resources
Operation: Military Kids Intern Projects
• Yoga, Pilates, Zumba
• Art
• Babysitting
• Speak Out
• Health
• Nutrition
Midterm Evaluation: Military Families Internship
Mean• Ability to Learn: Military Culture & Families 4.8• Written Communication Skills 4.7• Listening/Oral Communication 4.8• Creative Thinking & Problem-solving 4.7• Professional/Career Skills 4.7• Interpersonal/Teamwork Skills 4.7• Work Habits 4.9• Organizational Effectiveness Skills 4.8
• Scale: 1 = Unsatisfactory, 5 = Exceptional
Final Evaluation
• Intern Goals: Level of Achievement
• Professional Growth
• Military Families Seminar Evaluation
• Impact on Future Education and Career
Recommended Strategies for Extension Educators
• Assess local/state needs for assistance with military family issues
• Build partnerships with the military, universities, and community agencies
• Help students to increase work force readiness
Questions
• Sally Koblinsky [email protected]
• Jayne Fitzgerald [email protected]
• Alexandra Bitonti [email protected]
• Military Families Internship Article http://www.ncfr.org/ncfr-report/focus/military-families/internship
Thank you!