Released: March 23, 2006

Grant To Benefit Guard, Reserve Families - Kansas Communities Invited

MANHATTAN, Kan. – With the war in Iraq moving into its fourth year, many in the state have friends, neighbors or co-workers serving in military reserve units or the National Guard who have been called to serve in Iraq.

As part-time commitments become fulltime assignments, family members at home often are without support services typically available to military families living on – or near – a base such as Fort Leavenworth or Fort Riley.

To help identify and coordinate community-based support services for the families left behind, Kansas has received a $50,000 Operation Military Kids (OMK) grant from the U.S. Army, said Ann Domsch, grant coordinator.

Kansas is one of 14 states receiving the funding in 2006 and one of 34 states participating in OMK, she said.

Representatives from the Kansas National Guard, Air National Guard, Army Reserves, Boys and Girls Clubs, American Legion, 4-H and U. S. Army youth development programs, and Kansas State University School of Family Studies and Human Services are collaborating on the project.

The goal is to help members of Kansas communities learn more about the military process; consider issues, such as stress, time or financial management, that result when a family member, friend or neighbor is deployed; identify needs to support families experiencing deployment; match local resources to needs and develop a delivery plan, said Domsch, who is a retired K-State Research and Extension agent and specialist with experience in family and consumer sciences and 4-H youth development.

Upcoming training sessions are recommended for social service professionals; educators, school board members and personnel; community volunteers, such as a 4-H, scout or church leader who typically works with children and families, law enforcement officials, ministerial staff, legislators, local chambers of commerce members, county commissioners, K-State Research and Extension agents, child care providers, and others with an interest in family and community.

Training sessions are free and scheduled from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. in four locations:

May 2: In Salina, at the Kansas Highway Patrol Building, 2025 East Iron Street.

May 4: In the Kansas City area, at the Johnson County K-State Research and Extension Sunset Office Building, 11811 S. Sunset Drive, Olathe.

May 8: In Scott City, at the William Carpenter Building at 608 Fairgrounds Road.

May 11: In Eureka, at the Community Building, 110 South Jefferson (at the fairgrounds).

A complimentary lunch will be provided to participants in the training sessions.

For registration or more information, contact Domsch at adomsch@ksu.edu or the K-State Research and Extension Northeast Area Office at 785-532-5833. The deadline for registration is April 17.

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K-State Research and Extension is a short name for the Kansas State University Agricultural Experiment Station and Cooperative Extension Service, a program designed to generate and distribute useful knowledge for the well-being of Kansans. Supported by county, state, federal and private funds, the program has county Extension offices, experiment fields, area Extension offices and regional research centers statewide. Its headquarters is on the K-State campus, Manhattan.

Story by:
Nancy Peterson
nancyp@oznet.ksu.edu
K-State Research& Extension News