Advocacy and Awareness
Objective data on the effects of military deployment on child
and adolescent mental health has yet to be systematically
gathered.
However, through collaborative practical experience and
emerging research, it is becoming more clear that military
children and adolescents exposed to parental deployment
experience ambiguous loss and stress, often beyond
normative levels, that may become toxic if not detected and
addressed in a timely manner.
Since significant academic investment in exploring these
effects has not yet occurred, more practical and empiric
strategies have emerged as interim solutions.
Participants from across the Armed Services have begun a
collaborative effort to oversee and coordinate research,
training, youth support, and advocacy efforts.
Some of the major facilitators of this effort have included
the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), the Uniformed
Services Section and the West and East Chapters of
the AAP, the Office of the Army Surgeon General, and
military pediatricians from all branches of the service.
The major impetus for this work came with a $20,000 grant awarded by the AAP in May 2005 through the Friends of Children Fund and the Healthy People 2010 Chapter Grant Program.
AAP 2007 Military Child Resolution (PDF)
The AAP Annual Leadership Forum Resolution "Critical Action to Support the Children and Adolescents of American Military Families" was adopted as a priority top 10 resolution in Mar 2007. (link to resolution). As a result of this resolution, the AAP has provided several opportunities to increase education and awareness of the issue of military youth including a technical paper that is in the process of development between the AAP Section on Uniformed Services and the Committee on Psychosocial Aspects of Child and Family Health. Additionally, an article in Pediatrics in Review is being published as well as coverage in an upcoming Prep Audio in Aug 2008.
Listen to COL Elisabeth Stafford, MD, FAAP, FSAM speak at the National Summit on America's Children about the importance of military youth issues here. (Advance to 52:08 to hear Dr. Stafford's comments.)
Listen to MAJ Keith Lemmon, MD, FAAP speak at the Helping America's Youth regional conference in Nashville on behalf of military youth here.
Listen to Dr. Steve Cozza and other distinguished representatives discuss Connecting with Military Youth at the Helping America's Youth regional conference in Denver here.
