Kids Serve Too!

About This Series

The Kids Serve Too! webinar series is designed to support service providers and education professionals who work with military children and families. This Sesame Street for Military Families and OneOp collaborative webinar series invites you to explore resources and strategies related to community violence, military relocation, military caregiving, and young children with special needs.

This webinar series is a collaboration with the Sesame Street in Communities team. For more information on other programming and professional development opportunities with Sesame Street, visit our collaboration homepage

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Temperament-Based Interventions with Children: Part 1

Yavuz-Müren and colleagues (2022) summarize some of the temperament-based interventions that exist. According to these researchers, interventions can be universal (e.g., used with all children to prevent temperament-related problems) or targeted (e.g., used with specific children who need additional support). Overall, temperament-based interventions focus on strengthening the skills of children’s…

Climate Change Resilience and Preparedness: Safeguarding Military Families and Communities

In the OneOp blog post, Climate Resilience in Coastal Military Communities, we shared examples of some of the disaster preparedness work that professionals within the Department of Defense (DoD) are doing to mitigate the impacts of natural disasters on coastal military communities. Through conservation work with the Coastal Resilience DoD…

Key Insights for Military Family Service Providers from the 2023 CFPB Annual Report

The annual report from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau highlights issues reported by service members in 2023. The report is relevant for service providers working with military families navigating financial challenges and barriers. For example, credit or consumer reporting remains the highest complaint overall for both civilians and the military…

Parent Perception of Nutrition Programs: How It Influences Participation and Engagement

Parental perception plays a crucial role in the success of nutrition programs designed to promote healthy eating among children and families in the United States. Programs like the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Education (SNAP-Ed) and the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) have been significantly influenced by how parents view their…

Military Spouse Talent Show Spotlight: The Society for Human Resource Management Report

Military spouses, a skilled and often-overlooked talent pool are there in plain sight. The Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) recently published a report geared towards helping employers realize the potential that military spouses hold and what organizations can do to help in the employment of military spouses.

Celebrating National Family Caregivers Month: Recognizing the Unsung Heroes Among Us

Written by: Rachel Brauner November marks National Family Caregivers Month, a time to honor, celebrate, and recognize the dedicated individuals who selflessly provide care to loved ones in need. A caregiver is someone who helps bridge the gap between the needs of the individual and their abilities, including, but not…

Climate Resilience in Coastal Military Communities

Natural disasters like coastal flooding, heat waves, and hurricanes are just a few of the issues that can affect military families and military installations that are on or near coastlines. As we see year after year with each hurricane season, these storms have far-reaching impacts to infrastructure and communities.

Timeless Strategies for Creating a More Inclusive Workplace

Inclusion drives the success and sustainability of organizations. While October’s National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM) highlights the importance of inclusive practices, these principles are timeless and universally applicable. Let’s explore how to foster a more inclusive workplace, ensuring everyone feels valued and empowered.

The Temperament Factor: How Temperament Can Shape Children’s Social Competence & Behavior

Rothbart and Bates (2006, as cited in Yavuz-Müren et al., 2022) define temperament as inherent individual differences in emotionality (reactivity) and regulation, which are noticeable in early childhood. Temperament is shaped over time by development and experience and influences children’s social, emotional, cognitive, and attentional behaviors.

The Military Housing Dilemma: Balancing Relocation and Rising Costs

Frequent relocations mean that military families make housing decisions more frequently than their civilian counterparts. Finding affordable and available housing can be challenging for families as they navigate a long list of “to-do’s” in their transition preparations (packing, enrolling in school, identifying new care providers, etc.).

The Impact of Energy Drinks on Health and Well-Being: What Does the Science Say?

In recent years, the consumption of energy drinks has grown significantly in the United States. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Greene et al. 2019), approximately 33.5% of adolescents aged 12 to 17 reported consuming energy drinks regularly, while 42% of adults aged 18 to 24 stated…

Mission Possible: Managing Employment Related Stress as a Military Spouse

Military and civilian families encounter various stressors that reflect their unique circumstances. In this blog, you'll discover strategies to alleviate stress related to military spouse unemployment. For military spouses, managing stress and utilizing available resources is essential for personal and family growth.

Promoting Positive Involvement of Military Father Figures

Promoting military fathers' positive involvement in caring for and raising children is a protective factor and promotes positive family functioning. Children exhibit fewer risk behaviors and engage in healthier, positive social skills when their parents are actively involved (El Nokali et al., 2010).

Storytelling as a Tool for Understanding

Storytelling is a universal experience that transcends cultural boundaries, connecting us through shared narratives. It serves as a powerful tool for enhancing cultural competence by allowing us to explore and understand diverse perspectives.

Importance of Nutrition in Breast Cancer Survivorship: Insights for Breast Cancer Awareness Month

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, a time dedicated to raising awareness and supporting those affected by breast cancer. This month also emphasizes the importance of survivorship, and one critical element of that journey is maintaining proper nutrition.

Before, During, After: Supporting Children and Families During Transitions

Students receiving special education services (IDEA, 2004) periodically transition to new programs (e.g., early intervention to early childhood special education , middle to high school). Many students, including students from military families, will move to a new location at various points in their lives (see Williams et al., 2020).

Four Strategies to Pay for Education Expenses

Whether you’re supporting a service member transitioning to civilian employment, alongside a military spouse, or helping both as they explore options for their child(ren), discover four ways for military families to plan for education expenses.

Food is Medicine Programs: Transforming Healthcare Through Nutrition

Access to nutritious food is a fundamental right, yet millions of Americans struggle with food insecurity, a challenge closely linked to the rise in diet-related chronic diseases. The "Food is Medicine" movement is gaining momentum across the United States as an innovative response to this issue, emphasizing that food can…

Setting Compassionate Boundaries: A Practical Guide for Service Providers

How to set compassionate boundaries that protect your well-being while supporting others. This guide explores practical steps for tuning into your feelings, communicating clearly, and fostering healthier relationships in your professional life.

Seamless Shifts: Culturally Responsive Approaches to School-related Transitions

Students who receive special education services will transition into new settings, such as from early intervention (EI) to preschool or middle to high school (IDEA, 2004). Although many families make transitions at other points such as a military family’s deployment, here transition refers to moves between programs when a child…

MySTeP as an Action-Oriented Philosophy for Military Family Transitions

Military life is synonymous with change. Military family practitioners know that, for service members and their families, transitions are a constant companion. From relocations to deployments, the military lifestyle demands adaptability, resilience, and a strong support system. Understanding these transitions and learning how to navigate them can make all the…

The Role of Domestic Abuse Victim Advocates Working with Clients Experiencing Financial Abuse

Coercive control, a characteristic of domestic abuse, and financial abuse – combined with how often survivors are isolated from their natural resources by their abusers – is a solid predictor of financial peril for survivors who leave their abusers.

Securing Economic Stability for Military Spouses and their Families During Transitions

Military family transitions, such as relocations, whether for permanent change of station orders, or other reasons, can be stressful on families and often require time to ensure that the family’s needs are met following their arrival.

From Awareness to Action: Suicide Prevention Support for the Military Community

September is Suicide Prevention Month and it’s an important time to focus on suicide awareness and ways we as service professionals can support our clients. As we all know, suicide awareness and prevention isn’t just a one-month-a-year concern; it is an everyday concern. Suicide prevention efforts are also critical in…

Using Self-Soothing Touch to Reduce Stress

How simple self-touch techniques can help you reduce stress when human touch from others is unavailable or uncomfortable.

Finders, Keepers! Empowering Military Spouses to Maintain Employment through the Military Family Lifecycle

Several new initiatives have been designed to address military spouses’ holistic employment needs, emphasizing not only their financial health, but also their social, emotional, and mental wellbeing. Learn more about how new and emerging employment resources support military spouse professional development.

Breaking the Financial Shame Cycle

Identify ways for service providers to intervene with service members experiencing shame including rapport building, externalizing, spending diaries, and more.

Diabetes and Food Security: Ensuring Access to Nutritious Foods

The intersection of diabetes and food security is a critical issue that affects millions of individuals and families around the world. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), “adults who experience food insecurity are 2 to 3 times more likely to have type 2 diabetes,” as nutritious…

Defining Financial Shame and How it Impacts Financial Hardship

Explore the role of financial shame in avoidance behaviors, financial decision-making, and financial hardship.

Bridging Gaps: Equity-Centered Approaches in Trauma-Informed Schools

Practitioners working with children and families must intentionally use and advocate for practices that support inclusion for all children and address systemic inequities and trauma. One way that practitioners can advance equity and inclusion is by using equity-centered trauma- informed practices, which are grounded in six principles (Venet, 2021).

The Economic Cost of Malnutrition

Good nutrition is important for maintaining health and reducing the risk of many diseases. Malnutrition is defined as an imbalance in the intake of nutrients required by the body to maintain health, resulting in impaired health and well-being.

Culture and its Impact for the Work of Multidisciplinary Teams

Culture is community, and the military has its own distinct culture. Living in the military community can be difficult for some children, youth, and their families. For the MDT (Multidisciplinary Team) who work with those children, youth, and their families, it is important to be cognizant of the importance of…

Accessible Voting: Ensuring Your Rights Are Heard in November

Voting is not just a right; it's a powerful way to shape the future. But for many individuals with disabilities, navigating the voting process can feel like an uphill battle. Whether you're an individual with disabilities or assisting someone who is, voting in person, by mail, or with special accommodations,…

How Does Spouse Employment Contribute to Financial Readiness?

Military spouses face challenges in gaining and maintaining meaningful employment. A military family’s economic security is critical to mission readiness. As such, spouse employment can greatly contribute to financial readiness.

The Economic Impact on Employed Family Caregivers: Balancing Work & Care

The U.S. population aged 65 and older grew nearly five times faster than the total population between 1920 and 2020, according to the 2020 Census. By 2030, over 20% of the U.S. population will be 65 years or older, with the most significant growth occurring among those aged 80 and…

Childhood Obesity: Causes, Impacts, and Approaches

Childhood obesity is a growing concern worldwide, with significant implications for both short-term and long-term health. In the United States, the prevalence of childhood obesity has been increasing exponentially in recent decades.

Four Challenges For Meaningful Everyday Leadership

Imagine two people sitting across from each other. They are making eye contact and their hands are up, gliding slowly through the air. They appear to be mimicking each other. One of them - you can’t tell which - is leading the other. The facilitator tells them to switch leaders,…

Nurturing Futures: How Quality Child Care Supports Family Financial Well-Being

High-quality child care programs are settings in which children receive enriching experiences and engage in responsive interactions that promote their development and learning (Barnett et al., 2010). All child licensed care programs meet minimum licensing requirements in their state, which focus primarily on health and safety. High-quality programs meet standards…

Beyond Intuition: Leveraging Evidence for Ethical Choices

School-related practitioners make decisions that affect students and families every day. The Council for Exceptional Children’s (CEC) Ethical Principle and Practice Standards and the Division for Early Childhood’s (DEC) Position Statement on Ethical Practices remind practitioners to use best available evidence in decision-making.

Why Empathy Matters in Enhancing Support for Military Families

Empathetic communication allows for deeper connections, clearer communication, and trust-building for stronger relationships. For service providers, professional goals often include understanding people’s experiences, accessing needs, and providing personalized treatment plans and services.

How EFMP Providers Can Establish Boundaries While Empowering Parents & Caregivers

The Exceptional Family Member Program (EFMP) providers play a critical role in supporting military families who have dependents with special needs. However, it's essential for providers to create clear boundaries to ensure that parents and caregivers are empowered to advocate for their care recipients.

Self-awareness is the Foundation for Effective Practice

Self-awareness allows financial service providers to respond compassionately to themselves and their clients regarding financial topics and concerns, helping providers identify their potential triggers and biases around money.

Deploying the Use of Mindfulness with Military Service Members and Their Families

Working in a high-stress environment requires the use of stress-management techniques to mitigate long-term stress impacts on a service member’s body, mind, and relationships. One such strategy that you can use daily in your work with military families is mindfulness. The Mayo Clinic describes mindfulness as a meditation practice to…

Options for Federal Government Hiring of Military Spouses

Military spouses face many challenges in obtaining and maintaining full- and part-time employment. The federal government is committed to helping military spouses find rewarding careers.

Family Resource Management Extends Beyond Finances

While financial literacy is paramount, families also should look for ways to manage their collective resources. These range from: time and energy, to personal belongings and the spaces in our homes, to relationships. By managing our resources wisely, we are inadvertently managing our stress levels and mental health.

Breastfeeding: A Review of the Challenges & Benefits

Breast milk is recommended as the best source of nutrition for infants. It is safe and contains important nutrients necessary for infant growth and development.

Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts

Military families can plan for dependent care expenses by contributing a specific amount to the Dependent Care Flexible Spending Account (DCFSA) each pay period. These contributions are deducted automatically before taxes. Identify how it works, eligible expenses, contribution limits, and more.

Exploring Learning Landscapes: Designing Environments to Promote Development for Young Children

When caregivers provide positive and responsive caregiving, children demonstrate improved developmental skills including social emotional skills, (Kim & Kochanska, 2012). Developmentally supportive engagement between caregivers and children is often overlooked during daily activities and routines such as bedtime, mealtime, or riding in the car (Kim & Kochanska, 2012; Song et…

Positive Parenting: A Protective Factor for National Guard/Reservist Families

National Guard and Reservist families experience military life in a unique way as compared to their active duty counterparts. Most National Guard and Reservist families do not live on or near military bases like active duty service members do. Living near a military base provides access to a community of…

Securing the Future: How Social Security Survivor Benefits Support Children After a Parent’s Death

The loss of a parent is an unimaginable tragedy for any child, bringing with it not only emotional turmoil but also financial uncertainty. In such difficult times, Social Security survivor benefits can provide much-needed financial support to children. Understanding these benefits can help ease the burden and ensure that children…

Promoting Healthy Nutrition Amid Economic Challenges

Financial challenges significantly affect families' ability to ensure adequate nutrition. According to data from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), in 2019, approximately 10.5% of American households experienced food insecurity at some point during the year.

Palliative Care vs. Hospice Care: Navigating the Differences for Better Healthcare Choices

When navigating the complexities of serious illness, it's crucial to understand the various care options available. Two terms that often come up are "palliative care" and "hospice care." While they share similarities in their goals of providing comfort and support, they are distinct in several important ways.

The Myth of the Objective

Find out how focusing on ambitious goals and constantly measuring our progress towards them actually decreases the likelihood that we will reach our objective.

Spouses on the Frontline: Battling Depression in the Fight for Employment

Being aware of the ramifications of unemployment and underemployment is critical for providers working in support of military spouses’ educational and employment goals. You may be familiar with the challenges military spouses face when it comes to seeking stable employment, but did you know how this may be impacting their…

Every Kid Belongs: A Guide to Selecting Inclusive Summer Camps

An inclusive summer camp is designed for children with and without disabilities, allowing students with diverse needs and abilities to interact and learn from/with one another. This approach differs from summer camps that are exclusively designed FOR children with disabilities or those that EXCLUDE children with disabilities.

Building Financial Recovery Capital Among Service Members

Building recovery capital can mitigate the stressors often associated with Substance use disorder (SUD) recurrence (i.e., relapse or return-to-use), including financial stress.

Chronic Kidney Disease

Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) occurs when the kidneys lose their ability to function properly over time (Pan American Health Organization, 2022). The kidneys, a pair of organs that remove waste substances from the body, also perform other functions including controlling blood pressure and helping to make red blood cells (Raghavendra…

A Framework for Deeper Community Engagement

Frameworks like the Spectrum of Community Engagement to Ownership can help us sort out why we are engaging the community, how we are engaging them and what might be possible if we deepen that engagement.

Inclusive Summers: Building Camps Where Every Child Thrives

When designing a summer camp, the main goals typically are to have a place where all children are safe, cared for, accepted, and have fun. When most people think of working with children with disabilities, they think of changes that may need to happen for specific children, but designing an…

Find Adventure This Summer with Military Kid And Teen Summer Camps

Summertime is here! The school year is currently wrapping up for many families and communities, and kids are about to be let loose for another fun-filled summer. The question is: what to do with all that free time during the summer months? How about summer camp! Summer camps are a…

Mental Health Resources – Immediate Support When You Need it Most

May is Mental Health Month in the United States, dedicated to raising awareness about mental health issues, reducing stigma, and promoting mental wellness for all. As the month concludes, it's important to remember the efforts of various organizations, mental health advocates, healthcare professionals, and communities.

Understanding and Addressing Financial Challenges in Military Families

As service providers address the needs of military families, grasping their unique financial challenges becomes paramount. Various aspects of military life can significantly affect a service member's or a military family's capacity to meet financial obligations.

Approaching Money Conversations with Military Couples

Discussing money is often seen as taboo (Atwood, 2012). When we think about personal finance, we can often fall into the trap of thinking that means keeping it personal instead of sharing or communicating, especially with our significant others.

Bringing Humility to Collaboration

Humility can be a valuable asset, especially in collaboration and community engagement.

Navigating Employment: The Unique Challenges Faced by Military Spouses

Military spouses often find themselves battling on the employment front, working to secure and maintain careers while managing the unique lifestyle demands of military life. Despite these challenges, there are positive strides being made to support military spouses in their employment journey through in person and virtual employment readiness services.

Financial Infidelity

Money can evoke a variety of feelings like avoidance, safety, and trust. In a romantic relationship, each partner brings their own thoughts, feelings, dreams, and ways of doing things to every aspect of their relationship and the same is true for finances. Service providers can help military families increase connection…

Ultra-Processed Foods: Classification and Health Implications

When it comes to our diets, we often classify foods by food group. We can also classify food based on how the food is prepared in industrial systems before we purchase it.

Identifying Excellence: Key Signs of Inclusive Program Success

Inclusive school-related programs are becoming increasingly common (Williamson et al., 2019). Practitioners and administrators at inclusive programs want to provide the best care and education possible for these children. Here are five indicators of high-quality inclusive school-age programs practitioners and administrators can implement.

The Month of the Military Spouse: Ways to Show Your Appreciation

This Friday, May 10, 2024, take a moment to thank the military spouses you know! This blog covers several ways that you can show your appreciation.

Mediterranean Diet: Examining Barriers to Adherence

The Mediterranean diet has long been recognized as a positive dietary pattern for supporting overall health. The Mediterranean diet includes following a dietary pattern that is based in fruits, vegetables and whole grains; incorporates healthy fats such as olive oil; focuses on small amounts of protein with a focus on…

Standing Strong: Military Families and Maternal Mental Health

From transition cycles across pre-deployment through post-deployment, military families experience unique seasons. Much like the seasons of military life, pregnancy is a process of longevity, lasting from pre-pregnancy well into parenthood.

The Often Overlooked: Children as Caregivers to Individuals with Disabilities

In the intricate tapestry of caregiving, one of the most overlooked groups is children who serve as caregivers to family members with disabilities. These young caregivers often balance their educational responsibilities, personal development, and the demanding role of caring for a loved one (Caregiving Youth Research Collaborative, 2023).

Navigating the Waves of Grief and Loss as a Caregiver

Caring for a loved one who is chronically ill or aging is a journey filled with love, sacrifice, and often, profound personal challenges. Among these challenges is the profound sense of grief and loss that can arise, not only after the death of the loved one but also during the…

Liminality: The Space Between the Stages of Deployment

Being aware of times of ambiguity and uncertainty in the deployment cycle can enhance support and help families know what to expect.

