4-H Joins the Military (March 2004)
Theresa M. Ferrari, Extension Specialist

4-H has partnered with the Army since 1995 through the Army Youth Development Project. A pilot project involving the nine Air Force bases and 4-H teen programs was conducted in 1999-2002. However, with recent deployments a concerted effort was made to expand this outreach. In 2003, State 4-H Military Liaisons were named in each state to support the work that CSREES/4-H is doing with the U.S. Army Child & Youth Services and the U.S. Air Force Family Member Programs, as well as to reach out to the Army and Air National Guards and Reserve Units. CSREES and the Army and the Air Force have made a commitment to establish 4-H clubs on installations worldwide. The goal is for military youth to become involved in 4-H and to be able to continue their 4-H work wherever they move when their parents are transferred or deployed.

As the 4-H Military Liaison for Ohio, my role is to serve as a link between all the county agents working with military installations in the state and also with CSREES. The liaison provides assistance to county 4-H and installation staff, coordinates 4-H military partnership efforts in the state, integrates military 4-H clubs into the statewide 4-H/Extension program, and collaborates nationally with other State 4-H Military Liaisons to support these efforts.

There are two current military efforts that I would like you to be aware of:

1. Wright Patterson Air Force Base (WPAFB) is Ohio 's military installation. In 2002 WPAFB was one of 20 Air Force bases asked to partner with the 4-H program in its state. Multiple 4-H projects were conducted during the WPAFB summer camp program in 2003. Last October Ohio 4-H Youth Development received one of 25 4-H Military Grants that is providing funding to expand 4-H programming at WPAFB in 2003-2004. Local 4-H Agents Beth Bridgeman (Greene) and Betty Wingerter
(Montgomery ) work with the WPAFB staff to plan and conduct these programs. More information can be found at the above link.

2. Operation: Child Care is a nationwide initiative to provide short-term “respite and reunion child care” for children of service members returning from Iraq for a two-week Rest and Recreation (R&R) leave period before they return to Iraq . Care is being coordinated through the effort of the National Child Care Resource and Referral Association (NACCRRA), which has state and local affiliates throughout the country. This is an opportunity for local 4-H Club youth and adult volunteers to volunteer to provide child care so parents can have an “evening out” during the time the soldier is home. Counties interested in participating should contact their local affiliate of the Ohio Child Care Reserouce and Referral Association. The contact information can be found at http://www.occrra.org/contact_agencies.htm. There are 12 local affiliates serving multi-county areas. More information can be found at the above link.
More information regarding military programs may be found at the National 4-H Headquarters website: http://www.national4_hheadquarters.gov/military.htm
Please contact me if you have any questions.

“Suddenly Military” Families: They're in Your Backyard (March 2004)

Theresa M. Ferrari, Extension Specialist

Ohio is 10 out of the 50 states in the number of Army Reserve soldiers (6,530). From Ohio , there are over 3,600 personnel mobilized: 2,108 Army Reserve and 1,519 National Guard. Based on recent information provided by military outreach liaison specialists, there are deployed soldiers in every county in Ohio .

These families have been termed as “suddenly military.” That is, they have not, up until this point, identified themselves as military families, the way a family with a parent who is a career military member might do. When deployed, they have a short time to get their life in order before the family member departs. These families are spread throughout the state and therefore do not have the support systems that are available to those who live on or near military installations. As a result, there are families in our backyard, in communities throughout the state, who find themselves in a new situation.

Families experiencing deployment of a family member face a variety of issues that impact youth. These issues include:

-fear of the unknown regarding safety of deployed parent
-parent absent for significant events, less parental involvement
-lack of educators' awareness of and sensitivity regarding deployment and needs of children of deployed members
-child care needs
-children being placed in day care so remaining parent can work outside the home
-constant “shuffle” between relatives and child care providers
-lack of proximity to installation family/youth programs
-geographically dispersed families
-lack of connection with other youth with deployed parents

I have been trying to find out as much as I can about the location of these families. I have obtained maps indicating the concentration of deployed Army Reserve soldiers/families in Ohio . These maps can be found here. At this site I also have posted a list of the 34 Army Reserve Command (USARC) facilities in the state click here.

I have also set up a meeting with the National Guard Family Program Coordinator to discuss how Ohio 4-H and the National Guard might partner. I will keep you informed about the progress of our partnership with the military. Please contact me if you have any questions about 4-H efforts to work with the military.

This page last updated March 20, 2005.