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 koblinsk@umd.edu

• Jayne Fitzgerald jefitz@umd.edu

• Alexandra Bitonti abitonti@terpmail.umd.edu

• Military Families Internship Article http://www.ncfr.org/ncfr-report/focus/military-families/internship

Thank you!