Communicating Operation: Military Kids to Political Stakeholders

1. Communicating Operation: Military Kids to Political Stakeholders CYFAR Conference 2010

2. Presenters • Mary Ellen Welch, University of Connecticut • Lisa Marcinkowski, University of Connecticut • Kendra Wells, University of Maryland • Mona Johnson, Child, Adolescent & Family Behavioral Health Proponency • Kevin Wright, Washington State University

3. To define the term “stakeholders” for the purpose of the workshop To identify strategies for communicating with stakeholders that can be replicated To discuss unique approaches adopted in several states including the stakeholders reached and the results To identify resources that can be readily accessed for reaching the educational community Workshop Objectives

4. To analyze the results of a national OMK survey on “Communicating OMK to Political Stakeholders” To engage in an action-planning process to facilitate sustained communications with OMK stakeholders upon returning to your state To receive a guide summarizing the results of the survey Workshop Objectives

5. There are many types of stakeholders Stakeholders are people who will be affected by an endeavor and can influence it, but are not directly involved with doing the work Stakeholders influence programs, products and services It includes any organization, governmental entity or individual that has a stake in or may be impacted by a given approach Any group or individual who can affect or is affected by the achievement of the group’s objectives. Definition of Stakeholders

6. Extension Council Congressional Legislative Meetings in Washington, D.C.State Legislative ReceptionMeeting with UCONN University PresidentMary Ellen Welch

7. Target Audience • Seven Congressional Legislators • State Legislators and their staff • UCONN University President

8. Stakeholders Reached • 7 Congressional Leaders during past two years • 225 State Legislators each year for two years • 1 Meeting with President of University, Dean/Associate Dean of College of Agriculture & Natural Resources

9. Stakeholder Support Built • Briefings and Inquiries from U.S. Congressional Aides • Individual inquiries from local state legislators, OMK brochure and OMK corporate reports distributed • Recognition and letter of thanks for helping military children and families from university president • Recognition from Dean and Associate Dean of College of Agriculture and Natural Resources at UConn

10. Washington State Military Kids and Families SummitCare, Connect, CollaborateKevin Wright

11. Target Audience • Military Families • Military Service Providers • General Public • Educators/School Personnel • Mental Health Professionals • Youth Development Professionals • Businesses serving Military Families

12. Stakeholders Reached • 1,100 over three years • Military Families – 80 • Military Service Providers – 250 • General Public – 150 • Educators/School Personnel – 100 • Civilian Mental Health Profs. – 200 • Youth Development Professionals – 200 • Businesses serving Military Families - 150

13. Stakeholder Support Built • Participants increased awareness of issues facing military children & families • Service providers were able to learn about latest research about effects of deployment • Providers were able to connect and collaborate to reduce duplication of services and provide more seamless support • Youth panel promoted OMK and giving youth a voice in programming • Political stakeholders saw collaboration of services and resources among providers

14. Military Dayat the Maryland State FairKendra Wells

15. Target Audience • General Public • Military Families • OMK Partners • Maryland State Fair Leadership

16. Stakeholders Reached • General Public: 350 • Military Families: 75

17. Stakeholder Support Built • General public increased awareness of OMK and ways to become involved. • Military families - free admission, meal tickets, and a program making them more aware of the resources of our OMK team • OMK partners all have an opportunity to set up displays. • Day has full support of the Maryland State Fair Leadership.

18. State Department of Education – OMK Website and Tough Topics PublicationsMona Johnson

19. OMK Resources Designed Specifically for Educators: • OMK Webpage http://www.k12.wa.us/OperationMilitaryKids/default.aspx • Tough Topics Series & Booklet http://www.k12.wa.us/OperationMilitaryKids/Resources.aspx

20. Target Audiences State Education Agency Leadership District Superintendents School Administrators Counselors Teachers Other School Staff Working with Children/Youth Community Service Providers Parents Military Personnel

21. Stakeholders Reached • Over 10,500 documented website hits annually on WA State Dept of Education OMK website • 8,213 requests to download Tough Topics informational series & booklet in 2009 from schools across state and nation • 454 individual parent & teacher emails received in 2009 by identified State Dept Education POC requesting additional school transition services.