Shared Understanding: Developing a Program-Wide Philosophy of Inclusion

Programs serving children ages birth through twelfth grade may want to become more inclusive to support the diverse needs of students and families in their care. Developing a program-wide philosophy of inclusion is an essential step to making a school-related program more inclusive; a shared inclusive philosophy is an indicator…

Student Loan Repayment Updates

Learn about the return to student loan repayment, the new SAVE plan, historical loan balances and changes that impact borrowers.

Supporting Improved Fruit and Vegetable Intake

The Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommend the consumption of a variety of vegetables and fruits (USDA and US Department of Health and Human Services, 2020). Only 12.3% of adults consume enough fruit, even fewer, 10% meet the vegetable recommendations (Lee, et al., 2019).

What AI Can Teach Us About Making People Feel Heard

In a recent study, AI made people feel more heard than other humans did. AI might not replace humans in making people feel heard, but there are lessons we can learn from AI.

Exploring the Positive Impact of Inclusive Learning Environments

Inclusive programs are prevalent options for students (U.S. Department of Education, 2023). These programs enroll students with and without disabilities in the same classrooms with the same learning opportunities and use practices that support all student’s learning and development.

Identifying Child Sexual Abuse: Ways to Protect Children and Resources for Getting Help

April is National Child Abuse Prevention Month, a time to promote the safety and well-being of all children and families and to recognize the child welfare professionals and allies who work tirelessly to protect children and youth. When talking about child abuse, one of the toughest issues to face is…

Nourishing Low-Income Older Adults: Exploring the Seniors Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program

Written by: Rachel Brauner The state of nutrition among low-income older adults can vary depending on various factors such as access to affordable, nutritious foods, education about healthy eating habits, and socioeconomic status. You may already be familiar with the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), a vital resource for helping…

Social Determinants of Juvenile Mental Health: 5 Things Providers Should Know

Written by: Hannah Bradford and Kalin Goble, M.S.Mental health concerns in juveniles can be complex. Oftentimes, youth mental health concerns are attributed to hormones, stress at school, or just a “normal” teenage attitude. With military children, mental health concerns can sometimes be exacerbated by parental deployment or repeated relocations. It…

How Generosity Promotes Cooperation

How leading with generosity leads to more cooperation.

Understanding Consumer Debt and Strategies for Service Members

Debt accrual has become a necessity for many families to purchase a home, go to college, and make major purchases, like appliances and vehicles. However, problems arise when spending outpaces earning and a cycle of debt intensifies. Consider these strategies to assist service members in navigating consumer debt and repayment…

Environmental Sustainability and Dietary Recommendations

What considerations do you make when providing nutrition recommendations? You might consider personal characteristics such as health conditions, height, weight, age, activity level, and patient goals, along with resources the patient has available to meet the recommendations. When making recommendations, do you consider the environmental impact?

Understanding Financial Stress and Mental Health for Service Members

In addition to inflation, additional economic challenges facing Americans today include rising interest rates, housing prices, and a return to federal student loan repayments. Other financial stressors may include debt, medical bills, or rising day-to-day expenses like food and housing-related costs. Learn about objective and subjective financial worries and how…

Inclusive Storytelling: Using Books Intentionally to Teach About Disabilities

Inclusive classrooms (that include students with and without disabilities) are becoming more common, but they still are not the norm. Students with disabilities are often segregated to special classrooms for most or all of their day, limiting their opportunities to interact with peers without disabilities. This separation of students by…

Cultural Competence and Cultural Humility in Nutrition Care

Written by: Kristen DiFilippo, PhD, RDNFood is many things to many people. At its core, food is fuel that nourishes us and keeps our bodies running. Food is used to celebrate, to socialize, to mourn, to share, and to comfort. Food brings people together. The ways we go about eating,…

Understanding and Addressing Problematic Sexual Behaviors among Children

Cases involving problematic sexual behaviors (PSBs) among children can be challenging for clinicians and non-clinicians to navigate. Clinicians are often working with the family or families involved, including parents and caregivers, but may also need to work with non-clinicians within the school systems the children are in. Addressing problematic sexual…

Recognizing Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month

Written by: Rachel Brauner, Extension Program Specialist, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month occurs each March and provides us an opportunity to reflect on empathy, understanding, and advocacy. The theme for 2024 is A World of Opportunities, helping raise the collective consciousness about the experiences of individuals…

Let’s Nurture Children with Nature

Written by Debra Kellstedt, DrPH, Assistant Professor and Extension Specialist, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service How did you spend your time as a child? Were you one of those “free range” kids who was outside from dawn until dusk climbing trees, skipping rocks, and building forts? The way children currently…

Leadership Research is Missing the Followers

Most leadership research does not recognize leadership as a process or account for the role followers play in co-creating leadership.

Inclusive Foundations: How Fostering Inclusion Moves Diversity & Equity Forward in Classrooms

Children with disabilities may have a difficult time when they start to recognize the ways in which they are different from their peers. These differences may become more noticeable to a child when they enter a new setting, such as entering preschool, moving to the general education classroom, or entering…

Understanding the Cost of Convenience

Our society moves at a fast pace. Most any purchase is available at the push of a button, making delayed gratification a concept of the past. Do you want groceries or merchandise now? No problem. Are you hungry, but don’t have time to get takeout? Don’t worry, it can be…

Nutrition and Cardiovascular Disease: One Piece of a Multi-Disciplinary Approach

Every 33 seconds, someone in the United States dies from cardiovascular disease (National Center for Health Statistics). As the leading cause of death for both men and women, preventing and managing cardiovascular disease is a top health priority (National Center for Health Statistics).

Looking at Partnerships Through the Four Cs

Written by: Bob BertschAddressing complex issues, like military family readiness, requires activity at a variety of levels. While it’s important that work is being done at the level of an individual or single organization, partnering between organizations expands the scope and diversity of activities to better address the complexity of…

Nurturing Leaders: Cultivating Leadership Skills in Children

All students, including those who are young or have disabilities, can engage in leadership activities, beginning in early childhood. Qualities such as determination, passion, and accountability may not come easily to all children. Therefore, it is necessary for teachers to intentionally plan for leadership opportunities, label students’ leadership strengths, and…

Spouses and Stressors of Military Life

While reflecting and processing my feelings about how my fiance's employment changes would impact our lives, I thought of the lives of our military families. The fear of the unknown and the looming stress of potentially managing daily life alone is felt by many spouses/partners of service members. They each…

Why Nature May Be the Best Medicine

Written by Debra Kellstedt, DrPH, Assistant Professor and Extension Specialist, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service What if there was a medication that could reduce your blood pressure, help you feel more focused, and increase your physical activity—all at the same time? Doctors would be prescribing it right and left. Indeed,…

Cyberbullying Safety for Kids and Teens

Online areas share the hazards of being places where bullying behaviors from peers can happen. Although traditional bullying behaviors encompass physical threats and harm, cyberbullying behaviors share many of the same instances of harm that take place. Cyberbullying is defined as the use of electronic communication to bully someone, typically…

Do Workplace Well-being Programs Work?

A study of workplace well-being interventions found no evidence they improve individual well-being. Here's what workers and organizations can take away from the study.

Recognizing Shrinkflation: Tips for Grocery Shopping on a Budget

With the inflation rate sitting at 3.4% as we enter 2024, the price of most goods and services remains high. This is especially true for groceries. The USDA Food Price Outlook reports food prices rose 5.7% from 2022 to 2023

Calories Count: Why Calorie Intake Is Important

Sometime today, pick up a food package and look at the Nutrition Facts. Most likely, the biggest number you’ll see is the number of Calories.

Financial Consideration for Pet Ownership

Brown (2023) estimates that nearly 62% of Americans have a pet, and half of pet owners not only consider their pets to be a part of their family but say they are as much a part of their family as a human member. Financial professionals working with service members who…

Leading Light: Unveiling Essential Leadership Skills

Leadership is a trait many people aspire to develop in their personal and professional lives. For practitioners working with children and students with disabilities, continuously strengthening one’s leadership skills is necessary to improve one’s capacity as a professional.

Food Security: Barriers and Strategies

A good friend recently expressed exasperation at trying to provide healthy meals within a budget. She wanted to know if she should spend more money for healthy food or go the unhealthy route of prepackaged instant food that fit her budget, is high in calories and low in nutrient density?…

Connecting with Self: The First Step to Connecting with the World

Written by: Kalin Goble, M.S. Last month, I completed my first volunteering cycle with a local restorative justice program for teens. Twice a week, we meet and come together in a circle. We begin each meeting with a self-connection check-in. We are guided to close our eyes, take a deep breath,…

Medicare Changes in 2024: What Providers Need to Know

Written by: Andrew Crocker, Senior Extension Program Specialist, Gerontology and Health, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service Medicare is a federal health insurance program for those over age 65 and with certain conditions that make them eligible. It is one of the nation’s largest health payers. In this post, I’ll provide an update…

New Year’s Resolution: Think Differently About Disability

Written by: Andrew Crocker, Senior Extension Program Specialist, Gerontology and Health, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service Approximately 27% of adults in the United States report some type of disability, the most common of which are cognitive and mobility disabilities. Individuals also frequently report some type of hearing or vision impairment…

How Cross Sector Collaboration Supports Military Families

Stories about collaborations that have improved the experience of military-connected kids in schools, built support for military families with LGBTQ+ youth, and helped to reduce food insecurity for military families.

Fostering Bright Futures: Unveiling the Essence of Leadership for Early Childhood Professionals

Leadership roles in early intervention (EI) and early childhood special education (ECSE) include administrators, early childhood coordinators, early interventionists. special education teachers, and speech pathologists. When working with young children, caregivers often see EI/ECSE leaders as individuals with extensive knowledge and expertise in their field. Professionals should demonstrate a commitment…

Research Briefs for Financial Educators: IRAs, Financial Education and Two-Paycheck Families

Below are findings and implications from three 2023 studies relevant for military service providers including information about individual retirement accounts (IRAs), financial education in U.S. high schools and gender-wage information for two-paycheck families.

Encouraging Family Mealtimes to Promote Health and Wellbeing

Sitting down for a family meal is one of my favorite things. I cherish the time spent with good food learning about the ups and downs of each person’s day, being goofy, or sharing struggles. As life gets busy with work and kid’s activities, finding times for family meals can…

How Psychological Safety Helps Organizations Learn and Perform

Approaching stigmatization from the individual level can be helpful, but it is just one part of the environment that allows stigmatization to exist. One way to help people overcome those fears is to increase psychological safety in our organizations.

Working Together: Collaboration across settings to promote social-emotional competence

Young children often receive supports, services, and care in a variety of settings (e.g., early intervention programs and childcare, preschool and private occupational therapy). Children often engage in challenging behavior across settings; therefore, adults should collaborate across settings to prevent and address challenging behavior (DEC, 2017).

Navigating Postpartum Challenges in Military Families: Understanding the Intersection of Race, Ethnicity, and Mental Health

The period following childbirth can be challenging for many new mothers, particularly within military families. Postpartum mood and anxiety disorders (PMADs), encompassing conditions like postpartum depression (PPD), postpartum anxiety (PPA), and postpartum obsessive-compulsive disorder, often pose significant mental health hurdles during this vulnerable time for families. When factoring in race…

Understanding Professional & Institutional Stigma Related to Mental Health

Written by: Lakshmi Mahadevan, Ph.D., Associate Professor/Extension Mental Health & Well-Being Specialist, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service Mental health stigma, as described by Kalichman (2019), encompasses the shame, societal disapproval, or social discrediting experienced by individuals dealing with mental health issues. Within the realm of mental healthcare, two prominent dimensions…

How to Support Attachment and Child Well-Being, Even in Times of Change and Transition

Between birth and age 3, a child’s brain develops one million neural connections per second (Center on the Developing Child, 2007). These connections are built through repeated experiences with their caregivers. Babies are born wired for connection, instinctively drawing responses from their caregivers that help strengthen the bond between them…

Centering Relationships in a Spectrum of Resilience

The U.S. Air Force’s “Spectrum of Resilience” model emphasizes supportive connections with family, friends, peers, and service providers in helping airmen and their families thrive. Effective efforts to improve resilience and readiness should go beyond individual, internal factors to address the network of relationships at all levels.

Weight Stigma

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration recently approved a new medication for weight management in adults with obesity (FDA, 2023). This is just the latest advancement in the management of obesity.

Research Briefs for Financial Educators: Economic Well-Being, Financial Literacy and Buy Now Pay Later

To be an effective financial educator, your work should be informed by personal finance research. Below are findings and implications from three recent studies on economic well-being, financial literacy, and using “Buy Now Pay Later” to pay for groceries:

This is the Way! Partnering with Families to Address Challenging Behaviors

Children’s relationships with their primary caregivers are foundational to their emerging social-emotional development (Morris et al., 2007), which intersects with children’s challenging behavior (DEC, 2017). The Division for Early Childhood’s position statement on challenging behavior outlines five practices practitioners can use to partner with families to address challenging behaviors (DEC,…

Impacts of Social Media on Eating Disorders

Mobile technologies are growing exponentially worldwide, reaching 7.95 billion accounts in 2020, 6.06 billion of which are on smartphones.

Male Victims of Domestic Violence

Domestic violence can affect anyone and when it comes to gender, it does not discriminate. Feelings of shame, hopelessness, isolation, and fear surround this painful and confusing public health issue. These feelings, along with a variety of other barriers, make it challenging for victims to talk about abuse. This becomes…

Trick-or-Treat Without Limits: Tips for Accessible Celebrations

Each year, as the leaves change color and the air turns crisp, communities across the globe eagerly prepare for the spooky, delightful festivities of Halloween. It's a time when neighborhoods come alive with decorations, laughter, and the promise of sugary treasures. But, as we revel in the spirit of the…

The Enchanting Oasis: The Benefits of Sensory Gardens for Children with Special Needs

Nature has never failed to amaze us as a profound source of joy, inspiration, and wonder. A sensory garden is a specially designed garden, that provides a wide range of sensory experiences, including touch, scent, taste, and sound in addition to sight. For children with special needs, sensory gardens can…

What Does It Mean to “Help Families Thrive”?

I recently conducted a search for the term "help families thrive" on government websites and found over 2,400 results, surpassing the results for searches like "improve family resilience" (649 results) and "enhance family well-being" (1,710 results). Clearly the concept of "thriving" is appealing, though its exact definition is unclear.

Challenging Behavior: There is No One Definition!

What is challenging behavior? Challenging behaviors are essentially children’s actions that adults find challenging. An adult’s definition of challenging behavior depends on the context (e.g., adult’s experiences, culture, values) (DEC, 2017; NAEYC, 2022). Early childhood practitioners must reflect on what they consider to be challenging behavior and counteract individual and…

Scam Prevention Information for Military Families

Military families are frequent targets for scams. Personal Financial Managers can educate clients about scams and help clients who become fraud victims. Below are some key things to know about spotting and avoiding fraud.

Reframing the Narrative Around Kids’ Food

Most people express far more surprise at my younger daughter liking “adult food” than my older daughter wanting “kid food.” The reactions to their preferences reflect a culture that automatically expects kids’ to prefer certain foods based on their age.

Improving Your Introductions

Introductions are critical to our professional relationships and our everyday social life. Understanding the work that goes into an introduction can help you connect directly with others and mediate introductions between two people.

National Bullying Prevention Month: What Parents and Providers Can Do To Combat Bullying

Every October, communities across the United States come together to observe National Bullying Prevention Month. Bullying is a widespread problem in the U.S. that affects millions of children, adolescents, and even adults. Bullying behavior is very common. According to the CDC, about 1 in 5 high school students reported being…

Combating Public Stigma Surrounding Mental Health

What exactly is public stigma related to mental health, and is it affecting either you or your loved ones? According to Kalichman (2019), mental health stigma can be described as the shame, disapproval from society, or the act of discrediting individuals dealing with mental health issues.

Healthy Mind, Healthy Body: How We Think Matters

The idea that we should “look great and feel amazing” has been prevalent in health for years. Social media, product marketing, and even health campaigns have strongly influenced how we eat and our opinions on how our bodies should look (Rounsefell et al., 2019). While wanting to look and feel…

Taking Care of Mental Health: The Significance of National Suicide Awareness Month

September is more than just the transition from summer to fall; it's also a time when we come together to raise awareness about an issue that affects millions of people worldwide—suicide. National Suicide Awareness Month is a crucial period during which we focus on spreading hope, support, and resources to…

Simon Says: “Let’s Link Gross Motor Activities and Communication Development”

We know that fine and gross motor development are important skills, especially for little people in their early years of life. Motor skills can range from writing or playing with small blocks (fine motor skills), to jumping, walking backwards, or riding a bike (gross motor skills).

Red Light, Green Light: Gross Motor Development in Unstructured Settings

One of the times children grow and develop gross motor skills is during unstructured play times, such as playing with family or friends at home, in the community gym, at the park, or at school during outdoor play. These are times where children use their imagination to explore and acquire…

Rethinking: How Your Mindset Can Transform Stress

We may be able to better cope with stress by practicing rethinking in the moment and adopting a more positive and accepting mindset towards stress.

Merging Motor and Cognitive Development in Preschool

The preschool years are a time of rapid motor and cognitive development. Some children, particularly children with disabilities, may need structured support to develop foundational skills in these domains. Preschool teachers can help their students develop motor and cognitive skills by integrating them into their daily curriculum.

Rejuvenating the Caregiver: Incorporating Respite into Your Routine

Balancing the demands of caregiving with your own well-being can be a challenging task. However, by implementing effective tips and strategies, caregivers can seamlessly integrate essential respite moments into their daily routines, ensuring both their own health and the quality of care they provide.

Using Family Stress Theory as a Tool to Better Understand and Manage Family Stress

Family stress is defined as any stressor that concerns one of more members of the family, or the whole system, at a defined time (Randall & Bodenmann, 2013). When families experience stress, it can reduce their capacity for providing a nurturing environment for their children, which in turn can impact…

Types of Taxable Income

Personal Finance Managers routinely answer questions from clients about income taxes. While January through April is considered “tax season,” May through December is time for tax planning. A key thing service members need to know is types of income and how they are taxed.

Rejuvenating the Caregiver: The Significance of Respite Care in Sustaining Well-being & Quality Care

Caregiving can be incredibly rewarding, but it can also be physically and emotionally draining, leading to burnout and decreased well-being. A vital, but often overlooked, aspect of caregiving is respite: taking a break or having a temporary relief from caregiving responsibilities. Respite helps provide caregivers with much-needed physical, emotional, and…

Medicaid and Food Insecurity: What Personal Financial Managers Need to Know

The statistics are startling! Among U.S. active-duty service members and their families, almost 26% are food insecure. Food insecurity means that someone’s diet has reduced quality, variety, or desirability (low food security) or there are multiple disruptions of eating patterns and reduced food intake (very low food security).

Sleep Restriction and Weight Gain

Despite sleep being vital for humans, more than one-third of the world’s adult population sleeps less than 7 hours a night. Sleep restriction can increase the risk of weight gain, cardiovascular disease, hypertension, dyslipidemia, and type 2 diabetes (van Egmond et al., 2023).

