April 2018 Convening Recap: Military Connected Youth
Posted on: May 1, 2018 | Posted in: Community Blog, Information of the Month
On April 27th, the San Diego Military Family Collaborative introduced the topic of the month on Military Connected Youth. Over 60 military providers, agencies, and individuals gathered to learn valuable information on Military Connected Youth and what it means to work in this area and the unique issues and trends that are seen in the community. Our panel of experts represented Lifestyle Insights, Networking, Knowledge, and Skills (L.I.N.K.S.), Exceptional Family Member Program (EFMP), United Through Reading, and the Military Childrens Collaborative Group. Thank you to our panel experts for sharing their knowledge and expertise!
After the panel was introduced, the SDMFC signed Thank You cards for local schools with high populations of military-affiliated youth and facilitated a resource mapping activity of any organizations and their associated resources and programs that work with military-connected youth in specific regions of San Diego County.
Additionally, groups were asked to create questions that they would like military-connected youth to answer, some of these questions included:
- What keeps you up at night?
- What’s your favorite food?
- What’s the hardest part about being a military kid?
- What fun activity would you like to do in San Diego if money isn’t an issue?
- How do you cope with change?
- What do you think we don’t understand?
- What makes you feel cared about?
- How do you want to connect with other military kids?
- What do you do on tough days?
Download the mapped resources and full discussion here
Check out our fact sheet!
SDMFC Monthly Convenings are every 4th Friday of the month, 10:00am – 12:00pm @ Mission Valley Library. Join us on May 25th for our next one!
Keep connected to our convenings, newsletters, and other community events at https://www.facebook.com/sdmilfam/
Please see below if you would like to watch the panel on Facebook LIVE or to read our panelist bios.
See here for the Facebook LIVE stream of our April 2018 Convening
Panelist Biographies
Jennifer Fencl (L.I.N.K.S.) – Jennifer Fencl has been a military spouse for 16 years. She has 4 children ranging in ages from 9-19. She has been involved with military family resiliency for over a decade, and a part of the L.I.N.K.S. program for the past 2 years. Jennifer is passionate about educating service members, their spouses and children about how to THRIVE as a military family. Along with the L.I.N.K.S. for Kids workshops the L.I.N.K.S program provides education for teachers and educators so that they can better serve their military-affiliated students. jennifer.fencl@usmc.mil
Marty K.Rector (EFMP) – Marty K. Rector is from Muncie, Indiana. She joined the Marine Corps in 1987, after graduating with a Bachelor’s Degree from Ball State University in Muncie, Indiana, and a Master’s from the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, MI. Marty retired in 2008, after serving 21 years with the Marine Corps. She now enjoys serving Marines and their Families by working for Marine Corps Community Services in the Exceptional Family Member Program. marty.k.rector@usmc.mil
Danielle Dawley (United Through Reading) – As the Director of Communications, Danielle strategically leads United Through Reading’s internal and external communication efforts. Working with staff, volunteers, strategic partners and UTR’s Board of Trustees, Danielle helps tell the story of United Through Reading in order to grow awareness and participation across both the civilian and military communities. A graduate of Virginia Tech, Danielle most recently served as the Executive Director of Anchor Scholarship Foundation for six years. As a Navy spouse, Danielle brings a breadth of knowledge and personal experience to United Through Reading that enables her to effectively communicate our mission and connect with United Through Reading supporters and beneficiaries. danielledawley@utr.org
Debbie Nichols (Military Childrens Collaborative Group) – Debbie Nichols’ life changed direction when she and her husband became the guardians to their daughter’s children while serving a deployment in Afghanistan having to learn and experience her granddaughters’ challenges and needs at home, in school and in their community. Debbie has authored,“Deployed Grandparents being Parents”, and co-authored a book with her granddaughters, “Deployed Kids/ How we survived our mom’s deployment” and began blogging and speaking at military family events and community organizations. Debbie and her granddaughters, Ivie & Bailey Caldwell founded Military Childrens Collaborative Group, a nonprofit focused on improving the lives of children connected to the military be it- Active duty, Guard, Reserve and Veteran. debbie@mccgroup.org
Post By: Adrian Edquid. Adrian is a BSW graduate and is serving as an AmeriCorps VISTA for the San Diego Military Family Collaborative.
