Reintegration event fosters family support

Rick Wood/Northwest Guardian

For children of military families, the separation from mom or dad can sometimes be difficult and stressful.

In an effort to support its student’s needs, Beachwood Elementary School teamed up with several organizations including Army Community Services, 555th Engineer Brigade and Child, Adolescent and Family Behavioral Health Preponency for their military support night deployment and reintegration fair.

Principal Josh Zarling said because of the school’s population is made up of mostly military families, bringing together these resources is important for the overall health of the student body.

“We are proud to support our families,” Zarling said. “The units here do so much for us.”

The school is integrated with Army and Air Force units, he said.

The school is located in a housing area near American Lake on JBLM Lewis North.

“We have far more awareness being on JBLM,” Zarling said.

Hundreds of children, parents, educators and support volunteers displayed materials, conducted classes and demonstrated resources aimed at mitigating the impact of combat deployments on families and children.

The evening ended with a skit performed by the Beachwood Brigade that outlined problems that can crop up for military families and their respective solutions.

Fourth grade teacher Kristie Rodriguez helped her son, Kyler, place a photograph of his father into a doll designed to help children cope with parental deployment.

Like so many JBLM families, Rodriguez’s husband is currently deployed.

“Helping children stay connected with their deployed family member really helps the reintegration process when the Soldier comes home,” Rodriguez said.

Rodriguez was one of several teachers who hosted coping strategies, resources and projects in his room.

Other rooms displayed various resources from educational services to family physical fitness.

In one room, children colored pictures to send to deployed family members at the Families Overcoming Under Stress (or FOCUS) table.

In another, volunteers from Grandstaff Library read to a group of children from books specifically aimed at helping children understand deployments.

Diane Zumwalt, a registered nurse volunteering with New Parent Support Program, discussed resources available to support military families during a pregnancy.

555th Engineer Brigade commander Col. Michael Brobeck said it was good to see a strong showing of families, Soldiers and children.

“I think it’s an incredible value for families and children,” Brobeck said. “It’s an opportunity to see how they are making an effort to understand the effects of deployments and stress.”

The “Triple Nickel” supports Beachwood Elementary through numerous projects like the recent construction of the school’s track, he said.

“We enjoy a great partnership with them,” Brobeck said. “They are reaching out to us and we’re there.”

Resources for even the youngest children were included for families whose children range from birth to high school and beyond.

Monica Dixon worked on a quilt in one room as part of the Quilts for Kids Program that supplies Child and Youth Services, Madigan Army Medical Center and other agencies with quilts for military children.

As the spouse of a retired military member, Dixon said it was important to show her support.

“I like to do my small part to help these families,” Dixon said.

The Beachwood Brigade ended the evening’s events with their performance of a skit that illustrated the issues families face when a parent is deployed and some solutions.

Entitled “Too Many Chores,” the dramatization made light of common problems faced by children.