Purple Stars: A Mission for Engaging and Supporting Military Families
Prevention Leaders w/ Dave Closson
English - October 04, 2023 21:14 - 46 minutes - 40.6 MBHow To Education Homepage Download Google Podcasts Overcast Castro Pocket Casts RSS feed
In this episode of the Prevention Leaders podcast, host Dave welcomes Sarah, a Military Family Resiliency Specialist from Kentucky. Sarah, who has been making a significant difference at local, regional, and national levels, delves into her background, growing up in a military family. She shares poignant personal stories, including her father's deployments, her brothers' military experiences, and the tragic loss of her older brother to suicide, which deeply impacted her family.
Sarah's journey into the realm of prevention was marked by a transformative experience when she attended a QPR (Question, Persuade, Refer) suicide prevention training. This experience underscored the importance of upstream prevention and the immense power of information. As she discusses the nuances of engaging with military families, Sarah emphasizes the need to understand their unique challenges. She highlights the establishment of the Purple Star Award program in schools, which aims to recognize and support military-connected students. This initiative, along with her collaborations with the VA and other military organizations, showcases her commitment to the cause.
Building resiliency in military families is a key focus for Sarah. She talks about offering evidence-based curriculum and training to these families and the role of schools in supporting military students. Community engagement and understanding stand out as crucial elements in her approach. Sarah also generously shares a list of resources and recommendations for further support, including "Make the Connection," the "VA Community Provider Toolkit," "Sesame Street for Military Families," the "Military Child Education Coalition," "Military OneSource," and "KYPurpleStar.org."
Episode Links:
Sesame Street for Military Families
Military Child Education Coalition
DJC Links:
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