Managing Conflict in Collaborative Teams

Conflict is a normal and regular part of collaboration and teaming. While most of us would rather avoid conflict at all costs, healthy conflict can strengthen teams, increase creativity of team members, and create meaningful change (Friend, 2020).

Research Briefs for Financial Educators: Financial Advice Deserts, Financial Worries and Planning

“Financial advice deserts” (FADs) which, like food deserts, provide people with little or no access, in this case to financial advice. The study used data from multiple sources about the availability of CFP® professionals and financial behaviors of survey respondents in various states.

Uniting Against Hunger: Raising Awareness About Hunger and Food Insecurity in America

We will soon be rolling into September, and with it comes all the ways we transition into new routines or back into old routines. The school year is also kicking off for many families which means keeping up with scheduling, including meal planning and school lunches. It always amazes me…

5 Tips to Reducing Mental Health Self-Stigma

What is mental health self-stigma? Is self-stigma impacting you? Kalichman (2019) defines mental health stigma as “the disgrace, social disapproval, or social discrediting of individuals with a mental health problem.” Stigma directly affects individuals with mental illness and the loved ones who support them, often including their family members. Subu…

Five Ways to Help Military Spouses Search for a Job

According to the Office of People Analytics (2023), and the 2021 Active Duty Spouse Survey briefing, military spouses have an unemployment rate of 21%. The Bureau of Labor Statistics (2023) indicates that the national unemployment average for the general population is 3.7%. Factors such as PCSing, living on base, and…

Entrepreneurship Options in a Digital Age

One of the biggest decisions service members make is deciding upon a career path after exiting military service. Options include securing immediate employment, attending college or trade school to build human capital, entrepreneurship, or fully retiring.

Promoting Physical, Mental, and Emotional Wellness for Military Families

National Wellness Month takes on an even deeper significance when considering the brave men and women who serve in the military, along with their resilient families. August is National Wellness Month and we wanted to share these resources to specifically help military families practice self-care and to make wellness a…

12 Tips for Providers in Creating Accessible Presentations for Individuals with Disabilities

Written by: Rachel Brauner Individuals with disabilities may need some unique support, resources, or accommodations to successfully transition to and sustain meaningful employment. Whether a wounded service member or military family member with a disability, addressing these individual needs helps ensure equal opportunity and empower the individual to thrive in…

Food Insecurity and Financial Security – Is There a Connection?

In a previous OneOp research brief, an interdisciplinary health and personal finance study by Harter and Harter (2022) was summarized. Study results provide evidence of a link between traumatic adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and adult financial insecurity around food and housing expenses.

Healthy Habits for Life: Keeping Our Kids Active

Summer break is almost over, and school is about to start again. While our kids focus on their studies, squeezing in the recommended daily physical activity can be difficult

Stocks, Mutual Funds, and ETFs, Oh My!

Three places where investors frequently place their money to grow over the long term are stocks, bonds, and exchange-traded funds (ETFs). Personal Finance Managers likely get asked many questions about them. This post describes characteristics of each investment and key differences among them as shown in the table below.

Not In It Alone: Supporting Single Military Service Members

Service in the military demands immense dedication, courage, and sacrifice for all members and their families. We often share a lot of resources and support for military families, as we want to provide care for military service members who are parents, as well as military spouses and their kids. In…

Understanding ADA as it Relates to Service Members with Disabilities

Written by: Rachel Brauner Enacted by Congress in 1990, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) prohibits discrimination against individuals with disabilities in areas such as employment, public accommodations, and access to services. Service members with disabilities have certain rights, aimed at ensuring equal opportunities, fair treatment, and support for a…

Two Questions to Screen for Food Insecurity

Just over a quarter (25.8%) of U.S. service members are, or have been, food insecure according to recent research conducted by RAND for the U.S. Department of Defense. That’s 1 in 4! Survey findings indicated that about 15.4% of all active duty personnel would be classified by the U.S. Department…

Seven Keys to Investing Resilience

Financial resilience is the ability of an individual or family to withstand events (e.g., job loss, medical emergency, car repairs) that impact their income and/or assets. These incidents are often costly and unexpected.

Ten Strategies for Addressing Food Insecurity With Military Families

From college students to older adults, nutrition and food security has become a critical challenge facing American families. Nutrition and food security is exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, supply chain issues, inflation, and other forces.

Addressing Key Questions About Attachment

By Kelly Bost, Ph.D. and Samantha Iwinski, M.S.In the webinar, “Making the Journey Towards Healthy Attachment” we discuss in greater detail the following: What is attachment? Components of Attachment Attachment Behaviors Attachment Behavioral System Attachment Relationship Classifications of Attachment Patterns Secure Insecure Anxious/Resistant/Ambivalent Insecure Avoidant Disorganized Why is attachment important,…

Stories of Sacrifice and Support: Addressing Food Insecurity in Military Families

For the past few years, food insecurity has become a more prevalent issue faced by an increasing number of families across the nation. The second issue of OneOp’s PowerUp digital magazine explores the impact of food insecurity on military service members and their families and highlights the great impact various…

Can Service Members Play With FIRE?

FIRE is an acronym for Financial Independence (FI), Retire Early. FIRE enthusiasts live frugally and invest a large part of their income to reach a “walking away number” where they can leave a 9-to-5 job and live life on their own terms decades before traditional retirement age.

Helping Parents Through Youth Problem Behaviors

Adults, and parents/caregivers specifically, are the key to youth developing empathy, compassion, and positive social behaviors and responses. Read through a few guidelines for offering support to parents/caregivers whose youth are experiencing (or impacted by) problem behaviors.

Back-to-School Strategies for Parents/Caregivers of Children with Special Needs

As your child prepares to embark on a new academic year, this time can bring on a unique set of challenges and considerations. However, with proper planning, open communication, and a supportive approach, you can help pave the way for your children to experience a successful and enriching educational journey.

What is the Impact of Food Insecurity on Chronic Diseases?

Food insecurity can contribute to a low intake of nutritionally adequate foods that meet individuals' dietary recommendations (Gundersen & Ziliak, 2015).

Becoming a Strong Collaborative Communicator to Support Military-Connected Students

Understanding how to be a strong communicator is an essential skill when developing effective family-to-professional and professional-to-professional partnerships. Each one of us has a style when we communicate, and sometimes, that style may not align with our communicative intention. Knowing your communication style and the process in which you communicate…

Dangers of Leaving Money in Payment Apps

You pay for the meal and your friends quickly transfer their portion via a payment app to you and call it even. You leave the money in the app for the next time you need it. You can probably think of other ways that you and your clients routinely use…

Prioritizing Minority Mental Health

Knowing that mental health disparities exist and are experienced every day by Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) communities, how can we as military service providers bring awareness to the unique struggles that each of these communities face regarding mental illness? Explore several resources that highlight the need for…

Strategies to Reduce the Mental Load of a Military Spouse: Part 2

By Jenny Rea, PhD In part 1 of this two-part blog post, we learned the various stressors that military spouses face due to military life. We also learned how the concurrent buildup of these stressors can increase a military spouse’s mental load. While the Department of Defense (DoD) has made…

Mental Health and Community Capacity Cornerstones: The Military Family Readiness System, Branch-Specific Quality of Life Programing, and Green Spaces/Fun Places

By Keith G. Tidball, PhD and Coral Owen, MSThe Military Family Readiness System is a network of programs and services operated by the Defense Department and other federal, state, and community-based agencies and organizations. The Military Family Readiness System promotes military family well-being by offering programs and services that enhance…

Understanding Mental Health Stigmas – How Do They Apply to Me?

By Lakshmi Mahadevan, Ph.D. What is mental health stigma? Are there different types of mental health stigmas? Are you aware of the specific type of mental health stigma you experience and its potential impact on you? Kalichman (2019) defines mental health stigma as “the disgrace, social disapproval, or social discrediting…

Addressing Food Insecurity in Immigrant Households

By Anne Hogan Food insecurity in immigrant households is a complex issue that affects many families, regardless of race and country of origin (Berning et al., 2022). To prevent food insecurity in U.S. immigrant households, we must understand and address the unique challenges these families face. Barriers to Food Security: Several…

Research Briefs for Financial Educators

Personal finance research informs high-quality financial education briefings, publications, and 1:1 financial counseling with clients. Below are the findings and implications from three recent studies:

Finding Hope and Confidence by Practicing Connection

The Practicing Connection initiative is a place for ideas, inspiration, and information on building skills and creating connections that will help support the well-being of military and civilian families.

Beyond the Binary: Understanding and Affirming LGBTQ+ Continuums of Identity

By Dr. Tiffany Lange, Psy.D. (she/her/hers) In a society where conformity is expected and non-conformity must be “explained”, there are many misperceptions about the LGBTQ+ (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer/Questioning, and related identities) community. Biology and nature are not binary categories, our world is full of spectrums. Yet, society often oversimplifies…

The Mental Load of a Military Spouse: Part 1

When the military spouse feels as though they are doing it all on their own, it can leave them feeling anxious, depressed, and overwhelmed. Multiple stressors on military spouses leaves them carrying much of the family’s “mental load,” and therefore, they likely face a greater need for mental healthcare.

8 Summer Safety Tips for Caregivers of Individuals with Disabilities

By Rachel Brauner As the temperature rises and the sun shines brightly, summer beckons us outdoors for fun and relaxation. However, amidst the excitement of the season, it's crucial to prioritize safety, especially for vulnerable individuals such as those with disabilities. Whether you're a caregiver or simply concerned about the…

Understanding and Recognizing Attachment Behaviors in Children

Humans are social beings, and babies are born with tendencies to bring caregivers toward them to promote survival and social connection. Caregiver-child relationships involve some of the first interpersonal experiences that create feelings of trust, safety, and self-worth in relationships.

Roth IRA Q&A

By Barbara O’Neill, Ph.D., CFP® and Martie Gillen, Ph.D., MBA, AFC®, CFLE The Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) is not the only place where service members can save for retirement. Many may also want to consider a Roth IRA and have questions for Personal Financial Managers. Below are six Roth IRA…

Communication Matters: Building Collaboration to Support Military-Connected Students

Schools are natural places for strong collaborative partnerships. School personnel must work together to plan for a great curriculum and supportive learning environment for all students. Families and educators must work together to support each student inside and outside of the classroom. For military-connected students (MCS), collaborative relationships with schools…

Supporting Military Families Traveling this Summer

By Kristen Jowers, MS MFT Summer is a universal term for family fun. For many, school is out for the summer, and personal financial managers (PFMs) are gearing up to provide families with summer planning support including summer camps, and vacations. As you engage with your clients around their summer plans,…

The Impact of Fireworks on Veterans During Fourth of July

By Rachel Brauner Fourth of July is a time filled with parades and firework celebrations across the United States in commemoration of the Declaration of Independence. While fireworks are a traditional part of the Independence Day celebration in the United States, for some veterans, especially those with post-traumatic stress disorder…

The Role of Nutrition in Improving Cognition in Older Adults

By Rafael Guimaraes de Lima E Silva According to the Centers for Disease Control in 2020, almost 6 million Americans were living with Alzheimer's disease, and this number is predicted to reach more than 14 million in 2060 (CDC, 2023). As we age, we need to be concerned not only…

Ten Tips for Military Families to Survive a “Financial Tornado”

By Barbara O’Neill, Ph.D., CFP® and Martie Gillen, Ph.D., MBA, AFC®, CFLE U.S. consumers haven’t just experienced a “perfect storm” of financial challenges…they have experienced a “perfect tornado!” Challenging financial events include sustained high inflation (and increased costs for food, utilities, rent, gas, insurance, housing, etc.), recession fears, increased interest…

How Practicing Connection Can Cultivate Food Security Collaboration

Together, we explore the skills and practices that can prepare us to work together and grow personally and professionally.

Resource Discovery: Futures Without Violence

By Jason Jowers, MS, MFT Traumatic events related to violence can have very adverse effects on all people, but especially on vulnerable populations like kids and teens. For clinicians working with families, it can also be difficult in navigating and providing support when violence and trauma are taking place. Clinical…

Celebrating Pride: Exploring Opportunities for Inclusion in Financial Services

By Kristen Jowers, MS MFT Pride Month is a time to celebrate the LGBTQ+ community, honor its history, and promote inclusivity and acceptance. According to a survey conducted by the Center for LGBTQ+ Economic Advancement & Research, 27% of transgender respondents experienced anti-LGBTQ+ discrimination in banking or financial services and 52%…

Six Steps for Effective Allyship to the LGBTQ+ Community

By Dr. Tiffany Lange, Psy.D. (she/her/hers) Being an effective ally to the LGBTQ+ (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer/Questioning, and related identities) community is much more than good intentions; it involves personal ownership to engage in self-reflection and lifelong learning. The following “Six Steps for Effective Allyship” provides tips and suggestions for…

Cutting the Cost of Food Waste

By Anne Hogan Each year, the United States throws out 119 billion pounds of food – almost 40% of all food produced in the country (Feeding America, 2023). Throwing out food wastes the money and resources spent to produce and buy that food, and it reduces the amount of food…

Helping Military Families Inflation-Proof Their Budget

By Barbara O’Neill, Ph.D., CFP® and Martie Gillen, Ph.D., MBA, AFC®, CFLE For over two years, U.S. inflation rates have exceeded their long-term average of about 3%. Like all Americans, military families have experienced a loss of purchasing power as their income cannot buy as much as it did previously.…

Serving with Pride: The History and Impact of LGBTQ+ Military Service Members

By Dr. Tiffany Lange, Psy.D. (she/her/hers) LGBTQ+ (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer/Questioning, and related identities) people have existed throughout history (e.g., two-spirit in Native American cultures) and are present in every aspect of society – they are the people we know, the people we love, and even the people who…

Automation Inventory Strategies for Military Families

By Barbara O’Neill, Ph.D., CFP® and Martie Gillen, Ph.D., MBA, AFC®, CFLE Most military family permanent change of station (PCS) moves occur between May and September so personal financial managers are undoubtedly fielding many questions related to service members’ PCS orders. PCS season is a great time to conduct…

Supporting Military Fathers Throughout the Deployment Cycle

By Jenny Rea, PhD More than 1.3 million active-duty members serve in the U.S. military (Department of Defense , 2021). Over half have deployed more than once (Wenger et al., 2018). The majority are married, and 41% have children under the age of five (DoD, 2021). Men make up about…

How Can You Support Military Families Facing Food Insecurity?

We know that many families have been and continue to be affected by rising food costs and job loss that impact their ability to provide nutritious meals for their families. That’s why OneOp has focused much of the 2023 programming on providing research-based and evidence-based information and resources around food…

Tips for Providers & Caregivers to Manage Secondary Trauma

By Rachel Brauner The negative impact of traumatic events can extend beyond those who directly experienced the trauma to caregivers who are subject to secondary traumatic stress. Secondary trauma, also known as vicarious trauma or compassion fatigue, is a condition where individuals who are exposed to the traumatic experiences of…

Outdoor Recreation for Military Family Resilience and Well-being

By Keith G. Tidball, Ph.D. and Coral Owen, MS Outdoor Rx has been in the conversation of veteran well-being for nearly a decade. For those unfamiliar, Outdoor Rx is an effort to take the benefits to health and well-being of time spent outdoors out of the abstract “nice to do”…

How You Can Expand Food Security for Military Families

OneOp is thrilled to announce that on June 7th a selection of expert representatives from federal agencies will gather virtually to discuss resources available to alleviate food insecurity for the military community. The Supportive Programs and Benefits to Expand Food Security for Military Families panel discussion is an excellent opportunity…

Helping Military Families Deal With Debt

Household debt is on the rise in America! According to a recent Federal Reserve Bank of New York report, credit card balances now surpass pre-pandemic highs and balances on mortgages, auto loans, and student loans all increased. Younger borrowers are especially struggling with credit cards and auto loan payments.

Honoring Our Military Service Members and Families: Military Family Resources for Memorial Day

Today is Memorial Day, a time to honor and remember those who have made the ultimate sacrifice while serving in the U.S. armed forces. While typically reserved to honor military service members, Memorial Day is also a time to recognize and support military families as a whole; military spouses, military…

8 Tips to Promote Brain Health & Cognitive Functioning as We Age

By Rachel Brauner Maintaining brain health and cognitive functioning is important for all individuals, but it becomes even more critical as we age. As we grow older, our brain undergoes changes that can impact our cognitive abilities, such as memory, attention, and reasoning. However, there are several strategies that we…

Food Security and Older Adults

By Anne Hogan Photo by Mike Jones/Pexels Food security, or the ability to access adequate, nutritious food, can affect anyone of any age. Older adults (people approximately 65 and older) are often at risk of food insecurity due to the physical and financial challenges of obtaining food and their unique…

Understanding SNAP and Food Security Resources for Military Families

By Kristen Jowers, MS MFT When you type "can military get" into an online search engine, one of the first auto-fill responses is, “Can military get food stamps?" Food costs rose more than 11% from 2021 to 2022, much faster than the annual average of 2% increase (USDA 2023). With…

The Impact of Food Insecurity on Mental Health

When families experience food insecurity, hunger may be only one result. An often-overlooked factor of insufficient access to food is the detrimental impact on mental health. Adults with low food security are more likely to experience depression, anxiety, and heightened stress . Socio-economic background, race, culture, and location all play…

High Interest Savings Options for Military Families

The Federal Reserve raised interest rates for the ninth time in March 2023, bringing the federal funds rate to between 4.75% to 5%. Higher Fed rates, designed to combat high inflation, raised interest charged on loans and variable-rate credit cards but also provided an opportunity for savers to earn higher…

Three Ways Service Providers Can Expand Food Security in Their Communities

In 2021, 33.8 million people living in the United States were food insecure (Weeks et al, 2023). Food security is defined by the USDA as, “Access at all times to enough food for an active, healthy life for all household members” (OPA). Frequent relocations, barriers to spousal employment, and the…

Liver: Just a “Detox” Organ?

