High quality, evidence-based resources are publicly available online from many organizations. The Clearinghouse for Military Family Readiness at Penn State identified some of the most relevant, useful, and accessible resources across multiple topics, such as military culture, deployments, parental injury, student grief, and reintegration. Please click on each topic area to view the identified resources that may be helpful to you as you work with military-connected students and families.
Title | Description | Categories | hf:tax:taxonomy_resources | |
---|---|---|---|---|
A Guide to the Interstate Compact for Schools and Local School Districts | This guide helps schools and local school districts understand the provisions of the Interstate Compact. | Interstate Compact | View | interstate-compact |
ADDitude Magazine | Free resources for learning about the distractability, impulsivity, and working memory problems associated with ADHD that can contribute to student behavior issues. | Behavior | View | behavior |
Advocating for Military Children: A Resource Guide for Educators and Community Partners Child & Youth Program | This guide is intended to help educators build coping skills in their students during and after a military deployment. The goal is to bring needed support and understanding to the process and maintain an optimal learning environment in the classroom and the school. | Deployment and Parental Absence | View | deployment-and-parental-absence |
After A Suicide: A Toolkit for Schools 2nd Edition | This resource provides an overview for schools to respond in the immediate aftermath of a suicide death of a student. This resource was developed primarily for administrators and staff in middle and high schools, but it can also be useful for parents and communities. | Student Suicide | View | student-suicide |
Be a Military-Friendly Educator | If you have limited experience with military families, becoming familiar with the structure, culture, and life of the military can be helpful. This information can be used as an introduction or quick refresher about military life. | Military Child | View | military-child |
Breathe, Think, Do – Teaching Children to Cope with Negative Emotions with Sesame Street | Sesame Workshop developed a free interactive mobile app that demonstrates some emotions children might feel. It teaches children how to deal with negative emotions, such as frustration, through games and activities. | Behavior | View | behavior |
Changing Families: Parental Injury (with Sesame Street) | Sesame Street characters address the difficulties and challenges that may accompany the injury of a parent. | Parental Injury | View | parental-injury |
Child Mind Guides for Educators and Parents | Behavior guides for a variety of diagnoses, including (alphabetically) ADHD, anxiety, autism, bedwetting, depression, and more. | Behavior | View | behavior |
College, Career and Life Readiness for Military and Veteran Children | The Military Child Education Coalition designed this guide to provide some background information and recommendations in order to help you make well-informed decisions about issues regarding the military- and veteran-connected children in grades kindergarten through 12 within your community. | Academics | View | academics |
Communicating With Service Members- Army OneSource | This module addresses the challenges associated with communicating with Army Service members. Although the module was developed for interacting with the Army, the provided strategies can help people communicate effectively with those involved in military life across all Services. | Military Culture | View | military-culture |
Coping with Service Member Injury | Deployments bring changes. This is especially true when a Service member returns due to physical injury, emotional injury, or a combination of both types of injury. The return of an injured parent can be unsettling for the family, especially when children have questions that may not have immediate answers. Because things are constantly changing and may become increasingly challenging, approach the various stages of coping in small steps in order to adjust successfully to the “new normal.” | Parental Injury | View | parental-injury |
Discussing Tough Topics with Kids | As part of a military family, children may have to face the unthinkable. Children can learn how to cope with and overcome very difficult situations, but support is key to their success. The provided materials will help children, teenagers, and parents cope with tough topics, including the injury or death of a loved one. | Parental Injury | View | parental-injury |
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusivity Resources for Classrooms | These resources, which highlight our world’s vast diversity and promote equity, will open students’ minds, get them to reflect on their own privileges, and help them better understand other people, perspectives, and cultures. | Inclusivity | View | inclusivity |
Edutopia: MTSS resources | Review a case study about how one school implemented an MTSS framework. | Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS) | View | multi-tiered-systems-of-support |
Expressing Pride During Deployment (with Sesame Street) | Sesame Street characters communicate the importance of family members being proud of one another, especially during an absence. The accompanying resources are helpful for parents and children to utilize. | Deployment and Parental Absence | View | deployment-and-parental-absence |
For Families: Homecoming Stories | Talk, Listen, Connect, offers strategies and resources to help children through difficult periods of transition and separation that can come with military service. These homecoming stories can help provide support to children. | Reintegration | View | reintegration |
Grief and Loss Workshop (with Sesame Street) | The death of a loved one brings enormous challenges. The Sesame Workshop offers support and resources for families to use during these difficult times. | Student Grief | View | student-grief |
Grief and Loss- Strategies for Children (with Sesame Street) | Through song, Sesame Street characters address the various emotions children may experience during times of loss and also provide strategies to cope with death. | Student Grief | View | student-grief |
Guide for Helping Children and Youth Cope with Separation | This guide was created by the Department of Defense for parents, relatives, teachers, Service members, and community members to help children and youth cope with separation from a parent due to military deployment. | Deployment and Parental Absence | View | deployment-and-parental-absence |
Helping Military Children with Traumatic Grief: Tips for Educators | Children who are grieving the loss of a military loved one can develop traumatic responses in addition to grief responses, or “childhood traumatic grief.” These tips can help educators support these children. | Student Grief | View | student-grief |
Helping Military Children with Traumatic Grief: Tips for Parents | Children grieve in different ways. Military children face unique challenges after the death of a Service member. Some may develop traumatic grief responses, making it more difficult to cope. These tips can help parents recognize traumatic grief symptoms and help their military child cope with traumatic grief. | Student Grief | View | student-grief |
How the Interstate Compact and the Post-9/11 G.I. Bill Affect Military-Connected Students | The National Military Family Association has identified the essential educational provisions included in the Interstate Compact and the Post 9/11 G.I. Bill that affect military-connected students. | Academics | View | academics |
Informational Brochure: Resolving Education Transition Issues for Military Families | This brochure provides clear answers to frequently asked questions about the Interstate Compact. The Interstate Compact on Educational Opportunity for Military Children. This overview outlines the school transition issues that the Interstate Compact addresses to ensure military children have the same access to educational opportunities as non-military peers. | Interstate Compact | View | interstate-compact |
Interstate Compact: Fact Sheet for Service Providers | This fact sheet provides service providers with all the essential information they need to know about the Interstate Compact. | Interstate Compact | View | interstate-compact |
Interstate Compact: Guide for Parents, School Officials, and Public Administrators | This guide provides practical information about the Interstate Compact’s requirements and provisions. | Interstate Compact | View | interstate-compact |
Interstate Compact: Quick Reference Guide | This reference guide organizes all of the essential information about what is covered by the Interstate Compact. | Interstate Compact | View | interstate-compact |
Interventions and Progress Monitoring Toolkit |
| Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS) | View | multi-tiered-systems-of-support |
Levels of Intervention and Evidence | Resources to support the selection and evaluation of Tier 1, Tier 2, and Tier 3 interventions in an MTSS framework. | Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS) | View | multi-tiered-systems-of-support |
Making a Stress Management Plan | This Military Kids Connect module helps students understand and manage stress. | Behavior | View | behavior |
Military Cultural Competence Training | This interactive online training course provides an overview of military culture including organizational structure, rank, branches of service, core values, and demographics as well as similarities and differences between the Active and Reserve components. It is intended to assist civilian mental health providers in better understanding, communicating, and effectively interacting with Service members and their families. Although some of the statistics and demographics information are outdated, the remaining components of the course are useful for navigating military culture. | Military Culture | View | military-culture |
Military Culture: Core Competencies for Healthcare Professionals | This module series reviews the military organization and roles, military ethos, stressors and resources, as well as treatment resources and tools. Although some of the statistics and demographics information are outdated, the remaining components of the course are useful for navigating military culture. | Military Culture | View | military-culture |
Military Family Programs Courses | This list of resources for military-connected children and youth can connect military families with opportunities to prepare their kids for success — both in their education and beyond. | Military Child | View | military-child |
Military Kids Connect- Lesson Plans in Core Subjects that Integrate Military Life Content | Military Kids Connect developed lesson plans that integrate website content about military life and world cultures with key concepts in language arts, math, and other subjects. Each of these ready-to-go lesson plans includes content, instructions, and handouts. | Academics | View | academics |
Military Kids Connect: Identifying and Coping with Stress | Military Kids Connect developed an interactive web-based activity to help children identify ways in which stress is exhibited in different parts of the body and strategies to cope with such stress. | Behavior | View | behavior |
Missouri Schoolwide Positive Behavior Support Handbook | In a 2019 literature review of state-level guidance on Multi-Tiered System of Support for Behavioral Health )MTSS-B, researchers recommended that the MTSS-B materials developed and shared by Missouri’s Department of Education serve as a reference for schools when implementing MTSS-B. both as models for other state departments of education, and as important references for school-based practitioners, in thinking about the implementation of MTSS-B. | Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS) | View | multi-tiered-systems-of-support |
Missouri Schoolwide Positive Behavior Support Tier 1 Implementation Guide | In a 2019 literature review of state-level guidance on Multi-Tiered System of Support for Behavioral Health )MTSS-B, researchers recommended that the MTSS-B materials developed and shared by Missouri’s Department of Education serve as a reference for schools when implementing MTSS-B. both as models for other state departments of education, and as important references for school-based practitioners, in thinking about the implementation of MTSS-B. | Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS) | View | multi-tiered-systems-of-support |
Missouri Schoolwide Positive Behavior Support Tier 2 Team Workbook | In a 2019 literature review of state-level guidance on Multi-Tiered System of Support for Behavioral Health )MTSS-B, researchers recommended that the MTSS-B materials developed and shared by Missouri’s Department of Education serve as a reference for schools when implementing MTSS-B. both as models for other state departments of education, and as important references for school-based practitioners, in thinking about the implementation of MTSS-B. | Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS) | View | multi-tiered-systems-of-support |
Missouri Schoolwide Positive Behavior Support Tier 3 Team Workbook | In a 2019 literature review of state-level guidance on Multi-Tiered System of Support for Behavioral Health )MTSS-B, researchers recommended that the MTSS-B materials developed and shared by Missouri’s Department of Education serve as a reference for schools when implementing MTSS-B. both as models for other state departments of education, and as important references for school-based practitioners, in thinking about the implementation of MTSS-B. | Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS) | View | multi-tiered-systems-of-support |
Model Youth Suicide Awareness and Prevention Policy | This is Pennsylvania’s Model Youth Suicide Awareness and Prevention Policy for school entities. | Student Suicide | View | student-suicide |
NASP School Violence Prevention | The National Association of School Psychologists (NASP) provides brief facts and tips for preventing school violence. | School Violence | View | school-violence |
Parental Injury- Coming Home (with Sesame Street) | Sesame Street characters discuss strategies to address the challenges associated with welcoming home an injured Service member. | Parental Injury | View | parental-injury |
Planning for Homecoming | Families spend weeks preparing for this special day, and the full homecoming experience may last for weeks afterward. However, as with any highly anticipated event, the reality for a family could be different from their expectations. Having your loved one back is wonderful, but it’s also another significant transition. With advance planning, you can help prepare a child for the joys–and occasional stresses–of having his or her family together again. | Reintegration | View | reintegration |
Preparing Children for a Parent’s Deployment | This concise guide provides a list of strategies that can help prepare children for a parent’s deployment. | Deployment and Parental Absence | View | deployment-and-parental-absence |
Preparing Children for Parental Deployment | This module addresses ways in which children can prepare for a parent deployment and emphasizes the importance of communicating with friends and family that are near and far. | Deployment and Parental Absence | View | deployment-and-parental-absence |
Preventing Youth Suicide: Brief Facts and Tips | This fact sheet from the National Association of School Psychologists (NASP) includes brief facts and tips for preventing student suicide. | Student Suicide | View | student-suicide |
Promoting Young Children’s Social and Emotional Health | This resource discusses the importance of socioemotional learning in young children and offers strategies to promote their social and emotional skill development. | Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) | View | social-and-emotional-learning |
Reducing Problem Behaviors in the Elementary School Classroom | Designed for elementary school educators and school- and district-level administrators, this guide offers prevention, implementation, and schoolwide strategies that can be used to reduce problematic behavior that interferes with the ability of students to attend to and engage fully in instructional activities. | Behavior | View | behavior |
Resources for Parents of Military-Connected Children | The Sesame Workshop has developed downloadable documents and strategy guides for navigating the challenges military families and children may experience. | Military Child | View | military-child |
School Nurse Care Toolkit to Increase Awareness & Support to Military Children | This detailed resource provides strategies that can help you support and promote resiliency in children who are dealing with deployment or reintegration. | Deployment and Parental Absence | View | deployment-and-parental-absence |
SEL Strategies and Tools | This resource includes several general strategies and tools to promote social and emotional learning. | Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) | View | social-and-emotional-learning |
Self-Expression (with Sesame Street) | This Sesame Workshop online module promotes and encourages children to express their emotions and practice positive communication. | Behavior | View | behavior |
Staying Strong: Educator Toolkit to Increase Awareness & Support to Military Children in Schools | This guide provides detailed examples of strategies teachers can use to effectively communicate with students and parents in various situations and during different stages of deployment. | Military Child | View | military-child |
Staying Strong: How Schools Build Resilience in Military Families | This video shows ways in which schools can help build resilience in military families by demonstrating exemplary practices and strategies that schools can recreate to support military children. | Deployment and Parental Absence | View | deployment-and-parental-absence |
Suicide Prevention Resource Center: School Resources | A variety of resources that can help schools take action to prevent suicide, and know how to respond after a suicide. | Student Suicide | View | student-suicide |
Talking About the News When a Parent is Deployed | When a parent is deployed, watching, listening to, or reading the news can be worrisome. This guide provides helpful strategies to productively talk about current military-related events with children. | Deployment and Parental Absence | View | deployment-and-parental-absence |
Talking to Children about Grief and Loss | This video explains the concept of death in age-appropriate terms for young children. As it emphasizes the importance of communication and support, it models appropriate behavior and actions that children should follow when they grieve. | Student Grief | View | student-grief |
Talking with Children About a Parent’s Return from Deployment | This guide provides age-appropriate communication strategies and conversation starters to help children talk through a parent’s return home. | Reintegration | View | reintegration |
The CASEL Guide to Schoolwide SEL Essentials | This 70 page mini-book includes key introductory material, concise explanations and illustrations for each focus area, and the most essential tools within each focus area. It is designed to be used as a workbook for a Schoolwide SEL professional learning community or as a reference for coaches and SEL team leaders. | Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) | View | social-and-emotional-learning |
Traumatic Grief for Military Children | These strategies can help teachers provide support to military children coping with a traumatic loss. | Student Grief | View | student-grief |
Typical Behavioral Responses to Deployment | Military Kids Connect developed a guide that describes behaviors students may display as they react to a parent or caregiver’s deployment. | Behavior | View | behavior |
What does an Inclusive Classroom Look Like? | This resource discusses what an inclusive classroom is, and describes the features of an inclusive classroom. | Inclusivity | View | inclusivity |
What Is a Trauma-Informed School? | An overview of the components that make up a trauma-informed school provided by the Treatment and Services Adaptation Center (TSA). | Trauma | View | trauma |
Working with Military Kids: 5-Part Video Series | Military youth face unique challenges. This video series brings together experienced educators to offer their insights into working with this resilient group of young people. | Military Child | View | military-child |