Student- and Parent-Led Programs Aiming To Improve School Transitions for Military Youth and Families

Training Sessions Scheduled 

     Teachers and administrators might make strong efforts to welcome military-connected children when they transition into new schools.

     But for students, there's nothing like having a peer to connect with during those first awkward days and weeks in a new place. 

     That's the idea behind the Military Child Education Coalition's (MCEC) Student 2 Student (S2S) program, which trains both civilian and military students to develop and maintain programs to support students when they are transitioning between schools.

     Now the program is coming to four Southern California districts that are partners in the new Welcoming Practices that Address Transition Needs of Military Students in Public Schools consortium grant from the Department of Defense Education Activity. 

     The San Diego and Riverside County's school liaison officers (SLOs) are excited about having this additional layer of support for military children.

     "Student 2 Student is a wonderful mentorship program that provides transition support, peer support and a sense of connectedness for all students involved," said Kelly Frisch, the regional SLO for Command Navy Region Southwest. "It is an all-around great program intended to enhance new students' experiences in a welcoming environment."

     The four districts participating will be Bonsall Union, Oceanside Unified, Chula Vista Elementary and Temecula Valley Unified. A total of 19 schools will be involved. The initiative will have four components:

• S2S: This original program focuses on high school students and on helping incoming military students navigate their new surroundings and form positive relationships.
• Junior S2S: This middle school version is customized to address the concerns of students in grades 6-8 and includes a focus on bullying prevention.
• Elementary S2S: This version for younger students involves more school professionals as supervisors. Students develop peer leadership skills.
• Parent 2 Parent: This parent training program teaches military parents how to advocate for the educational needs of their children as they transition between schools. 

     The winning entries in MCEC's recent S2S video contest provide an up-close look at how these programs are making school transition a less stressful experience for military-connected children.

March 3-4, Elementary S2S for Chula Vista district
March 6-7, Elementary S2S for Temecula Valley district 

Building Capacity Intern Receives Scholarship, Finds Passion in Helping Military Children and Families

     Brian Kane, a masters of social work student at the USC San Diego Academic Center and a Building Capacity intern at Fallbrook High School, has received a scholarship from the Gary Sinise Foundation, which supports promising student  veterans.

    Kane, who was medically discharged from the Army following a debilitating back injury, tells his story of recovery in a recent feature from the USC Center for Innovation and Research on Veterans and Military Families.

     "I would like to become a school social worker," Kane says. "I have interned at a school for two years now, and found that it is my passion. I want to help military children and their families."