By Megan Ng “Detox” and “cleanse” are health buzzwords that are frequently associated with the liver and its role in our body. With those connections being drawn constantly, it is understandable for many of us to believe that the liver is only capable of those two functions. Although the liver…

Mental Health Awareness: Tips for Finding Appropriate Professional Help

By: Lakshmi Mahadevan, Ph.D. According to the National Institute of Mental Health, in 2021, an estimated 57.8 million adults (or more than one in five US adults) experienced some form of mental illness. However, only 47.2% received mental health services. As we recognize Mental Health Awareness Month in May we…

Expanding Food Security in Military Families

Since 2010, the National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) and the Department of Defense have supported OneOp in delivering evidence-based programming focused on improving the well-being of military families. This year, the newest series within the Military Family Readiness Academy streamlines the efforts of these two agencies into a…

Shrinkflation: How Military Families Can Fight Back

One cause of food insecurity among military families is inflation. As food costs rise, the ability to make nutritionally sound food purchases and maintain consistent access to food decreases. In February 2023, food prices were 9.5% higher than a year earlier according to the USDA Economic Research Service. Another cause of…

Social Determinants of Health for Military Families in Transition

By Jenny Rea, Ph.D. Arizona is home to 500,000+ service members, veterans, and their families. I recently had the opportunity to attend the Arizona Coalition for Military Families’ 13th Annual Statewide Symposium in Phoenix. This annual event is Arizona’s only conference that brings together the military, government, and community. The…

Medicaid-Related Efforts to Address Food & Nutrition Security

By Lily Byars Since its inception in 1965, Medicaid has focused on healthcare treatment, prevention, and management. As a joint program between the state and federal government, Medicaid provides healthcare coverage for a large and diverse population including children, adults, the elderly, and some active-duty military families. Medicaid eligibility is…

What Service Members Need to Know About Amended Tax Returns

It happens more than you think. Taxpayers file a federal income tax return only to learn they missed a valuable tax credit, deduction, or adjustment or forgot to report a source of taxable income or remove a dependent. Between 3 to 4 million amended (a.k.a., Form 1040-X) tax returns are…

Mental Health Awareness and Support for Military Families

By Jason Jowers, MS, MFT May is Mental Health Awareness Month and National Military Appreciation Month. During this month of commemoration, celebration, and reflection, it is important to keep in mind the daily sacrifices that military service members and their families make and experience. It is also important to celebrate and…

Tips for Grandparents Raising Grandkids

By Rachel Brauner According to the U.S. Census Bureau, there were 2.7 million grandparents responsible for raising their grandchildren in 2019, and this number is projected to continue to rise. Nearly 8 million children in the United States live in households headed by grandparents or other relatives (Lofquist, D. et…

Twelve Ways to Teach Personal Finance to Military Families

April is Financial Literacy Month and Month of the Military Child. Needless to say, there are many “hooks” for Personal Financial Managers to engage with clients around personal finance concepts. Below are 12 interactive teaching strategies to consider:

Let’s Go Camping! Summer Camps for Military Kids and Teens

By Jason Jowers, MS, MFT Summertime is right around the corner and kids will be finishing up the school year before we know it. With the summer months coming up, many kids will be gearing up for summer camp opportunities as well. And for military kids, there are a number of…

The Sandwich Generation: Providing Care for Both Older Adults & Children

By Rachel Brauner The "sandwich generation" is a term used to describe adults who find themselves caring for both their aging parents and their own children simultaneously. Nearly one-quarter of adults who provide care for at least one parent over the age of 65 also take care of at least…

IECMH Follow-Up Resources

Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health (IECMH) is crucial to consider in promoting children’s healthy development. There are ways to promote IECMH and factors that may influence it. In this blog we share resources regarding (1) materials to educate families and providers on healthy and unhealthy signs of IECMH and…

Resources for Food Insecure Military Families

The statistics are startling! An academic synthesis of empirical studies of food insecurity in military families from the 2010s decade found about 15% of military families- 1 in 7- experienced some level of food insecurity at some point. A more recent study authorized by the Department of Defense placed the…

Healthy Eating Resources for Families Facing Food Insecurity

By Jason Jowers, MS, MFT PexelsAs any parent can tell you, it can be tough to get your kids to eat healthy foods. Proper nutrition is an important part of raising happy and healthy families. But what happens when proper nutrition is difficult to obtain? Not having enough food to eat…

A Commitment to Collaboration for Military-Connected Student Success

It is critical that when forging family-to-practice partnerships (FPPs), collaborators approach one another with an understanding of the myriad of roles we each play in our work and home lives. Whether you are a school professional, a family member, or military personnel, we are each someone plus. We each have…

Shopping for Supplements: Vitamin D

By Megan Ng Image by Angel Sinigersky/Unsplash. Even with longer days and more opportunities for sunshine, many of us still do not receive adequate amounts of the sunshine vitamin, Vitamin D. However sun exposure alone cannot support all of our Vitamin D needs, incorporating supplementation with a healthful and balanced…

How to Select a Mutual Fund: Key Criteria

Personal Financial Managers often get questions about mutual funds and the Thrift Savings Plan’s Mutual Fund Window (MFW). The first mutual fund opened in 1924 and is still in existence today. Since then, generations of investors have faced the task of selecting mutual funds that are appropriate for their investment…

The LGBTQ+ Military Community: Resources for Service Professionals

By Jason Jowers, MS, MFT Many special considerations should take place for service professionals working with military service members and their families who are a part of the LGBTQ+ community. The intersectionality of LGBTQ+ identity and military culture is nuanced and has oftentimes been a clash of values and lifestyles. Service…

The Two Loops of Food System Transformation

The Two Loop Theory of Organizational Change can help service providers and others working within systems in need of transformation understand the roles we can play in changing those systems. Understanding these roles helps resolve the tension between our need to help people and our desire to avoid enabling the…

Strategies to Encourage Healthy Eating for Young Children

In the recent OneOp webinar, Increasing Children’s Fruit and Vegetable Exposure: Tools for Practitioners Serving Families Experiencing Limited Income, Dr. Taren Swindle and Dr. Julie Rutledge provided evidence-based practices early childhood professionals can use to promote positive eating habits. In this blog, we describe the four evidence-based practices, provide specific…

A ChatGPT Primer for Personal Financial Managers

Since launching in November 2022, ChatGPT has become the fastest technology tool to reach 100 million users…ever. Some are calling it “the next transformational platform.” Personal Financial Managers (PFMs) may field questions about ChatGPT or consider its use in their work.

Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport (RED-S): Evaluating the Impact on Health and Performance Your Questions Answered

Over 200 participants attended this free webinar Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport (RED-S): Evaluating the Impact on Health and Performance offered by the OneOp Nutrition and Wellness Team. There was a lively discussion and many questions in the chat pod.

Mental Health in Very Young Children: Defining, Recognizing, and Understanding

The Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health (IECMH) field has grown tremendously with advances in science showing the intricate links between early childhood experiences and later mental and physical health. The COVID-19 pandemic has, even more, amplified the focus on mental health. Indeed, 10-16% of young children may experience mental…

Research Briefs for Financial Educators

Personal finance research informs high-quality financial education briefings, publications, and one-on-one financial counseling sessions with clients. Below are findings and implications for practice from three recent studies:

Aligning with Parents to Support Children Exhibiting Difficult Behaviors

As service professionals who work directly with military families, we have a great responsibility to support the children who accompany service members. Military parents have unique stressors such as deployments, frequent relocations, and the demands of their military duties that require special attention when managing their child's challenging behaviors.

How the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) Can Affect Your Benefits

By Rhonda Romero and Rachel Brauner There is a lot of confusion surrounding the Social Security Administration's (SSA) Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and whether it goes into effect when you are collecting military retirement and/or Veterans Affairs (VA) disability. WEP only goes into effect for retirement benefits. You may be…

Strong Collaborations are Necessary for Military-Connected Student Success

Strong collaborative partnerships have been shown to improve many different educational outcomes for students. Yet, the work and skills required for strong partnerships are often overlooked. Let’s consider just how much planning goes into one successful school day. Each day, when a child wakes up, a family member usually has…

Get to Know the New Social Security Statement

Military service members can collect both Social Security benefits and military retirement benefits, and in many cases, Social Security is a key component of military families’ future income. Therefore, it is important that service members regularly check their personal Social Security statement to learn about future benefits and review reported…

Addressing Barriers to Medical Nutrition Therapy

By Anne Hogan According to the CDC, Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) affects 15% of adults, mostly over the age of 65 (2022). While CKD does not have a cure, one of the best ways to slow the disease progression is to receive Medical Nutrition Therapy (MNT) from a Registered Dietitian…

Go Beyond the Webinar| Increasing Children’s Fruit and Vegetable Exposure: Tools for Practitioners Serving Families Experiencing Limited Income

On March 1st, 2023, OneOp hosted a webinar called “Increasing Children’s Fruit and Vegetable Exposure: Tools for Practitioners Serving Families Experiencing Limited Income.” This webinar featured Dr. Julie Rutledge and Taren Swindle, two fantastic academic professors that shared their expertise on working with families experiencing limited income and how that…

Improve your Youth and Family Programs with Experiential Learning

Experiential learning is more than just a hands-on approach to learning. For one thing, experiential learning doesn’t always mean physically using your hands. Learning can be just as fun and effective when engaging in a discussion as when playing a game or making muffins.

Preparing Fruits and Vegetables for Picky Eaters

By Megan Ng Image by Alex Green from Pexels Broccoli can be equivalent to a monster under the bed for some children. For some families, getting their little one to eat a fruit or vegetable hardly ever goes down without a fight. These revolts against fruits and vegetables are quite…

Motivating Clients to Adopt Positive Financial Behaviors

Personal Financial Managers frequently find themselves in the position of encouraging clients to adopt positive financial behaviors such as increased savings and reduced debt and spending. This is not always easy.

Invisible Injuries: Recognizing Traumatic Brain Injury Awareness Month

Active-duty military service members, especially those that face combat situations, can oftentimes sustain injuries in the line of duty. Physical injuries are much more apparent, which leave physical signs of the trauma sustained. However, there are also many invisible injuries that can be just as traumatic and can affect the…

Key factors in Determining Whether an Individual Receives SSDI vs. SSI

By Rhonda Romero, Public Affairs Specialist, SSA The Social Security Administration (SSA) provides several federal benefits programs and resources to seniors and individuals with disabilities. Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) are two of the most common programs. SSDI pays disability benefits to you and certain…

Smart Uses for 2022 Tax Year Refunds

Much has been written about average 2022 tax refunds being smaller than those received by taxpayers in 2020 and 2021. Some taxpayers who previously received refunds could even have a tax bill.

The Spectrum of Prevention: A Framework to Tackle Food Insecurity in Military Families

By Jenny Rea, Ph.D. Did you know… 25% of active-duty spouses reported food insecurity in 2021? The 2021 Survey of Active Duty Spouses found that 27% of families with children under six experienced food insecurity. Among this same group of active-duty spouses, 41% were unemployed. These findings echo those mentioned…

Teaching Children to Choose Healthy Foods

By Anne Hogan Photo by August de Richelieu from Pexels Many parents and caregivers understand the importance of nutrition for young children. However, encouraging children to make healthy choices can be very challenging. According to the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, children develop food preferences and establish eating habits during the…

9 Things You Should Know About the DoD Survivor Benefit Plan

Service providers, especially Personal Financial Managers, often have conversations with their clients about preparing their families for the future. The DoD Survivor Benefit Plan (SBP) is an important planning consideration for military families. Below are 9 key takeaways that Personal Financial Managers need to know.

Off to College: Preparing Military Teens for Post-Secondary Education

Military teens grow up with their own unique set of challenges. From parental deployments to relocation, teens in military families have learned to be flexible and resilient. That flexibility and resilience can be a great benefit when teens are planning their next steps after high school graduation.

Let’s Talk About Nutrition Security

Food insecurity is about not having the resources to pay for food. Service members are three times more likely to experience food insecurity than their civilian counterparts making a comparable income.

Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport (RED-S): Not Just a Problem for Female Athletes

By Megan Ng Image from Pexels When we think of eating behaviors and sports, many of us may assume that issues arising in that realm are exclusive to female athletes. However, male athletes are equally as vulnerable to irregular eating behaviors. As such, Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport (RED-S) has…

Expanding Military Spouse Employment Opportunities Through Fellowship Program Pilot

By Coral Owen, M.S. Meaningful employment of military spouses relates directly to family satisfaction within the military and overall force readiness. With nearly a quarter of military spouses experiencing unemployment, this is an urgent area of focus. DOD’s Taking Care of Our People directive outlines the need to expand employment…

To Reduce Food Waste, Have a Purpose & a Plan

By Jenna Anding, Ph.D., R.D., L.D. With rising food costs, many of our military families are exploring ways to stretch their grocery budgets. Reducing food waste is one place to start. Nearly 30% of the edible food in the United States is wasted every year, amounting to approximately 28 pounds…

Income Tax Planning Tips for 2023

Income tax season for tax year 2022 (1/1/22-12/31/22) ends April 18, 2023. Whether taxpayers have already prepared their 2022 tax return, or it is still a work in progress, it is not too early to begin tax planning for 2023. Below is a summary of four 2023 tax law changes…

Kids Need Support Too! Self-Care for Military Kids

Everyday stressors can really run down the average family on an ongoing basis. Meal planning, scheduling, and personal and professional stress can cause a great deal of anxiety and can trickle down to kids in the family. And for military families, the pressure is even stronger when you add in…

3 Types of Caregiver Stress

By Mary Brintnall-Peterson, Ph.D. Caregiver stress, also known as caregiver burden, refers to the physical, emotional, and psychological strain experienced by people who provide care for a loved one or family member who is elderly, chronically ill, disabled, or has a mental health condition. Caring for someone can be a…

Beyond Recreation: Addressing Food Insecurity Among Military Families Through Hunting, Angling and Wild Meat Donation

By Keith Tidball, Ph.D. Background Nearly 25% of active-duty military families face food security challenges. (1) Service members and their families may experience circumstances such as limited income, high cost of living, and financial commitments that increase their likelihood of being food insecure. For some lower-ranking active-duty service members who…

It’s Income Tax Season: What’s New in 2022?

It’s officially income tax season and tax returns for tax year 2022 (1/1/22- 12/31/22) are due on April 18, 2023. Many taxpayers are now receiving- and organizing- W-2 forms for salary income, 1099 forms for a wide variety of income sources (e.g., self-employment, royalties, pensions and annuities, dividends, interest, government…

Family Rest & Reconnection: Therapeutic Retreats for Military Service Members and their Families

On a recent flight home, I had the privilege of sitting next to a military service member returning home from a 6-month deployment. We made small talk, and she shared that her husband was also in the service and that they both got deployed around the same time, to separate…

Three Strategies to Better Meet Military Families’ Needs

Military-connected populations, including military families, face unique needs and barriers in finding services and care for family members.

Personal Rules & How they Guide Our Caregiving Decisions

By Mary Brintinall-Peterson, Ph.D. Our caregiver identity is integrated with our other identities. Each of our identities comes with roles, responsibilities, and tasks. Your roles vary with each identity (mother, caregiver, wife, etc.) and have responsibilities like nurse, companion, cook, and many others. These responsibilities have tasks (distributing meds, grocery…

Preparing for Student Loan Payment Resumption

Payments on federal student loans are currently suspended, without interest, until sometime in 2023. In early January, the exact start-up date for payment resumption is unknown due to ongoing litigation regarding the proposed student loan debt forgiveness plan to cancel up to $20,000 of debt held by eligible borrowers.

Seeing Yourself in Networks Supporting Military Families

In my experience working with human networks, I’ve found that one of the best ways to help people start working as part of a network is to show them they are in a network.

Knowing Yourself is Key to Reducing Caregiver Stress

By Mary Brintnall-Peterson, Ph.D Caregiving changes who you are and can lead to stress as you care for the care receiver. Knowing yourself is the key to reducing stress caused by caregiving. Sounds easy—right? The reality is that it’s difficult to truly discover the “why” of our actions and feelings…

After the Webinar: Final 2022 Personal Finance Events

On December 6, 2022, OneOp held its eighth annual Personal Finance Year in Review webinar. During the 3½ weeks between the webinar and December 31, several additional noteworthy events occurred. Below are five topical updates:

Fueling Your Fitness Goals

If your New Year’s resolution is to improve your health, you’re not alone. In fact, this year, the top two New Year’s resolutions in the US are to exercise more and to eat healthier

Research Briefs for Financial Educators: Trust, Financial Capability, and Health

Personal finance research informs high-quality financial education briefings, publications, and 1:1 financial counseling sessions with clients. Below are findings and implications for practice from three recent studies:

Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month: Talking About Consent

February is Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month and an integral part of promoting healthy relationships among teens is talking about consent. According to Teen Dating Violence @TeenDVMonth, “Approximately one in three high school students will be involved in abusive relationships” (2021).

Uplifting the Mental Health of LGBTQ+ Youth

An estimated 5% of the 1.76 million youth in military families identify as Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, or Queer. Surveyed LGBTQ youth with a parent currently serving in the military that experienced high levels of family support reported lower mental health challenges and suicide risk (Trevor Project, 2022). When youth…

Trends in the Relationship Changes of Military Couples During the Reunion Period

The reunion of military couples following deployment is a long-awaited occasion marked by joy, relief, and celebration. However, the reintegration period constitutes a pivotal transition for military couples, and navigating the relationship changes that occur following homecoming can be very challenging.

Strategies for Caregiver Conversations using “I” Messages

By Rachel Brauner Where we approach, the words that we use, our relationship, and the tone that we use can impact the start of a conversation. As caregivers, being able to communicate effectively is one of our most important tools. The goal of good communication is to have all parties…

Significance of Sunlight and Vitamin D During the Winter

Many people know that vitamin D is a nutrient we get through sunlight. However, only taking advantage of the scant days of sunlight within the dark, gray months of winter may not be adequate for your vitamin D needs.

Fraud-Fighting Tips for Service Members

A key message that Personal Financial Managers must impart to service members is that everyone is responsible for securing their own personal identification information to reduce the risk of fraud. By the time law enforcement or government agencies get involved, data and/or money have already been stolen. Below are seven…

Helping Service Members Overcome Stress and Anxiety Challenges

It’s a new year and many of us are getting back into the swing of things after the recent holiday break. Everyone is getting back to work prioritizing their to-do lists for the upcoming year. Many military service members and their families are doing the same. There are many great…

Relationship Changes of Military Couples During Reintegration

By Alex Hietpas and Lynne Knobloch-Fedders Reunion following deployment is a momentous occasion for military service members and their partners. However, homecoming is only the first day of a long and important transition for military couples, and navigating the relationship changes that occur can be quite challenging. A recent study…

That’s the Ticket: Exploring Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health

Infant and early childhood mental health (IECMH) refers to the development of secure relationships with adults and peers, the ability to manage and express a range of emotions, and explore their environment in the context of their family, community, and culture (Zero to Three, 2017). This four-part webinar series for…

Collaborative Connections: Working Together for Military-Student Success

About the Series: Approximately 80-90% of school-aged children in military families attend school in their local school district. Students and their families face unique circumstances related to military service and individual educational needs. A variety of education and family support professionals exist on the military installation and within local schools…

Strategies to “Liven Up” Financial Education Briefings

On an evaluation survey from a recent OneOp webinar, a participant indicated an interest in learning strategies to “liven up” financial education briefings and increase participant interaction. Below are a dozen interactive teaching methods for Personal Financial Managers (PFMs) to consider:

Leveraging the Unique Capabilities of the Cooperative Extension System to Enhance Military Family Readiness

By Coral Owen, M.S. The well-being of families in the military is essential to the Department of Defense (DoD) and its goals for service readiness (National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, 2019). Historically, DoD programs and resources were designed for the service member, but research shows that family-related factors…

2022 Military Personal Finance Year in Review

In December 2022, OneOp held its eighth annual webinar to review noteworthy personal finance events. Among the topics discussed were high inflation, Federal Reserve interest rate hikes, increased mortgage interest rates and car prices, Series I U.S. savings bonds, and stock market volatility. The webinar also described the following military-specific…

Boosting your Workforce Resiliency in the New Year

By Rachel Brauner and Lakshmi Mahadevan, Ph.D. Workforce resilience is used to describe a work environment in which employees can better adapt to adverse situations, manage stress, and retain motivation (Center for Strategies & International Studies, 2022). Employers are facing a burnout crisis brought on by the pandemic—with employees reporting mental health…

Research Briefs for Financial Educators: Veterans, Early Retirement, Financial Fragility

Health and Wellness Programs for Military Families

Each year, many families create resolutions to introduce healthy habits into their lives. These habits often include goals around physical activity, nutrition, and self-care. Incorporating health and wellness practices can help reduce the stress that military families experience throughout the year. By getting the whole family involved, self-care becomes embedded…

Planning a Nutritious Holiday Menu

The winter holidays are just around the corner, and many of us are preparing to make our favorite holiday dishes. As you plan your menu, keep in mind all the creative and delicious ways you can increase the nutritional value of your meals.