22. Stakeholder Support Built • User friendly tools created and distributed free of charge to educators across state and nation • Increased educator awareness about the unique needs of military kids facing multiple deployments • Increased understanding of how schools can participate as active and engaged partners in OMK • Increased support by state and local education leadership for OMK

23. Communicating OMK to Political Stakeholders Survey Results Lisa Marcinkowski CT OMK Program Coordinator

24. Key Stakeholder Audiences

25. Effective Communication Methods

26. How These Methods Built Support

27. RSG! Trainings for State Legislative staff (PA) Online RSG! Training for Health Care and Social Workers (IA) Statewide Television Show on ABC Affiliate (VT) Booth at League of Cities Annual Conference (ND) OMK Birthday Party/Recognition Event (WI) Communicating with Neighborhood or Condo Associations (NJ) San Antonio Livestock Show Youth Day (TX) Unusual Ideas

28. OMK Stakeholder Communication Action Plan • In small groups, pick an OMK Stakeholder Communication Project • Objectives • Goals • Plan of Action • Budget • Measuring Success

29. Share Plans

30. Questions???Thank you for coming!

31. Contact information: • Mary Ellen Welch, University of Connecticut mary.welch@uconn.edu • Lisa Marcinkowski, University of Connecticut lisa.marcinkowski@uconn.edu • Kendra Wells, University of Maryland klwells@umd.edu

32. Mona Johnson, Child, Adolescent & Family Behavioral Health Proponency mona.m.johnson1@us.army.mil • Kevin Wright, Washington State University wrightkc@wsu.edu

33. Ideas for Reaching Political Stakeholders Communicating OMK to Political Stakeholders Workshop CYFAR 2010

34. State Legislative Day/Reception sponsored by University 4-H Citizenship Day at the Legislature Month of the Military Child Proclamations Presenting at Governor’s Conference on Public Health (IA) Emails/mailings Phone calls Briefings Corporate Reports and brochures RSG! Training (Pending in PA) Reaching State Legislators

35. Start or become an active member of a statewide task force to share information about OMK with other agencies. The PA OMK Coordinator joined the PA CARES task force for veterans & military affairs and now chairs a committee on children’s issues. The IA OMK Project Director connected with Community of Care, a community based support network that includes the Iowa Department of Human Services, Iowa Child Health Specialty Clinics, the Center for Disabilities and Development, and more. Reaching State Agencies

36. Briefings with Department Directors, Deans, and University Presidents Regular correspondence/program updates Annual Stakeholders Meeting at URI 4-H Volunteer Leader Forum (DE) Community Service Capstone Project through the University of Vermont Participate in Department events like Cornucopia Fest at UConn Reaching University/Extension Department Officials

37. State Military Kids & Families Summit Military Youth Appreciation Day (GA) Military Symposiums (NH) Military Family Events through your partners Yellow Ribbon Events FRG Meetings Briefings RSG! Trainings Corporate Reports and Brochures Reaching Military Officials

38. OMK booth at the League of Cities Annual Conference (ND) Regional Report for County Commissioners (MN) OMK briefings for county staff members (KY) Emails/mailings Phone calls Corporate Reports and Brochures Participate in community events Reaching Local Elected Officials

39. Extension Department Council Trip to DC to meet with all state Congressmen and Senators or their staff (CT) Legislative Community briefing for Congressman John Carter and other political leaders (TX) Reaching Federal Legislators

40. Ready, Set, Go! Trainings in person and online for school staff and school board members Briefings Participate in school or school district fairs Afterschool program conferences School nurse or social worker conferences Present at school in-service days Calls, emails, flyers, websites Work with School Liaison Officers on installations Reaching Educators

41. OMK Birthday Party and recognition event at the Fighter Wing (WI) Briefing for American Legion Child & Youth Committee Mid-Winter Conference (NY) OMK camp video shown at the Idaho State Elks Conference Presenting at community meetings with JFSAP team (WY) Participate in partner events Reaching OMK Partners

42. Ready, Set, Go! Trainings Working with neighborhood or condo associations Articles in community newsletters Exhibit at community events like: State Fairs San Antonio Livestock Show Youth Day (TX) Reaching Community Members/Groups

43. OMK Brochures/Fact Sheets OMK Corporate Report Websites/Facebook Pages SOMK Videos RSG! Workshops VIP Packets for Invited Guests SOMK Youth or Military Family Speakers Media Outlets—local TV stations, radio stations, articles for newsletters, press releases, etc. Communication Tools

44. Lisa Marcinkowski Program Coordinator for CT Operation: Military Kids University of Connecticut 860-885-6106 Lisa.marcinkowski@uconn.edu For more survey information contact: