As part of a report on military families, The PBS show Need to Know visited several organizations across the country, including Home Front Hearts, who support the families of military service members. The full story aired on Need to Know on September 9, 2011.

 

Here are two brief clips from the piece that was broadcast:

 

Clip 1: Supporting Military Families: Home Front Hearts 

 

Clip 2: Military Families Struggle with the War at Home - Military Children who Serve our Country 

 

Background Info:

Despite 20 years of experience in nonprofits serving vulnerable populations, Randi Cairns, Executive Director/Founder of Home Front Hearts, had difficulties finding resources for her own family when her husband, a National Guard Captain, was deployed. So in 2008 she founded Home Front Hearts to use some of the skills and resources that she had accumulated as a military spouse, mother of four, and social worker with over 20 years experience.

 

 Although there are many groups working to support military families, the needs of military families exceed the existing capacity to meet them. Significant gaps in services coupled with limited access to them and/or knowledge about what's available have allowed some military families to "fall through the cracks".

 

Home Front Hearts focuses on providing each family or soldier seeking assistance with an individual response, including identifying existing resources, providing referrals or connections, and even rallying communities when established resources are not available.

 

Randi Cairns, Founder/Executive Director of Home Front Hearts, has been named as a top 5 finalist in the Harlequin More Than Words program, which aims to raise awareness about worthy causes that are of concern to women! But, now we need your help, as only the top 3 in public voting will earn $15,000 for their charity.

 

Please VOTE once a day and spread the word to everyone you know who supports our military families!!  Voting runs through November 11, 2011!

 

Make sure to add this link to your daily calendar:

http://www.harlequinmorethanwords.com/vote/randi-cairns/

 

Thank you for voting and spreading the word!

  Don't Let Your Job Title Define You

Job Advice from Christine Brugman, Employment Specialist and Home Front Hearts' Volunteer

 

No matter what position you hold in the office, the military, or at home, your given job title should not limit your ability to be successful in pursuing your career field of interest.  Think of yourself as an ongoing marketing campaign, targeting the career you've always wanted - the dream job.  Focusing solely on your job title to define your skills, experience, and education, can limit your career path and direction. For instance, just because you lack "Manager" or "Senior..." within your given position title doesn't necessarily mean that you lack the corresponding experience.  This is particularly relevant to our military veterans.

 

Does the position of interest require management experience?  Are you hesitant to apply for the position because you have not had "Manager" in your job title?  Start with answering these questions:

 

1. Have you ever been put in charge of something?

2. Do you or have you volunteered for an organization where you were in a leadership role?

3. Have you taken the initiative to create something new, to make something, make business operations more efficient, or save money?

4. Have you mentored or trained a group or another colleague with outstanding results?

5. Have you ever led a project, task, or program?

 

If your answer is "yes" to any of these questions, you have management experience.

 

Click here to continue reading this article. 

 

Anger filled him as he dove downward to survey the damage. He thought sadly of the ones he would be leaving at home, yet he must avenge his squadron. Their mission, which started with a swarm of fifteen of their best aviators, was now up to him alone. He alone must get the much needed supplies to bring back. He circled the camp area again, trying to figure out how he could best outwit his opposition. He saw the others brought down as those barbarians cheered over each direct hit. How could they be so merciless?

 

He soared upwards, in order to gain greater force in his descent, the sun glistening on his wings. This was it, his moment of honor. He smiled slightly as he saw the earth below rapidly coming closer to him ... BANG! It was over in a split second. He barely heard the enemy's comments as he slipped off into an eternal rest.

 

"Come on kids, hurry up and eat your dinner now before any more bugs come. I swear, Harriet, this is the last time we barbecue outside.... !"

 

-- Dee, Home Front Hearts Volunteer