Financial Education Insights for Service Providers

Whether you have been a financial practitioner for decades or are fairly new to the field, there are always things to learn about effective financial education. Below are insights for service providers working with military families:

Hope for the Holidays: Military Family Mental Health

The holiday season in the U.S. is typically a time of being thankful, spreading joy, and spending time with our loved ones. We often think of the holidays as a happy time, but for many, the holidays can bring on tough emotions of sadness, separation, and loneliness.

Coming to Reflection “On Slant”

Reflection is an important part of learning about and developing our practice as professionals, but looking inward is not always easy to do.

Year-End Tax Planning Strategies

December is “crunch time” to complete actions for the current tax year (2022) to reduce income taxes and plan ahead for next year (2023). Military families, like all taxpayers, have a number of tax planning strategies at their disposal. Below are five tax topics that Personal Financial Managers may want…

OneOp 2022 Year in Review on SBCY Series, Suicide Prevention, TBI related issues, and more

2022 has been a fantastic year for our team! We have hit record highs with live webinar attendance as well as soaring numbers of views of our on-demand programming via our YouTube page. We have also distributed an amazing amount of continuing education credits for our ever-growing audience based on…

The D-Word – Part 2: Assisting Military Families Through Deployment

By Jenny Rea, Ph.D. As you might recall from Part 1 of this deployment blog post series, the term “deployment” often receives a bad rap. This is due to the fact that deployments have been recognized as the most stressful aspect of military life. In fact, the most significant changes…

Caregiver’s Christmas Wish List

By Mary Brintnall-Peterson, Ph.D. The holiday season is here, and everyone is busy shopping and getting ready for the holidays. A big part of the season is giving and receiving gifts. Gifts come in all shapes and sizes and there is a trend toward giving more than materialistic items. I’ve…

Helpful Hints for Healthy Habits

As 2022 comes to an end, the pressure to form and commit to new habits is high. Aggressive “new year, new me” messages can lead to rushed planning and quick burnout.

Smart Holiday Spending and Debt Repayment

In December, many Personal Financial Managers field questions from military families about holiday shopping and subsequent debt repayment. Below are some tips to share with clients:

The D-Word – Part 1: Preparing Military Families for Deployment

By Jenny Rea, Ph.D. The word “deployment” often receives a bad rap. This is likely due to the fact that deployments have been recognized as the most stressful aspect of military life. While each stage of the deployment cycle has specific emotional challenges, the pre-deployment stage is likely the most…

5 Tips to Stave Off the Holiday Blues

By Rachel Brauner and Lakshmi Mahadevan, Ph.D. “May your days be merry and bright and may all your christmases be white.” Lyrics most often heard around the holidays, but for many, the holidays are not always merry and bright. For caregivers, the holidays can be a time of a rise…

Special Insurance Needs of Military Families

Life is full of surprises and some of them are expensive. As a result, many people transfer the risk of potential loss to a third-party insurance company. Due to the nature of military life, service members and their families have unique insurance needs.

Caregivers: The Key to Successful Youth Assessment and Treatment

Caregivers create the spaces in which we grow, learn, explore, and love. Whether you are working with children, teens, young adults, or older adults, the caregivers supporting them are vital to their lives and well-being. This is also the case when engaging youth, adults, and families in the clinical realm.…

The Impact of Deployment on the Parents of Service Members

By Jenny Rea, Ph.D. Despite the unique challenges that service members face, positive family relationships can serve as a valuable resource in navigating the deployment process, especially for those with limited other support. Studies (e.g., Crow et al., 2016; Gewirtz et al., 2010; Polusny et al., 2011) on the impact of…

Hunting and Eating Game Meat as a Path to Enhancing Food Security Among Military Families

By Keith Tidball, PhD Across CONUS, big game hunting seasons are kicking off, and the most popular game animal, the white-tailed deer, will begin making appearances in freezers and in some family meals. Military family practitioners may benefit from being aware of both the food security and nutritional possibilities of…

Honoring our Nations Family Caregivers: Tips for Providers

By Rachel Brauner Every November, we honor and recognize the more than 90 million Americans caring for a loved one. National Family Caregivers Month (NFCM) offers an opportunity to raise awareness of caregiving issues, educate communities, and increase support for caregivers. Family caregivers, many unpaid, are the backbone of long-term…

Does Money Buy Happiness?

A common concern of Personal Finance Managers (PFMs) is their clients’ financial well-being and happiness. According to research conducted by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), there are four elements of financial well-being

Ward off the Winter Blues

The shorter days and chillier temperatures can significantly affect our mental health. During the winter months, many of us leave, return to the house when it is dark, and go outside less because of the cold.

Go Beyond the Webinar| Suicide Prevention and Intimate Partner Violence

On October 27th, 2022, OneOp hosted a webinar called “Suicide Prevention and Intimate Partner Violence.” This webinar was the second of two webinars featuring Dr. Elizabeth “Gizzy” Gray, the Associate Director of Policy and Legislation with the Defense Suicide Prevention Office (DSPO). September is Suicide Prevention Awareness Month, and we…

2022 Personal Finance Year in Review

Events are offered on different platforms accessible on and off military installations. Many events offer continuing education credits and/or certificates of attendance. Check each event for specific details.

The Caregiver Conflict: Tips for Providers Working with Families

Coping With High Inflation: Year 2

An August 2021 OneOp blog post presented eight money-saving hacks to cope with inflation. At that time, the 12-month percentage change in the Consumer Price Index (CPI) was 5.3% and rising. Thirteen months later, the CPI change in September 2022 was 8.2%, after having reached a 9.1% peak in June.

Reading the Nutrition Facts Label

The Nutrition Facts label is on all packaged foods in the US. Its primary purpose is to inform consumers of the nutrients contained in each food item.

Go Beyond the Webinar| Suicide Prevention and Working with Military Families

On September 20th, 2022, OneOp hosted a webinar called “Suicide Prevention and Working with Military Families.” This webinar was the first of two webinars featuring Dr. Elizabeth “Gizzy” Gray, the Associate Director of Policy and Legislation with the Defense Suicide Prevention Office (DSPO). September is Suicide Prevention Awareness Month, and…

Understanding Medicaid for Service Members & Military Families

By Christopher Plein, Ph.D. Through my work, I often give presentations on topics relating to federal and state health policies and programs. Some of these presentations focus on the study of these topics, others on their application. One key takeaway is that health related policies are in constant development, the…

Overcoming Challenges with Tele-Intervention

In this fourth and final webinar in our series Going Virtual, we will wrap up with a discussion that focuses on two things: 1) what we learned from partnering with families virtually during the COVID-19 pandemic, and 2) how we can use what we learned to overcome and address challenges…

Research Briefs for Financial Educators: Knowledge, Gen Z Education, Illiteracy, and Stimulus Payments

Looking to Nature for Lessons on Interdependence

In her book, Braiding Sweetgrass, Robin Wall Kimmerer writes about the cooperative relationship of corn, beans, and squash, the “Three Sisters.” For thousands of years, Indigenous people in North America have planted these three species together.

Money Misperceptions of Young Adults

Misperceptions are widely-held, but false, beliefs or an incorrect understanding of topics, concepts, or events. A challenge that personal financial managers and other financial educators face is addressing persistent money misperceptions held by clients, particularly those who lack financial education and/or experience.

Practicing Gratitude and Building Better Thoughts

Gratitude is the practice of being actively thankful. Gratitude also nurtures a sense of community, as practicing gratitude positions individuals in a mindset of acknowledging good things (internally and externally) and the positives gained from outside of oneself.

Military Retirement Benefit Basics: Part 2

Last week, we shared 5 key takeaways from the recent webinar about retirement benefits for active duty service members and those in the National Guard and Reserve components. Below are four more takeaways from the webinar, presented by Mark Overberg, Director of Army Retirement Services:

Resource Discovery: Domestic Violence Awareness Month

Supporting military families in many different facets of their lives is both challenging and rewarding for many clinicians around the world. Military families face unique challenges but also are affected by many of the same issues that their civilian counterparts face. One of those hard issues that many families all…

October Is National Farm to School Month!

By Moira M. Tidball, Cornell Cooperative Extension of Seneca County, and Keith G. Tidball, Ph.D. Cornell University, OneOp Community Capacity Building Malnutrition and food security are critical components of community capacity and military family readiness and resilience. An important part of community capacity for military families is the ability to…

National Disability Employment Awareness Month – How Does it Apply to Me?

By Lakshmi Mahadevan, Ph.D. This month we celebrate National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM) to mark the important roles employees with disabilities and employers play in maintaining a productive, diverse and inclusive workforce. According to the Department of Labor, the theme for this year’s NDEAM is “Disability: Part of the…

Military Retirement Benefit Basics: Part 1

The OneOp Personal Finance team recently held a webinar about retirement benefits for active duty service members and those in the National Guard and Reserve components. Below are several key take-aways from the webinar, presented by Mark Overberg, Director of Army Retirement Services:

Personal and Societal Burden of NAFLD

Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD) is becoming a major health concern in the US. As the issue continues to grow, it is essential to understand the major causes and risks of NAFLD and the burden the disease places on individuals and the public.

What to Expect from the OneOp PSB-CY Clinical Assessment and Treatment Overview Courses

Our Problematic Sexual Behavior in Children and Youth (PSB-CY) Overview Course Series has officially launched! To access the courses, go to our OneOp PSB-CY Overview Courses page and click on the purple Course Enrollment button. These four asynchronous courses mark the next phase of programming in our OneOp Sexual Behavior…

Tips for an Inclusive Halloween for Children with Special Needs

By Rachel Brauner and Andrew Crocker Halloween is right around the corner, and we have a few helpful tips for parents, caregivers, and neighbors in creating an inclusive Halloween experience for trick-or-treaters with disabilities. With these helpful tips, you are one step closer to creating an accessible Halloween and safe…

Development of NAFLD

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a condition caused by a build-up of fat in liver cells. In a healthy body, the liver removes toxins and produces bile, a protein that breaks down fat into fatty acids to be digested (Definition & Facts of NAFLD & NASH, n.d.).

Research Briefs for Financial Educators: Life Insurance, Health, Illiteracy, and Gen Z

By Barbara O’Neill, Ph.D., CFP®, [email protected] Life Insurance - This study by Heo et al. examined the role of psychological characteristics (e.g., locus of control, financial self-efficacy, financial and life satisfaction), in addition to demographic traits, in demand for life insurance. Results showed respondents who had a higher external locus…

Moving Toward Interdependence

The conversation Jessica Beckendorf and I recently had with consultant, speaker and facilitator Bjørn Peterson for the Practicing Connection podcast has me doing a lot of thinking about independence, interdependence and individualism. These three concepts play a big role in how each of us sees the world and approaches working…

Social Security and Disability 101 for Financial Educators

The OneOp Military Caregiving and Personal Finance teams recently provided a webinar titled Social Security and Disability 101. The webinar discussed Social Security disability benefits, the SSDI and SSI programs, and other programs that help service members with disabilities.

Is SSDI Similar to the VA’s Disability Compensation Benefits?

The short answer is no. Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) is actually very different from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) disability compensation. Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) pays disability benefits to you and certain family members who meet the definition of disability if you worked long enough – and…

6 Tips for Successful EI Transitions for Military Families

When children move between early intervention (EI) programs or from EI to community programs such as early childhood special education (ECSE), the transitions can be stressful for any family, but military families may have additional, unique stressors associated with the transition process. When a family is relocating due to the…

Thrift Savings Plan Updates for 2022

The OneOp Personal Finance team recently held a webinar about dozens of changes in the Thrift Savings Plan (TSP). These changes became effective on June 1, 2022. Below is a summary of important TSP changes by category:

Looking Through a Social Justice Lens| A Look Back at the OneOp 2022 Military Family Readiness Academy

The OneOp 2022 Military Family Readiness Academy launched back in June of this year. The topic of this year’s MFRA is Family Well-being: Navigating the Social Justice Landscape. Consisting of three asynchronous courses and two-panel discussions with the course authors, this amazing suite of programming highlights lots of great opportunities…

Tips for Budget-Friendly Grocery Shopping

Buying food that is both affordable and nutritious can be a challenge, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, there are ways to attain a healthy and balanced diet while reducing your grocery bill.

Research Briefs for Financial Educators: Capability, Education, Investments, and Housing

Self -Care Awareness Month| Self-Care for Clinicians and Professionals

Self-care is the concept of taking the time to do things that help you live well and improve your overall health, both physical and mental (National Institute of Health, 2021). When it comes to mental health, self-care can help you manage stress, lower your risk of illness, feel rejuvenated, and…

Staying Healthy and Educated with SNAP and EFNEP

In a recent White House conference, the topics of hunger, nutrition, and health were discussed. Some of the country’s top nutrition and food challenges include the increase in diet-related disease, food insecurity, and increasing gaps in health access.

Money-Saving Tips for Uncertain Times

Between a four-decade record high for inflation (9.1% Consumer Price Index over the 12 months ending in June 2022) and rising interest rates as a result of recent Federal Reserve rate hikes, many Americans are being squeezed financially. This is especially true for people with low and moderate incomes as…

Assessing and Treating Problematic Sexual Behavior of Children & Youth| An Intro to OneOp’s PSB-CY Courses

To further the learning that has begun with this series, we are taking this programming one step further. We are happy to announce the launch of our OneOp PSB-CY Clinical Assessment and Treatment Overview Courses. These four asynchronous courses will launch on October 13th, 2022!

Estate Planning for Military Families

The OneOp Personal Finance team recently provided a webinar titled The Importance of Estate Planning for Military Families. The webinar discussed estate planning tools and techniques, document storage, and common estate planning myths.

National Suicide Prevention Month – Disability Resources from OneOp

By: Lakshmi Mahadevan, Ph.D. September is Suicide Prevention Awareness Month. 45,979 people died by suicide in the United States in 2020. Alarmingly 12.2 million adults thought seriously about suicide, while 3.2 million adults made a plan and 1.2 million attempted to kill themselves (CDC, 2022). What is further known is…

Waste Not, Want Not: Stretching our Food Budget by Reducing Food Waste

By Jenna Anding, Ph.D. Caregivers tasked with preparing nutritious meals may be experiencing sticker shock. With rising food prices, many of us are looking for ways to stretch our food budgets. One place to start is by reducing the amount of food that we throw out. Studies suggest that as…

Ways Military Spouses Can Earn Income From Home: Part 2

In Part 1 of this series, we covered how military spouses can earn income through work-from-home or virtual positions. In this segment, we will discuss how they can earn income through owning a business of their own.

Providing Suicide Prevention Support to Military Families

The CDC notes that numerous factors may increase the risk for suicide or protect against it, but experiencing adverse events and violence does show connections to death by suicide. "For example, people who have experienced violence, including child abuse, bullying, or sexual violence have a higher suicide risk" (CDC.gov, 2022). As…

Resource Discovery: Social Security Blue Book

In our recent OneOp Military Caregiving webinar on Social Security and Disability 101 the presenter shared a key resource with participants from the Social Security Administration (SSA). What is this gem of a resource for providers, caregivers, and individuals with disabilities? It’s the Social Security Blue Book, formally known as…

Staying Safe in the Sun

The sun’s rays are at their highest intensity this time of year. Whether you are headed off to the beach or just taking a stroll around your neighborhood, it is important to practice sun safety.

Ways Military Spouses Can Earn Income From Home: Part 1

Military spouses face many challenges when it comes to having a career of their own. Military families can expect Permanent Change of Station orders (PCS) every few years or even be stationed abroad for extended periods. With the constant relocation necessary for military service, it can be difficult for spouses…

Understanding Food Insecurity for Military Families

This blog asks, how can we support military families to overcome food insecurity?

Ten Tips to Cope With Market Volatility

With respect to investments, the word “volatility” refers to sharp up and down movements in prices. For example, the last couple of months have been rough for investors as stocks officially entered the bear market territory. Personal Financial Managers (PFMs) are undoubtedly answering clients’ questions and calming frayed nerves.

Celebrating Family Fun Month for Military Families

This blog provides ideas and activities that military families can do together to connect.

Financial Health: What It Is and How to Achieve It

Personal Financial Managers (PFMs) are in a position to monitor the financial health of military families. This post describes what financial health is, how to assess it, and the 12 steps to achieving it.

Alternative Approaches to Enhance Well-being among Veterans: An Approach for Military Families?

A community’s capacity to support military family readiness and resilience often depends on individual and familial health and well-being (Raeburn et al., 2006). An individual’s health and well-being is impacted by the quality of their surroundings including their exposure to nature. On the service member side, Total Force Fitness alludes…

Disability and Federal Benefits

By Christopher Plein, Ph.D. A key factor in family readiness, be it in the military or civilian context, involves familiarity with resources that may need to be accessed in time of need. Two such important resources are Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI). According to federal…

Research Briefs for Financial Educators: Retirement, Financial Literacy, Online Calculators, Well-Being

Can Active-Duty Service Members Apply for SSDI?

Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) pays disability benefits to you and certain family members who meet the definition of disability if you worked long enough – and recently enough – under Social Security. The Social Security Act defines disability as a person who cannot work due to a severe medical…

Service Members Can Be Millionaires: Tips for Building Wealth

Personal Financial Managers (PFMs) can change their clients’ lives dramatically by sharing information and tools to build wealth. One of their client’s most valuable financial resources is time for compound interest to work its magic on regular savings deposits such as Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) or Roth IRA contributions.

Celebrating Successful Paths of Parenthood

The journey on the road of parenthood paints a colorful patchwork picture that is as varied as the wildflower fields that spring up along our national highways. Before we are born, parents and our parental caregivers are already shaping who we will become. Parents are foundational figures in our development.…

Social Justice and Financial Literacy

Financial literacy is the ability to understand and apply personal financial management skills such as budgeting, saving, investing, and proper credit use, leading to an overall sense of financial well-being. In a recent survey of 2,000 Americans by The Harris Poll (2020), 89% of participants indicated their belief that a…

Mental Health Matters| Mental Health Resources for Underrepresented Populations

Underrepresented groups in the United States face unique struggles regarding mental illness. This includes the mental health needs of the Black community and other underrepresented communities like indigenous groups and people of color. BIPOC stands for Black, Indigenous, and People of Color. Other underrepresented groups also include members of the…

Teaching Children About Money

Financial education mandates have increased across the U.S. As of June 2022, 13 states require all students to take at least one semester of personal finance. In other states, personal finance is an elective or embedded within another course such as math, economics, or entrepreneurship.

A Look into the Nutrition Focused Physical Exam

A registered dietitian’s (RD) job reaches far beyond only discussing food choices. Dietitians have many tools that can be used to determine the nutritional state and needs of their patients.

July is Social Wellness Month: A Guide to Nurturing Relationships and Social Support

What is social wellness? According to Sara Littlefield at Silvercloud Health, “social wellness is the giving and receiving of social support to nurture yourself and others. Your friends, your family, your coworkers, the barista at your favorite coffee place – they’re all part of your social wellness and support network.”…

Research Briefs for Financial Educators: FinTech, Financial Literacy, Investing, and Retirement

Personal finance research informs high-quality financial education briefings, publications, and 1:1 financial counseling with clients. Below are findings and implications for practice from four recent studies:

Continue the Exploration: The Military Family Readiness Academy as a Learning Resource

By Christopher Plein, Ph.D. This summer, our OneOp community has been sponsoring a Military Family Readiness Academy (MFRA) dedicated to the topic of Family Well-being: Navigating the Social Justice Landscape. The Academy provides a helpful gateway for professionals working with families in general, and military families in specific, to acquire…

Decentralized Systems and the Principles of Social Justice

Sometimes we need to be reminded about what is broken. Sometimes, when we are out there trying to improve ourselves, our communities, and our work, we can lose our connection with why we started down a particular path in the first place.

5 Tips for Culturally-Sustaining Practices for Virtual Visits

Adult learning principles can be applied to support caregiver learning during early intervention (EI) visits. These principles and practices can be useful across any time of home visiting or opportunities to partner with families. Here are five tips that can be universally applied to appreciate and help the family sustain…

Tips to Build a Diversified Investment Portfolio: Part 2

Many young service members learn about investing for the first time when they join the military and enroll in the Thrift Savings Plan (TSP). Unless they took a personal finance course in high school or discussed investing with their parents, Personal Financial Managers (PFMs) are likely to be their first…

Caregiving Tips for Service Members & Veterans on 4th of July

The 4th of July or Independence Day is a federal holiday in the United States commemorating the Declaration of Independence from Britain in 1776. Independence Day is commonly associated with fireworks, parades, barbecues, family reunions and other ceremonies celebrating the history and traditions of the United States. Recognize Triggers But…

Engaging Fathers, Empowering Families

There are more than 1.3 million Active-Duty military service members. And of that, Military OneSource reports that men make up the vast majority of Active-Duty members at 82.8%. Actively working to support men’s mental wellness and include and engage fathers is vital to the overall readiness and resilience of every…

Food Justice is Social Justice!

Many Americans don't have access to healthy and nourishing food due to the location or economic status of the household. Families with lower income are at higher risk of vitamin and mineral deficiencies and long-term problems such as obesity, cardiovascular problems, and metabolic disorders.

Practical Applications from the Social Justice and Social Work Panel Discussion

By Robyn DiPietro-Wells On June 15, OneOp hosted a panel discussion with two of the course authors of the 2022 MFR Academy, “Family Well-Being: Navigating the Social Justice Landscape,” and Dr. Jennifer Ho, Professor in the Department of Ethnic Studies and the director of the Center for the Humanities and…

Tips to Build a Diversified Investment Portfolio: Part 1

2022 OneOp Military Family Readiness Academy Series – Family Development and Social Justice Issues

This blog dives into OneOp's 2022 MFRA Series focused on social justice and equity, including one's own understanding of privilege and oppression.

Social Security & Disability 101: Information for Providers & Families

Did you know that military families with a family member with special healthcare needs or a family member with a military-connected disability may receive temporary or permanent supplemental income through Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI)? Join OneOp Military Caregiving and Personal Finance concentrations on July 27, 2022 at 11:00 AM…

Picking Produce: Organic vs. Conventional

Farmer’s market season is upon us, and a variety of summer fruits and vegetables will be hitting the shelves. The hot topic with this influx of seasonal produce is whether to buy organic or conventional.

Webinar Recap: Spouse Employment and Family Financial Readiness

The OneOp Personal Finance team held a webinar, Spouse Employment and Family Financial Readiness, in April. The webinar speaker, C. Eddy Mentzer from the Department of Defense (DoD), who is a military spouse himself, discussed military spouse career and education opportunities and various employment resources available from the DoD.

Resource Discovery: Love is Respect

As far as safety aspects go for everyone, including those within the LGBTQ+ community, we at OneOp have recently been looking more into the research around safety within relationships along with dating abuse, domestic violence, and family violence. One of the key organizations we’ve come across that share resources and…

Personal Finance and Social Justice

As service providers who work with service members from a broad array of racial and ethnic backgrounds, ages, genders, and income levels, it is important for Personal Financial Managers (PFMs), Extension educators, and others to understand the impact of social justice on their work and the families they serve.

TRICARE: Keeping Up to Date on Program Developments

By Christopher Plein, Ph.D. The military health system continues to evolve in an effort to support service members and their families. Central to these efforts is the TRICARE health benefits system which provides access and coverage for a wide array of healthcare services. As part of OneOp, our Military Caregiving…

Research Briefs for Financial Educators: Financial Literacy, Personality Traits, and Retirement

Military Appreciation Month – Resources for Providers

As military service members and military families, the clients and community you serve face particular experiences unique to their status as military service members. From moving every few years due to Permanent Changes of Station (PCS) to the possibility of being impacted by Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) to service members being…

Myths & Facts: Individuals with Disabilities & Mental Health Concerns

By: Lakshmi Mahadevan, Ph.D. According to the Centers for Disease Control, in 2018, an estimated 17.4 million (32.9%) adults with disabilities experienced frequent mental distress, defined as 14 or more reported mentally unhealthy days in the past 30 days. Frequent mental distress is also associated with poor health behaviors, increased…

Ten Steps to Reduce Debt Before Interest Rates Rise (Again): Part 2

By Barbara O’Neill, Ph.D., CFP®, [email protected] Photo by Nataliya Vaitkevich on Pexels In March 2022, the Federal Reserve approved a 0.25% interest rate hike, its first increase since December 2018. As interest rates continue to rise, it is important for military families to plan ahead, especially those with variable-rate debt…

Resource Discovery: May is Mental Health Awareness Month!

For Mental Health Awareness Month, this blog shares resources to help military service members and their families prioritize mental health needs and issues.

Caregiving for Individuals with Disabilities – Preventing Suicide

By Lakshmi Mahadevan, Ph.D. May is Mental Health Awareness month. When working or serving as caregivers for individuals with disabilities, there remains a paucity of information related to managing mental health and in particular preventing suicide. What is known is that suicide rates are much higher among people with spinal…

Social Justice, Health Disparities, & Caregiving

Join us on June 1 as we kick off the 2022 Military Family Readiness Academy (MFRA) focusing on Family Well-Being: Navigating the Social Justice Landscape. The Academy series will address intersections between engaging a social justice mindset as a family service professional, and the ability to support the well-being of…

Ten Steps to Reduce Debt Before Interest Rates Rise (Again): Part 1

In March 2022, the Federal Reserve approved a 0.25% interest rate hike, its first increase since December 2018. More interest rate hikes are likely during the Fed’s remaining 2022 meetings in an effort to aggressively reduce inflation.

Culturally Sustaining Practices and Adult Learning Principles: Where’s the Connection?

To create more equitable early intervention experiences, it is essential for practitioners to use practices that support learning for parents (and other caregivers) and children while considering the family’s cultural values and beliefs. When we use culturally sustaining practices, we invite and encourage cultural and linguistic practices into the early…

Understanding Buy Now, Pay Later Services: Part 2

In last week's blog post, we introduced five key “nuggets” about Buy Now Pay Later Services that Personal Financial Managers (PFMs) need to know, based on our recent webinar. The webinar described how BNPL works, user demographics, connections between BNPL and laws that

Assessing Malnutrition in the Adult Population: The Role of the RDN: Your Questions Answered

Over 300 participants attended this free webinar Assessing Malnutrition in the Adult Population: The Role of the RDN offered by OneOp. There was a lively discussion and many questions in the chat pod

Understanding Buy Now, Pay Later Services: Part 1

The OneOp Personal Finance team recently held a webinar about Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL) services. The webinar described how BNPL works, user demographics, connections between BNPL and laws that protect service members from high-cost loans, and implications for military consumers.

Fighting for Fair Food Systems

Our food is not distributed equally despite the abundance and ability of our current food system to produce food. People of color are the most severely impacted by hunger, poor food access, and diet-related illness.

Article Identifies ‘Opportunities for Cooperative Extension to Support Military Families’

Military families are families first. Though their context and culture might be a bit different – as it is with all families – as Cooperative Extension professionals, part of helping them see the benefits of accessing Extension programming might be promoting our own understanding of the needs of military families.…

VA Solid Start Helps New Veterans Settle into Civilian Life

By Lucas Blankenship The first year following separation from service can be a challenging time for service members and their families. According to the Department of Veterans Affairs Transition Assistance Program, about 250,000 service members transition to civilian life each year. The Department of Veterans Affairs VA Solid Start program…

Understanding the Financial Literacy Divide

Month of the Military Child – Resources for Providers Supporting Military Children

By: Kalin Goble, MS Each part of a young person's life is shaped in some way by the service of their parents and caregiver. When a parent serves in the military, the whole family is called upon to contribute to the military journey in their capacity. All parents have their journey…

Dimensions of Sustainable Nutrition

Sustainable nutrition is the ability of our food systems to provide adequate energy and nutrients to maintain good health and meet the needs of our current and future populations. Sustainable nutrition involves several factors that include our surroundings and personal life coming together to provide nourishment that is mindful of…

Research Briefs for Financial Educators: Daily Paychecks, Social Security, Well-Being, and Credit Cards

Three Insights on Social Justice

Over the past couple of months, we’ve had the opportunity to talk with the authors of the three virtual courses that will be part of the 2022 Military Family Readiness Academy (MFRA) - “Family Well-being: Navigating the Social Justice Landscape.” Social justice is critical to our work.

Go Beyond the Webinar| Support for Reintegration after TBI: Strategies for Advocates, Care Coordinators, and Case Managers

This blog reviews a OneOp webinar on educational information, resources, and strategies to help patients and their families learn about and cope with TBI.

The Planet Friendly Diet: Sustainable Nutrition!

Sustainable nutrition is a terminology used to eat nutritionally dense, affordable, and culturally relevant food to eliminate chronic diseases and nutrient deficiencies while preserving limited natural resources. Some diets are more sustainable than others.

Twelve Income Tax “Need to Knows”

April is the height of “income tax season” and many Personal Financial Managers (PFMs) are busy fielding tax questions from military families. A prior post summarized highlights from the OneOp Personal Finance team’s 2022 income tax update webinar. The webinar focused on filing 2021 tax returns.

Go Beyond the Webinar| Brain Health: Understanding Military-Related TBIs

This blog reviews two OneOp webinars around understanding what is new in the advancement for treating TBI and concussion-related symptoms.

Building Resilience as an Employability Skill

By Lakshmi Mahadevan, Ph.D. For individuals with disabilities, the process of finding and keeping a job can be anxiety-provoking. Learning and applying skills such as resume writing, job application, cover letter writing, interviewing, communicating on the job, and work ethic can all test one’s resilience. It is, therefore, necessary that…

Social Justice as a Pathway to Strengthen Networks and Support Military Family Readiness

As Bowen, Martin & Mancinni (2013) remind us, though many of the stressors associated with military duties and military life are not new, the challenges of today's military service, including lengthy, repeated combat deployments and the associated family separations, represent unprecedented threats to the integrity and well-being of service members…

2022 Academy Series – Coming Soon!

We are very excited to announce the 2022 installment of the Military Family Readiness Academy, coming this June! Family Well-being: Navigating the Social Justice Landscape will focus on individuals’ understanding of social justice and equity. This Academy series will feature three asynchronous courses, panel discussions with course authors and subject…

Four Practices (+ one) for Creating Equity in Virtual Visits

During the first webinar in the Going Virtual Series, we shared four practices and lots of strategies to help early intervention (EI) practitioners engage families in a virtual space. Before we shared those practices, we talked about the importance of reflecting on your own beliefs. This personal level of reflection…

OneOp and the Ukraine Context

By Keith Tidball Amongst the various strains and strands of stress and anxiety stemming from the violence in Ukraine comes the subtle but growing sense of dread and concern among the families of military service members. Practitioners will no doubt experience more urgent inquiries from stressed and anxious family members…

Assessing Malnutrition in Adults: Physical Indicators of Malnutrition

Malnutrition is a serious condition. Contrary to popular belief, malnutrition is present not only in developing countries but also in developed countries as well.

Financial Research Briefs: Estate Planning, Student Loans, FinTech, and Life Satisfaction

Recapping Recent ‘Brain Health’ Webinar & Key Takeaways

By Lucas Blankenship March is Brain Injury Awareness Month. In recognition of this, the OneOp Family Development and Military Caregiving concentrations have partnered with the Traumatic Brain Injury Center of Excellence (TBICoE) for a two-part webinar series on traumatic brain injuries (TBI) in order to raise awareness of the signs…

Keeping the (Social) Work Growing this Month and Onward

The services provided by social workers are crucial to creating and cultivating individual and family wellness. During this time of insurmountable stressors at home and abroad, social workers are pillars in providing vital mental health and behavioral health services. Services that can aid family members in navigating daily anxiety, worry,…

How to Help Your Client Balance Saving Money Versus Paying Off Debt

Finding the balance between paying off debt or saving more money can be overwhelming for military families who may have limited income on top of deployments and relocations.

Practicing Mindfulness, Meditation, and Self-Care to Combat Stress for Military Families

Stress and stressful situations are issues that everyone must deal with and affects individuals and families in a multitude of different ways. This is even more true for military service members and their families. On top of daily, normal stressors, military families must deal with the stress of deployments, transitions,…

Everyone Can Get Malnourished!

Malnutrition is a serious condition defined as inadequate, unbalanced, or excessive nutrient and calorie consumption over time. Common signs of malnutrition are unintentional weight loss, lack of motivation to eat, feeling tired, getting sick often, reduced body functionality, slow growth, and putting on weight as expected in children (WHO, 2022).

Ten Smart Money Moves for 2022

Only three months into 2022, there’s still plenty of time for military families to make good on long-abandoned New Year’s resolutions or to take positive action to improve their finances.

Go Beyond the Webinar| Preventing the Onset of Youth Problem Sexual Behaviors

The goals of this webinar focused primarily on an introduction to the school-based universal prevention program called Responsible Behavior with Younger Children (RBYC), which can be used to prevent problematic sexual behavior directed towards younger children and also peers. Problematic sexual behavior (PSB) of children and youth, as well as…

Highlights from the 2020 DoD Demographics Report

By Jenny Rea, Ph.D. As we begin a new year in supporting military families, it’s important to look back on previous years and reflect on the makeup of service members and their families, and how these demographics have shifted. Fortunately, the Department of Defense (DoD) regularly publishes reports on the…

End Stage Renal Disease – Your Questions Answered!

This is what you have been waiting for! We had so much interest in the renal disease webinar in February that we ran out of time for all the questions. Special thanks to Holly Dittmer for providing answers to questions asked in the webinar End-Stage Renal Disease: Balancing Labs and Food for Quality…

Professionalism Skills for Individuals with Disabilities

By Lakshmi Mahadevan, Ph.D. Employers list professionalism as the one of the top skills they need in their new and current employees. What is professionalism? How does an individual with a disability seeking employment or currently employed learn professionalism skills? How can professionalism be maintained throughout one’s career? According to…

Virtual EI Service Delivery: Insights from Service Providers and Families

When early intervention (EI) abruptly shifted from in-person to virtual services during the pandemic, many providers worked quickly to transfer their skills to the new modality, but few had training in virtual service provision. Providers reported that they had to quickly hone their coaching skills to make virtual visits work.…

Gen Z: What Financial Educators Need to Know

There are currently six adult generations in the United States: The GI Generation (born 1901-1926), Silents (1927-1945), Baby Boomers (1946-1964), Generation X (1965-1980), Generation Y; a.k.a, Millennials (1981-1996) and Generation Z (1997- 2015).

Social Determinants of Malnutrition

Malnutrition is the lack, excess, or imbalance in a person's energy intake and/or nutrients. Malnutrition includes three broad groups of conditions.

Financial Research Briefs: Workplace Financial Education, Money and Relationships, Health Shocks, and Postponing Cognitive Decline

Coming March 2022: An Announcement

As we enter our twelfth year of existence, we feel it is time for a change to better reflect who we are today and to symbolize our future. We analyzed our values and mission as an organization and created a name that reflects those values: OneOp. After careful consideration, we…

Timely TBI Support for Military Families and Caring Professionals

Every impacted individual has a unique experience with their traumatic brain injury (TBI). From the person experiencing TBI, their children, partners, relationships with loved ones, and their greater community, TBIs affect the entire 'village.' This reality is all too true for military service members and their families.

Minimizing Financial Stress Surrounding Deployment: Part 2

There is no doubt that deployment can have a significant impact on a military family’s finances. Part one of this series focused on helping military families prepare finances for deployment.

Minimizing Financial Stress Surrounding Deployment: Part 1

The stressful challenges of financial management and balanced budgeting faced by military families can be exacerbated by deployment if they are not handled properly. Personal Finance Managers (PFMs) can assist military families in preparing financially for deployment.

Sixteen Scams and Frauds for Service Members to Avoid

Scams and frauds are pervasive today thanks to the internet and social media. Victims can be reached and defrauded online by bad actors located far away. The holiday season ups the ante even more. People are busy, tired, and distracted

Take-Aways from AFCPE Military Meet-Ups

During the virtual 2021 AFCPE Symposium, there were a number of sessions designed for practitioners who provide financial education and counseling programs for service members and their families.

The Changing World of Medicaid: Challenges & Opportunities Ahead

By: Christopher Plein, Ph.D. Keeping up-to-date on Medicaid developments is important to those who provide support to military families and caregivers. According to the U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, in July 2021 over 76 million individuals were covered by Medicaid in the United States. By this time, participation…

Putting EI/ECSE Standards Into Practice: Tips & Resources for Standard 7

The Division for Early Childhood of the Council of Exceptional Children, the leading professional organization in EI/ECSE, spearheaded efforts to develop the EI/ECSE standards. It is important for all early childhood professionals to be familiar with these standards to provide the support needed for individual children with disabilities and their…

Financial Research Briefs: Student Loans, Retirement Savings, Military Finances, and Stock Trading Apps

Personal finance research informs high-quality financial education briefings, publications, and 1:1 financial counseling sessions. Below are findings and implications for practice from four recent studies:

Intuitive Eating for Diabetes

Diabetes is known to be one of the leading causes of death in the United States. With many physical symptoms including increased thirst, frequent urination, extreme hunger, as well as unexplained weight loss, diabetes is considered one of the most serious health concerns around the world.

Resource Discovery: Relationship Challenges and Counseling for Military Couples

Military couples are very resilient and roll with the changes. They face many challenges that civilian couples rarely deal with, like multiple moves, deployments, and various other transitions. Challenges might also take the form of physical injury or invisible wounds of war, like traumatic brain injury, and PTSD. Sometimes spouses…

Adaptogens: A Potential Solution for Stress

With the stress of everything going on in the world right now, any bit of relief from the tensions of these times is welcomed. The new superfood trend expected to pop up on many food labels and advertisements this year is adaptogens or adaptogenic herbs.

Ten TSP Tune-Up Tips for 2022

At the start of every year, many people take stock of things, including their personal finances. Therefore, now is a great time for Personal Financial Managers (PFMs) to assess service members’ Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) use with a “TSP Tune-Up” review.

