Military children are faced with many challenges, including but not limited to extended separations, deployments, frequent moves, and loss. The relationship with a parent or primary caregiver is critical to a child’s sense of self, safety, and trust. While many military children adjust well after a death, other children have ongoing difficulties that interfere with everyday life and make it difficult to recall positive memories of their loved ones. A child may have a traumatic reaction after a death that was sudden and unexpected (e.g., through violence or an accident) or a death that was anticipated (e.g., due to illness). The NCTSN has compiled resources to help parents, caregivers, providers, and educators support military children with traumatic grief and to help them find healthy ways to cope.
Supporting Military Children with Traumatic Grief
Provides an overview of issues specific to military culture and family life, describes two models for treating military children with traumatic grief, and highlights a service member's experience. This webinar discusses unique military related stressors, like traumatic grief following the death of a caregiver from combat or non-combat situations.
Helping Military Children with Traumatic Grief: Tips for Parents
Offers information on military children who are grieving the loss of a loved one. This tip sheet describes how military children dealing with trauma and grief responses may be feeling and what parents can do to help.
Helping Military Children with Traumatic Grief: Tips for Educators
Offers information on military children who are grieving the loss of a loved one. This tip sheet describes how military children dealing with trauma and grief responses may be feeling and what educators and school staff can do to help.
Enhancing Resilience in Military LGBTQ Youth: Tips for Parents and Caregivers
Offers information to parents and caregivers on how to help military children and adolescents who identify as LGBTQ deal with the many challenges they face. This tip sheet describes common thoughts or situations LGBTQ youth may have and how parents and caregivers may help.
Understanding Child Suicide: For Military Parents
Offers military parents information about military youth suicide. This fact sheet includes information about suicide and military youth, how to talk to your child about suicide, warning signs that your child may be experiencing suicidal thoughts and helpful responses by age group, as well as evidence-based treatments for suicidal youth, and how to address your needs as a parent.
Understanding Youth Substance Use: For Military Parents and Caregivers
Offers military parents and caregivers information about military youth substance use. This fact sheet includes information about substance use and military youth, how to talk to your child about substance use, monitoring your child and understanding trauma and substance use, as well as resources on how to address your needs as a parent and caregiver.
Understanding Child Trauma and Resilience: For Military Parents and Caregivers
Offers military parents and caregivers information about child trauma and resilience. This fact sheet includes information about what traumatic experiences are, how they impact military families, and common reactions children or teens may have. It also includes a checklist for parents and caregivers to use to help keep track of behaviors their child or teen may be exhibiting as well as questions to ask providers about treatment services. The fact sheet also includes questions military parents or caregivers may have about supporting their child after a traumatic event and tips for starting discussions with children of different ages.
The Power of Parenting: How to Help Your Child After a Parent or Caregiver Dies
Offers guidance around helping children cope after the death of a loved one. It provides information about how to face new fears in the context of bereavement, how grieving caregivers can take care of their own needs, how to help children hold on to the old while embracing the new and how to create comforting connections. In this fact sheet, co-developed by parents and professionals, parents share their knowledge gained from experience and provide practical, real life examples, that can help support families and their children who are experiencing grief and bereavement.
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