With so many families in Minnesota affected by recent military deployments, thousands of children are experiencing the challenges of having a parent away for an extended period of time. Approximately 5000 Minnesota National Guard and Reserve soldiers have been called to active duty, resulting in almost 15,000 children who have been directly affected by deployments. Children affected by these changes need support and friendship more than ever support that mentors can provide.

To effectively support these children and their families, mentor programs must become better informed about the unique challenges military families face. A good source of information is the Parenting Education Resources website of the University of Minnesota Extension. It provides links to resources like Tough Topics tip sheets on Helping Kids Cope with Stress and Supporting Military Kids During Deployment.

Minnesota National Guard-Families
The Family section of the Minnesota National Guard website provides information and resources to assist Minnesota Families before, during and after a family member's deployment.
Military One Source
The Military One Source website provides an array of tools and connections to support services for military families.
Tough Topic 1: Supporting Military Kids during Deployment
See these "Tough Topics" tip sheets provided by the National Guard Child and Youth Program for parents and others concerned about children in military families.
Tough Topic 2: Helping Kids Deal with Stress
Tough Topic 3: The Impact of Grief and Loss