Teen Technology Use and How COVID Has Changed It

By Jodi Dworkin, Ph.D. Teens are active and frequent technology users, and it’s hard to keep up with what they’re doing online. Teen technology use changes fast as new devices, apps, and app features are released. Over the past few years, a lot more teens have smartphones and younger teens…

Why You Really Need Intuitive Eating

Intuitive eating allows us to make peace with all types of food. The main idea is to listen to our bodies and eat what feels right without labeling food "good" or "bad" (Tribole & Resch, 2020).

Putting EI/ECSE Standards Into Practice: Tips & Resources for Standard 6

Out With the Old, In With the New: Financial Implications for 2022

Last month, OneOp held its annual Personal Finance Year in Review webinar. Dozens of 2021 events and trends were discussed along with practice implications for Personal Financial Managers (PFMs) and other professionals who serve military families.

Upcoming Webinar Highlights Changes to Medicare Coverage

The New Year comes with new updates to your Medicare healthcare options. Join the OneOp Military Caregiving concentration at 11:00 a.m. ET on January 19, 2022, as we discuss core elements of the Medicare program and major benefits available under the various Parts of Medicare. RSVP at Medicare Changes in…

Putting EI/ECSE Standards into Practice: Tips & Resources for Standard 5

Gen Z and Personal Finances

As the youngest generation of Service members, those who are part of Generation Z (Gen Z) have unique life experiences that impact their financial understanding and may present learning opportunities for Personal Financial Managers (PFMs). Born between 1997 and 2015, the oldest Gen Z Service members are currently 24 years…

Mocktails: The new Cocktail?

From family gatherings to cocktail parties, alcohol is the one drink that is always present. There are various effects of drinking alcohol, including an increase in mood and reduced inhibition as well as being a notorious staple at many different social events.

Financial Research Briefs: Personality Traits, Self-Efficacy, Anxiety and Stress, and Savings

By Barbara O’Neill, Ph.D., CFP®, [email protected] Personal finance research informs high-quality financial education briefings, publications, and counseling sessions. Below are findings and implications for practice from four recent studies: Personality Traits and Financial Success- In the first paper to examine relationships between “Big Five” O.C.E.A.N. personality traits (Openness, Conscientiousness, Extraversion,…

OneOp 2021 Year in Review focusing on SBCY Series, Resources for Racial Justice, and more

2021 has been a banner year for our OneOp team! We were able to provide lots of new webinars, mostly within our ongoing Sexual Behavior in Children & Youth (SBCY) Series, as well as three Anchored podcast episodes, and much more programming for our Department of Defense and clinical professional…

Feeling Depleted? Ways to Self-Assess & Refuel

By: Lakshmi Mahadevan, Ph.D. The pandemic has wreaked havoc and as service providers we find ourselves experiencing stressors that seem new, different, or exacerbated. Coping strategies we used in the past seem to be falling short and leaving us asking ourselves, “now what?” As the holidays approach, let us take…

Common Frauds that Target Military Families

By Laura Royer As Personal Finance Managers (PFMs) working with Service members and military families, it is important that you help them stay aware of the many ways scammers prey and provide resources to help protect them and their families. Deployments and relocations often leave military families vulnerable because information…

Go Beyond the Webinar| Juvenile Justice Responses to Youth in Conflict with the Law

On December 2nd, 2021, OneOp hosted a webinar called “Juvenile Justice Responses to Youth in Conflict with the Law.” This webinar was another great installment in our Sexual Behavior in Children & Youth (SBCY) Series. This series has been ongoing since May 2019, with plans to continue into 2022!

Financial Literacy Tools for Service Members

By Barbara O’Neill, Ph.D., CFP®, AFC®, [email protected] Personal Financial Managers (PFMs) do a great job helping service members and their families improve their financial literacy. However, there is always something new for clients to know. Sometimes, the biggest challenge to finding personal finance information is knowing where to look. Below…

Ways to Help Military Families This Holiday Season

The holidays are a time when getting together with friends and families is always important. Reconnecting with the ones we love can be rejuvenating and highlights what’s important to us. However, for military service members and their families, the holidays can be tough and it’s not always possible for service…

Work-Family Conflict and the Military Family

by Jenny Rea, Ph.D. The other day, I was watching a cartoon with my children, and I oddly felt a strong resemblance to the main character. The episode began with Bow, a cat, who puts on a play for his friends. Bow attempts to play multiple roles simultaneously. One minute…

Need to Refuel? No Better Time than the Holidays!

Upcoming Webinar As the holidays approach, it can be a stressful time as you prepare to finalize year-end reports and projects and gear up for time with loved ones. This month we are helping military service providers to prepare for the holidays by building your resilience and “putting fuel back…

Seven Money-Saving Strategies for Military Families

By Laura Royer One of the biggest reasons many military families do not save money is because they do not know where to start. While there are many different ways to find the money to save, here are seven easy ways to help the military families you work with as…

Winter Wellness: Staying Active During the Colder Months

With the thermostat beginning to drop to frigid temperatures, it is easy to want to stay inside and huddle up under some blankets. Although the motivation to get up and move is a little harder to come by this season, staying active can help ward off the winter blues and…

Accessing Resources & Support Services for Relative Caregivers

By Andrew Crocker, M.S. Caregiving looks different for every person and every situation. We often only think of someone caring for an older person – perhaps a spouse or a parent – but many children receive care from relative caregivers, such as a grandparent, helping with essential functions in their…

Supporting Child Development with Books & Storytelling

In recognizing how literacy and social-emotional skills are connected, we begin to see the importance of intentionally finding ways to embed strategies across the day that connect these areas. Below are a few ideas to increase opportunities to promote this connection.

Research Briefs for Financial Educators

By Barbara O’Neill, Ph.D., CFP®, [email protected] Personal finance research findings are the foundation of high-quality financial education briefings, publications, and counseling sessions. Below are key findings and implications for practice from four recent studies: Investment Risk Tolerance: Rabbani et al. (2021) studied the association of financial risk tolerance (FRT) and…

Resource Discovery: The Traumatic Brain Injury Center of Excellence (TBICoE)

Traumatic brain injury is a very significant issue when it comes to the physical and mental health of the military service members that it affects. It can be debilitating and crosses over into all aspects of the service member’s life; both personally and professionally. Military spouses and families are also…

Avoidant Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID)

Avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder (ARFID) is an eating disturbance resulting in a persistent failure to meet appropriate nutritional and energy needs or both. ARFID is a selective eating disorder with similarities to anorexia regarding the limitations in the amount and/or types of food consumed.

TikTok and Young Investors

By Barbara O’Neill, Ph.D., CFP®, AFC®, [email protected] Personal Financial Managers (PFMs) are a frequent source of information about investing for service members. So is TikTok. I recently attended a class called TikTok and Investing. Below are ten key takeaways: User Demographics- TikTok is primarily a Gen Z platform for making…

Putting EI/ECSE Standards into Practice: Tips & Resources for Standard 4

What PFMs Need to Know about Cryptocurrency

By Barbara O’Neill, Ph.D., CFP®, AFC®, [email protected] Personal Financial Managers (PFMs) get many questions about cryptocurrencies. OneOp personal finance team recently held a free webinar on this topic. Below are ten key takeaways: Early Origins- Cryptocurrencies were preceded by e-money start-ups in the 1990s (e.g., DigiCash). Bitcoin launched in 2008…

Healthy Eating During the Holidays

The holidays can bring many stressors! Don’t let eating and enjoying meals with your family be one of them.

Finding Thanks and Practicing Gratitude with Military Youth and Families

Halloween candy is dwindling down if it wasn’t all gobbled up over the trick-or-treat weekend. The spooky season's pumpkins have now transitioned into full-on fall decor. Families and friends will soon be connecting and coming together to celebrate and find thankfulness in another year with the quickly approaching holidays.

Supporting Military Family Well-Being Through an Integrated, Asset-Based Approach to Service Provision

Throughout the military life cycle, service members and families will experience crises and challenges. Current circumstances with far-reaching impacts include the draw down in Afghanistan, various geopolitical events, and the COVID-19 pandemic. These experiences impact not only mental health but also all other aspects of well-being. A structure that can…

Gaining Perspective & Context through the DOD Demographics Report

By: Lucas Blankenship and Christopher Plein, Ph.D. We often hear the phrase, “context means everything.” When it comes to working with military families, it is helpful for us to understand the demographic context of the military community. Fortunately, the Department of Defense regularly publishes reports on trends for active duty…

Using Children’s Books & Storytelling to Connect Literacy & Social-Emotional Development

Did you know that social-emotional development and early literacy development occur on a parallel path within the context of positive relationships? Well, they do! When we begin to see the ways in which literacy and social-emotional skills are interwoven, we see the importance of intentionally finding ways to embed strategies…

The Psychology of Money Webinar Recap

By Barbara O’Neill, Ph.D., CFP®, AFC®, [email protected] Personal Financial Managers (PFMs) often encounter strong emotions associated with clients’ use of money. OneOp personal finance team recently held a webinar that included information about behavioral finance biases and recommended financial counseling techniques. Below are ten webinar takeaways: Present Bias- Human beings…

Go Beyond the Webinar| Culturally Competent Responses to Youth with Problematic Sexual Behavior

The goals of this webinar focused primarily on understanding the complexities of cultural identities and how it influences views of mental health services, with a specific focus on the significance of military family culture. We talked about identifying how health-related beliefs, practices, and cultural values influence the understanding of problematic…

Putting EI/ECSE Standards into Practice: Tips & Resources for Standard 3

Five Tips for Military Families to Start Saving Money Now

By Laura Royer As a Personal Financial Manager (PFM), helping your military clients find a way to save money when they are not currently saving can be overwhelming and challenging, especially when they don’t believe they can afford it. Saving money is much easier than your client may think, but…

National Family Caregivers Month

November marks National Family Caregivers Month. It is a time to recognize and honor the many sacrifices of family caregivers in support of their loved ones. Throughout the month our MLFN Military Caregiving concentration area will work to raise awareness of key caregiver issues by educating both our active duty…

Telehealth: The Future of Healthcare Visits

With so many parts of our lives online, it is no surprise that the health field has climbed on board as well. This online format of health care is known as telehealth.

Lifestyle Choices & Your Health

By Andrew Crocker, M.S. Last week I got a coupon for half off at a local store. I didn’t need anything, but the idea of being able to reduce the price by 50% got me in the door…and got the retailer a sale. Half is a lot. And a powerful…

Putting EI/ECSE Standards into Practice: Tips & Resources for Standard 2

Five Ways to Generate Extra Income Working Online

By Laura Royer Many Personal Financial Managers (PFMs) encounter military families who need to generate extra income, and there are many ways for your client to find work easily online. When working with a client who needs to generate extra income, it’s important to first do a skill assessment to…

Resources for Supporting and Uplifting Families Impacted by Domestic Violence and Intimate Partner Violence

Supporting parents, children, and families is the cornerstone of family advocacy work. Daily stressors are hard enough to navigate and process. Daily stressors in the time of COVID, more so. Life becomes even more complex for those experiencing or impacted by domestic violence (DV). Domestic violence impacts individuals at every…

Learn More About Warrior Care Recovery Care

Join the OneOp Military Caregiving concentration team for an upcoming professional development webinar on 26 October 2021 at 11:00 a.m. ET as they discuss the Defense Health Agency (DHA) Warrior Care, Recovery Coordination Program (RCP). Sandra Mason, DHA Director for Recovery Coordination Program, will provide resource information and tools for…

Telehealth: Enhancing the future of Medicine!

According to the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, telehealth is defined as the use of electronic communication to support long-distance health care, health education, and administration. Telehealth allows clients to access and communicate with healthcare providers at their convenience.

Putting EI/ECSE Standards into Practice: Tips & Resources for Standard 1

Helping Military Families Assess Their Skill Set to Generate Extra Income

By Laura Royer Image by Anna Tarazevich on Pexels Keeping a consistent income for military families can be much more challenging than for civilians due to the frequent moves that most active military families make every 3 to 5 years. Moving especially impacts the spouse’s ability to contribute to the…

Telehealth: The Future of Health Care Visits

Image by Tima Miroshnichenko from Pexels By: Megan Ng, Undergraduate Student of Food Science and Human Nutrition at the University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign Telehealth With so much of our lives are already online, so it is no surprise that the healthcare field is also following this…

Resource Discovery: National Center on the Sexual Behavior of Youth

These conversations led us to the National Center on the Sexual Behavior of Youth (NCSBY) and our collaboration with NCSBY has shaped many topics and resources that we have shared in our webinars in this series. Their Youth with Sexual Behavior Problems Program is a program that targets late childhood…

How to Help Military Families Navigate a Financial Crisis

By Laura Royer The COVID-19 pandemic has caused many military families to feel a financial crunch. As a Personal Finance Manager (PFM), the following are some things that your clients can do to navigate through the “financial storm.” Assess Their Net Worth. Have your client conduct a net worth assessment to…

Social-Emotional Development in Review

Young children who have a strong social emotional foundation not only do better academically, but also tend to be happier, have more friends, and show greater motivation to learn.

Understanding Service Members’ Financial Decisions: Unconscious Bias

By Selena Garrison, M.S. It is common for financial educators, including Personal Financial Managers (PFMs), to find themselves confused by the decisions their clients make. When a professional invests their time in educating the people they serve to make choices that will build their financial health, it can be frustrating…

Medicare Changes Coming Your Way in 2022

By: Andrew Crocker, M.S. Fall is such a great season: college football is back, the temperatures get a little cooler, the leaves start to change, and Medicare releases updates for the new benefit year – what’s not to love?! The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) updates its Medicare…

Research Briefs: What Financial Educators Need to Know

By Barbara O’Neill, Ph.D., CFP®, [email protected] Personal Financial Managers (PFMs) are always incorporating personal finance research findings into their briefings, publications, and counseling sessions. Fortunately, PFMs and other financial educators have lots of research to draw from. Below are key findings and implications for practice from four recent studies: Financial…

Go Beyond the Webinar| Understanding Children’s Sexual Knowledge and Behavior from a Development Perspective

The goals of this webinar focused on covering typical social, emotional, cognitive, and moral development in preschool (age 5 and under) and school-age (age 6 to 12) children and how development across these domains informs expected sexual knowledge and behavior. Typical sexual knowledge and behavior within these age ranges were…

Getting to the Next Moment…Improving Mental Health through Resilience

By: Lakshmi Mahadevan, Ph.D. September is National Suicide Prevention month. There may be moments in your life when you have experienced suicidal thoughts. Not only are those moments distressing, but they also deplete your inner fortitude such that you feel weakened and unable to cope. What can we do to…

The Triadic Strategies: An Overview

Early childhood professionals can use triadic strategies to share developmental information in a meaningful way with families of young children. Triadic strategies promote positive interactions between three individuals—a triad—which is usually composed of a child, parent, and an early childhood professional. In the post by Dr. Yates, she noted that…

Net Worth: What Service Members Need to Know

By Barbara O’Neill, Ph.D., CFP®, [email protected] Personal Financial Managers often teach service members information and skills that they can use for a lifetime. One of these skills is preparing a net worth statement (a.k.a., balance sheet). Below are nine key facts about net worth statements: Description and Analogy- A net…

Stepping Stones for Designing Impactful Work: Part 2

In Part 1 we covered the use of the “Chaordic Stepping Stones” as a planning tool for meetings, initiatives, projects, and group processes. We then described the first four “stepping stones”: NEED, PURPOSE, PRINCIPLES, and PEOPLE.

The Secret Ingredient for Children’s Success

One thing we know for sure…social-emotional development is very important! In fact, social-emotional development is sometimes referred to as the “secret ingredient” for children’s success. And that is because it has been shown to be fundamental to children’s early learning and development. Social-emotional development begins at birth and is a…

Financial Planning for Military Transitions

By Barbara O’Neill, Ph.D., CFP®, [email protected] OneOp Personal Finance team recently held a webinar called Financial Planning for Transition: Train-the-Trainer. Included was a discussion of the Transition Assistance Program (TAP), the military transition timeline, adult learning theory, civilian equivalent salary calculations, income taxes, living expenses, health insurance, credit cards, debt-to-income…

Label Lookout: Fending off Food Allergies

With backpacks full of school supplies and little hearts filled with excitement at seeing old and new friends, the beginning of a new school year can be very exhilarating. However, this time of year can also be very stressful and anxiety-filled for parents of children with food allergies.

Suicide Prevention Month and National Emergency Preparedness Month

The month of September is a time when we are getting back into the swing of things. School has started back, and families are beginning and reestablishing routines as well as getting comfortable with new norms. All this activity is taking place as it has for countless families over the…

How To Get Your “daily” Nature Dose

By Arielle Courtney MS Nature gives us life, by providing water to drink, food to eat, and oxygen to breathe. But it also gives us something more, something harder to describe. Many people find if they visit a national park or other wild landscape, they are in “awe” of its…

Cryptocurrency Basics and Scams

By Selena Garrison, M.S. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) defines cryptocurrency as a digital currency that is generally exchanged online without using an intermediary such as a bank. There are several well-known cryptocurrencies, such as Bitcoin and Ethereum, but many brands exist and continue to be created. Cryptocurrency is purchased…

Go Beyond the Webinar| Talking with Youth about Sex, Sexuality, and Media

The goals of this webinar focused on discussing strategies for speaking to children about sex, sexuality, pornography, and interaction with their peers. This event emphasized ways for parents to recognize how to have sensitive but needed conversations with children on these important topics. We discussed the importance and difference between…

Helpful Tips in Preparing for Your Next Telehealth Appointment

By Andrew Crocker, M.S. Not too long ago, it might have been unthinkable that you would use your mobile device or computer to do virtually – get it? virtual?!? – everything. But now, from work to religious services to happy hours, joining an event online via video seems like second…

The American Red Cross & the Service to Armed Forces Program

By: Christopher Plein, Ph.D. When I can, in the evening I like to look out from my window at the clouds on the horizon. In this time of reflection, I often ask: “What will tomorrow bring?” It is both a figurative and literal question. Changes in the weather, so to…

Fight Back Against Fees: Tips for Military Families

By Barbara O’Neill, Ph.D., CFP®, [email protected] Photo by Andrea Piacquadio from Pexels Pesky fees for various products and services (e.g., cell phones, travel bookings, tickets, ATM withdrawals, and bank/investment accounts) can take a big chunk out of household budgets. This is especially true for military families who move frequently and…

Getting Help for Relationship Abuse & Domestic Violence Support for Military Families

Instances of domestic violence, sexual abuse, and family violence can be very damaging to all of those involved. These issues can often be life-threatening to those experiencing the abuse and detrimental to their physical and mental health. Additionally, domestic violence within couples and families is not an easy obstacle to…

Back to School Tips for Parents & Caregivers of Children with Disabilities

By: Lakshmi Mahadevan, Ph.D. Its that time of year again and yet it is not the typical back to school that we have all known. As a parent or a guardian of a child with disabilities you are probably concerned about the effects of an ongoing pandemic on special education.…

Tips and Tools for Military Content Creators

By Barbara O’Neill, Ph.D., CFP®, [email protected] Personal Financial Managers (PFMs) are content creators. Whether they prepare PowerPoint slides for a webinar or briefing, write a blog post, prepare for an interview, or assemble a newsletter for military families, PFMs are constantly striving to create content that is current, relevant, and…

Understanding and Confronting Racial Injustice

By Kate Walker, Jessica Pierson Russo, and Kathryn Sharpe As youth development professionals, volunteers, parents, and guardians it is our responsibility to help young people develop a mindset of being responsible for themselves, their communities, and the world. It is also our responsibility to develop that same mindset in ourselves,…

Tips to Help Military Consumers Avoid Scams and Navigate Finances

By Barbara O’Neill, Ph.D., CFP®, [email protected] July was Military Consumer Month and OneOp Personal Finance team held a webinar called Helping Military Consumers Avoid Scams and Navigate Finances. Included was a discussion of scams related to COVID-19, rental cars, cryptocurrencies, technology, and more with speakers from the Federal Trade Commission…

Sustainable Eating: A Guide to Environmentally Friendly Eating

Our food choices and food productions have a huge impact on the environment and climate change. According to the World Wildlife Fund, 30% of greenhouse gas emissions are caused by our global food systems.

