Supporting the behavioral and mental health needs of military children

Abstract

It is estimated that there are 1,678,778 military children in the United States, with 80% of them attending U.S. civilian operated public schools. Therefore, it is critical that educators across school settings have access to information that supports the academic, behavioral, and social emotional health of military children. The current paper provides an overview of the resiliency that military children possess, as well as the unique challenges they may experience as part of military life, including the deployment cycle Further, available mental health supports for military children and families are provided for schools to consider as part of their overall support for military children and families.

Keywords:

• Deployment cycle
• military children
• military families
• military supports in schools

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Lexi V. St. John

Lexi St. John, Ed.S, is a recent graduate of Loyola University Chicago and a nationally certified school psychologist. She is currently practicing in an early learning center and a middle school in Mt. Prospect, Illinois. Her research interests include supporting military children in the educational system and the implementation of Multi-Tiered Systems of Support.

Pamela Fenning

Pamela Fenning, PhD, ABPP is a professor of school psychology at Loyola University Chicago and co-directs the school psychology program. She is a licensed clinical and school psychologist in Illinois. Her research interests center on alternatives to suspension and racial and disability equity in school discipline.