Stepping Stones for Designing Impactful Work: Part 1

Does it ever feel like you’re spinning your wheels on a project? Or you want to be innovative, but keep falling back on the same old routine?

Participating in an Early Childhood Community of Practice: Part Three

As early childhood professionals, it is imperative to engage in ongoing learning and professional development. One way to accomplish this is by engaging in social learning through communities of practice (CoPs). In this three-part blog post series, we answer the following questions about communities of practice and provide resources for…

Defend Against Dehydration: Staying Hydrated in the Summer Heat

Trips to the beach, outdoor concerts, camping, and barbecues are all cornerstones of the summer season. These activities and the warm weather and sunshine make it easy to get lost in all the summer fun, but this is where dehydration can sneak up on you.

Online Shopping Tips for Military Families

By Barbara O’Neill, Ph.D., CFP®, [email protected] According to a 2021 Harris Poll survey conducted for the American Institute of CPAs, two in 5 Americans (41%) said the ability to shop online makes it harder to stick to a monthly budget. The survey also found that more than half of Americans (52%)…

Participating in an Early Childhood Community of Practice: Part Two

Inflation-Fighting Hacks for Military Families

By Barbara O’Neill, Ph.D., CFP®, [email protected] In colloquial terms, a “hack” is a workaround solution or strategy to overcome an obstacle or challenge of some sort. People often talk about hacks for time management, work-related activities, and home maintenance. Something that needs hacks right now is inflation, which is a…

Resource Discovery: Disaster and Emergency Preparedness with Ready.gov

Making and having a plan is always a good idea. Plans keep us on track to accomplishing our goals and succeeding in life. Typically, our plans are centered around things we want to achieve in a positive way, but what about planning for negative outcomes? It always helps to prepare…

Trusted Guidance: Authoritative Resources & COVID-19

By Christopher Plein, Ph.D. The pandemic has dominated our lives now since early 2020. In these unprecedented times of uncertainty, it is not surprising that we seek the familiar. One of the things that I have done is to turn to the past by reading historical stories both real and…

Keeping Up With Keto: Approaching a Ketogenic Diet

“Fat is the enemy” has continued to be the popular one-size-fits-all diet advice in the media when it comes to health and nutrition. Yet, the recent popularity of the keto diet has flipped these nutritional suggestions of demonizing fat on its head. Although the keto diet and lifestyle can seem…

5 Back to School Tips for Preparing Parents in Virtual Environments

By Lakshmi Mahadevan, Ph.D. Since March 2020, most of your work has been done while reading from or talking into a screen. How has it been going? Have you developed new technological skills? Learned new jargon? Experienced video conferencing stress or the more popularly known zoom fatigue? Feeling underprepared? Feeling…

Participating in an Early Childhood Community of Practice: Part One

Give Your Clients a Mid-Year Financial Check-Up

By Barbara O’Neill, Ph.D., CFP®, [email protected] A financial check-up is as important as an annual physical with a doctor. Like a medical exam, a review of someone’s personal finances can identify steps to improve “financial fitness” and screen for potential problems. While many people do a financial check-up at…

Express Yourself! Supporting Development and Wellbeing of Children

Celebrating our differences is a strength. But celebrating the things that make us stand out is often difficult for children and young adults. The roller coaster of finding themselves is in full steam ahead mode. And added “social expectations” now transcend the physical realm into the virtual world. TikTok, Instagram,…

Risk Tolerance Categories

By Barbara O’Neill, Ph.D., CFP®, [email protected] Risk tolerance is an investor’s capacity to handle the uncertainty that accompanies the selection of specific investment products such as stocks and bonds. For example, bonds are subject to interest rate risk (where bond prices fall as interest rates rise and vice versa),…

The Ketogenic Diet: A Silver Bullet for Health and Wellness?

The “ketogenic diet,” or “keto” for short, has become a household staple across the United States. The low-carbohydrate diet craze has been featured on tabloids and other forms of media across the nation for decades now.

Rekindling Relationships: Facing Challenges for Military Couples

Intimate relationships take work, and it takes both people in a relationship putting in the work to stay resilient and invested in each other. It is challenging enough for civilian couples and even more challenging for military couples. Military couples face challenges related to PCS, deployments, housing, finances, and a…

What’s Up with Ketogenic Diets: An Update

The CDC found that over 73% of Americans 20 and older were clinically overweight (2017-2018). Overweight (BMI 25-29.9) leads to various life-threatening chronic diseases such as heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes, and certain types of cancer.

Caregiver Emotions: An Interview with Dr. Brintnall-Peterson

Written by Rachel Brauner, Extension Program Specialist at Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service and OneOp Military Caregiving Program Coordinator Listen as one caregiver shares the most difficult piece of the caregiving journey – the emotions that come with caring for a loved one. Mary Brintnall-Peterson, Ph.D. is a retired Professor…

Highlights from Recent AFCPE Professional Development Programs

By Barbara O’Neill, Ph.D., CFP®, [email protected] Many Personal Financial Managers (PFMs) belong to the Association for Financial Counseling and Planning Education (AFCPE) as a professional “home” for financial practitioners and to earn continuing education credits as accredited financial counselors (AFCs). AFCPE is a 501(c)(3) non-profit membership organization that supports,…

Keto Diet: Benefits and Risks

The keto diet has become popular across social media these past few years. Yet, with so much misinformation floating around, many are still confused about what exactly the keto diet is, what the benefits are, and who should follow it.

Resource Discovery: Deployment Resources for Military Service Members and Their Families

This blog highlights tools and resources that can also be utilized by professionals working with military families.

Triadic Strategies in Real Life

Triadic Strategies are used by early intervention (EI) and early childhood (EC) professionals to strengthen and enhance caregivers’ capacity to create positive, sensitive, and engaging interactions with children to support their development.

The Four B’s of Basic Personal Finance

By Barbara O’Neill, Ph.D., CFP®, [email protected] Personal Financial Managers (PFMs) often find themselves discussing the “4 B’s of Basic Personal Finance” with service members. The 4 B’s are Budgeting, Banking, Borrowing, and Buying. Below are action steps for each of the 4 B’s for PFMs to share with service…

ENHANCING HEALTH AND WELLNESS WITH PROBIOTICS-Your Questions Answered!

This is what you have been waiting for! We had so much interest in the probiotic webinar in May that we ran out of time for all the questions.

Ways to Support Military Families on the 4th of July

The 4th of July, or Independence Day, is upon us in just a few more days. Every year on this date, we celebrate the founding of our nation and the history of the United States. And to properly view where we have been and where we are going, we must…

Needing to Maintain Your Professional License through Training & CE Credit? We’ve Got You Covered!

Today we are tooting our own horn about our “bread-and-butter” resources - FREE continuing education (CE) credit through a variety of means! OneOp (MFLN) is designed to provide military helping professionals with the latest research and information on a variety of topics to better support the families they serve. Our…

Retirement Readiness for Military Families

By Barbara O’Neill, Ph.D., CFP®, [email protected] In May 2021, a one-hour webinar, Retirement Readiness for Military Families, aired for the first time as a collaboration between the Investor Protection Trust (IPT), a non-profit investor education organization, and PBS Books. The webinar featured experts who discussed unique benefits available to…

Workouts for Anyone: The Navy Operational Fitness and Fueling System

To the average civilian, physical fitness may come in the form of a hobby or constitute a health priority. Thus, for the average community-dwelling citizen, physical activity and fitness are commonly a privilege.

Go Beyond the Webinar| Considering the Adolescent Brain When Addressing Problematic Sexual Behavior of Youth

This blog reviews a OneOp webinar focused on recognizing normative, age-appropriate adolescent social, emotional, cognitive, and moral development as well as the impact of the adolescent brain on impulsive behavior, reasoning, and responsiveness to feedback.

Printable Resource: What we discovered during the pandemic

This week I found myself reviewing the many and varied resources covered during the 2020-2021 Military Family Readiness Academy. If you haven't seen it yet, check it out because it is a treasure trove of disaster readiness learning - 16.5 hours of learning PLUS continuing education credit!

“Head Start Investing” for Military Children

By Barbara O’Neill, Ph.D., CFP®, [email protected] Parents are generally a child’s greatest financial influence. Children are like “sponges” and carefully watch their parents’ financial behaviors (e.g., budgeting and credit card use), even when they don’t say anything. They also learn from family conversations about money and informal questions and answers.…

Let’s Talk Caregiving & the Coronavirus

Written by: Rachel Brauner, OneOp Military Caregiving Caregiving is difficult enough, but the uncertainty of the Coronavirus added another hurdle to overcome for many individuals. Watch and listen as one caregiver shares her experience providing care during the pandemic and the impact it had on her everyday life. Mary Brintnall-Peterson,…

Navy Operational Fitness and Fueling System: The Foundation of Physical Readiness

The Navy Operational Fitness and Fueling System (NOFFS) provides the Navy with the best physical fitness and nutrition information so that the Sailors can maintain optimal physical readiness. The aim of the nutrition program is to help individuals improve athletic performance, reduce recovery time, prevent injury, and lead to optimal health status.

I Bonds: An Attractive Place to Stash Some Cash

By Barbara O’Neill, Ph.D., CFP®, [email protected] Personal Financial Managers (PFMs) often get questions from service members about where to earn the highest interest rates on savings. One attractive alternative that has been called “hiding in plain sight” and “the best-kept secret in America” is the U.S. Treasury Department’s I…

LGBTQ+ Pride Month: Resources for Military Families

To celebrate LGBTQ+ Pride Month, this blog post shares several important resources we know of specifically for military families.

Fourteen Frugal Tips to Save on Utilities

By Barbara O’Neill, Ph.D., CFP®, [email protected] Utility bills are a major recurring expense in family budgets, especially during the winter and summer months. They may not be the largest household expense, compared to housing costs or transportation, but people still spend a lot of money on heating, cooling, and other…

Probiotic and Prebiotic Foods: Feeding Your Bacterial Self

The extent of the microbial world is immense. Bacteria, fungi, archaea (single-celled organisms) easily outnumber all organisms of the animal and plant kingdom combined on planet Earth.

Mark Your Calendar! Back to School in 2021

It’s not too late to RSVP for the upcoming OneOp Military Caregiving webinar at 11:00 a.m. ET on Wednesday, June 30, 2021 as we focus on ‘Back to School in 2021.’ This webinar will be presented as a sequel to the “Back to School: Special Needs and Social Distancing” session…

Triadic Strategies in Action!

During Part 1 of our 2-part series, “Strategies for Supporting Caregiver-Child Interactions That Enhance Development,” we discussed the importance (and the power) of our interactions in supporting the competence and confidence of caregivers and children. We introduced six strategies, referred to as triadic strategies, which are listed below in the…

Professional Practice Pointers for PFMs

By Barbara O’Neill, Ph.D., CFP®, [email protected] Financial educators and counselors, in general, and military Personal Financial Managers (PFMs), specifically, use a variety of skills and resources to assist individuals and families with personal finance decisions. Services provided by PFMs include helping service members prepare a budget, finance a car, financially…

Maintaining a Healthy Microbiome with Prebiotics and Probiotics

The lining of our gut is filled with trillions of bacteria. These bacteria aid in our digestion, immune system, mood and behaviors, and our overall health.

Resource Discovery: Chill Drills to Practice Mindfulness and Relieve Stress

This blog post focuses on a resource that helps with stress and anxiety relief as well as being a great way to practice mindfulness.

Month of the Military Caregiver

May is designated Month of the Military Caregiver and we honor these hidden heroes today and every day. There are 5.5 million military caregivers in the United States, 1.1 million of whom are caring for military veterans who served after the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001 (RAND, 2014). A caregiver…

Trust your Gut: Let’s Talk Pre and Probiotics

Pre- and probiotics help maintain a healthy gut by balancing bacteria in the intestines. This healthy balance creates an environment that's suitable for other microbes to flourish.

Financial Capability Part 6: Helping Your Client Finalize and Stick to Their Spending Plan

By Selena Garrison. We acknowledge that many families facing financial hardship due to COVID-19 are unable to save money right now. We hope the information provided in this series will serve as a helpful resource, during National Financial Capability Month, for Personal Finance Managers to enhance the money management skills…

Celebrating National Military Appreciation Month

This blog highlights several ways to show gratitude to our men and women who continue to serve, have served, and the families that stand beside them.

Mental Health First Aid – Prevention, Intervention & Recovery

Written by: Lakshmi Mahadevan, Ph.D., Associate Professor and Extension Specialist – Special Populations, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service. According to the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, on average, 123 people die by suicide each day. In addition, nearly one in five U.S. adults live with a mental illness (NIMH, 2020).…

Financial Capability Part 5: Setting Financial Goals

By Selena Garrison We acknowledge that many families facing financial hardship due to COVID-19 are unable to save money right now. We hope the information provided in this blog series will serve as a helpful resource, during National Financial Capability Month, for Personal Finance Managers to enhance the money management…

Your Questions Answered! Supporting Clients Health through Intuitive Eating Webinar

We had such a lively discussion during this webinar "Supporting Clients Health through Intuitive Eating Webinar"! We could not get to all the questions, so the presenters have provided their answers in writing.

Recap of the Triadic Strategies

Triadic strategies are used by YOU, the EI/EC professional, to support and enhance caregivers’ capacity to create positive, sensitive, and engaging interactions that support children’s development. A few examples of each of the six triadic strategies are provided below:

Financial Capability Part 4: Are Your Clients Living on What They Make?

Centers for Independent Living: Caregiver Support Services

Centers for Independent Living (CILs) are community-based centers that are run by and for people with disabilities and offer a broad range of services to empower and enable people to stay in the community (ACL, 2020). Watch and listen as video blog (vlog) host, Lakshmi Mahadevan, Ph.D., Extension Program Specialist for…

Getting Started with Coaching in the Context of Routines and Activities

Caregiver coaching is promoted in the field of early intervention to enhance caregivers’ ability to promote their children’s development and learning. In our last blog, we provided an overview of the coaching model in early intervention and provided resources for more information. In this blog we focus on getting started…

Financial Capability Part 3: Fixed vs. Flexible Expenses

By Selena Garrison, University of Florida We acknowledge that many families facing financial hardship due to COVID-19 are unable to save money right now. We hope the information provided in this blog series will serve as a helpful resource, during National Financial Capability Month, for Personal Finance Managers to enhance…

April: National Child Abuse Prevention Month

Along with being the Month of the Military Child, April is also National Child Abuse Prevention and Sexual Assault Awareness Month. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, half of the children across the globe are victims of violence every year – that’s an estimated 1 billion youth…

Financial Capability Part 2: How Much Money Do You Have Coming In?

Centers for Independent Living: Peer Support

Build Your Relationship With Food Through Intuitive Eating

Intuitive eating is gaining traction and becoming a popular concept in the health and wellness world for its focus on unity between the mind and body and removing the strict mindset of "healthy vs. unhealthy" foods. This initiative strives to get people back in tune with their bodies and remove…

A Coaching Model in Early Intervention: What’s That?

Early Intervention (EI) programs serve families of young children (birth through 36 months) who have delays and disabilities. These services are mandated by Part C of the Individuals with Disabilities Improvement Act (2004) and are required to include families in service planning and delivery. Recent movements in early intervention have…

Financial Capability Part 1: Where is Your Money Going?

Go Beyond the Webinar| Supporting Parents and Children Through Hazards and Disasters

On March 10th, 2021, OneOp hosted the webinar, “Supporting Parents and Children Through Hazards and Disasters, ” part of the 2021 Military Family Readiness Academy series Disaster and Hazard Readiness in Action.

Intuitive Eating for Improved Health and Wellness

As Evelyn Tribole, MS, RDN, CEDRD-S explains, “Intuitive Eating is a self-care eating framework, which integrates instinct, emotion, and rational thought and was created by two dietitians, Evelyn Tribole and Elyse Resch in 1995”. Intuitive eating is a non-diet approach to establishing a healthy relationship between the mind and body.

Children and Money: Building Financial Capability

By Barbara O’Neill, Ph.D., CFP®, AFC® [email protected] Personal Finance Managers (PFMs) do not only help service members with their finances, they consider everyone in a military family. Many parents have questions about children and money. Should children be given an allowance? Should they have to work for it? How do…

Connecting Communities in Asset-based Community Recovery

The COVID-19 pandemic has presented some really difficult challenges, but it also has revealed some opportunities for building better systems and communities. The Asset-based Community Recovery (ABCR) Framework can help us recognize those opportunities and take action to create our future.

Good Things Come in Threes!

Did you know that good things come in threes? Well, they do! Did you also know that YOU are one of the three things that support interactions between a caregiver and a child? In fact, you are a very important part of the good things that come in threes. One…

Supporting Women Through the Pandemic

By Molly C. Herndon The recently coined term “shecession” reflects the tremendous financial burden the COVID-19 pandemic has placed on women. Women are more represented among service-industry jobs that were among the first to be cut during the early days of the pandemic. The grim data from the US Bureau…

Resource Discovery: Sesame Street’s New Coming Together Initiative

Last week, Sesame Street launched a new suite of recourses developed on racial justice. Sesame Street’s new Coming Together initiative focuses on discussions around racism. Sesame Street has introduced two new characters, Wes and his father Elijah, as part of their new “ABC’s of Racial Literacy” series.

Centers for Independent Living: Preventing Abuse, Neglect & Exploitation

TBI & the Military

Written by: Mason Gold, Intern, OneOp Military Caregiving concentration. March is Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) awareness month and according to the Traumatic Brain Injury Center of Excellence (TBICoE), over 430,000 service members have sustained a TBI. In the military, service members can sustain a TBI not only in combat operations…

Food Supply Issues in the Home: Our Impact on Food Safety and Food Waste

Food is a delicacy and luxury that we all enjoy. Nonetheless, we must recognize that food can also be the source of particular hazards.

The MFRAcademy is now a Course!

by Jennifer J. Chilek, Family & Community Health Program Specialist Did you know that the Military Family Readiness Academy webinar series has been transformed into a series of self-paced courses? It's true. The Military Family Readiness Academy series events that were offered as live webinars have all been redesigned as…

Combating Food Waste in Your Household

The topic of food waste is usually brought up around holidays when there is an abundance of food bought and evidently wasted. But the fact is that Americans waste vast amounts of food every day.

Go Beyond the Webinar| Overview of Treatment for Children Impacted by Problematic Sexual Behavior of Other Youth

On February 25th, 2021, OneOp hosted the latest webinar in the Sexual Behavior in Children and Youth Series entitled “Overview of Treatment for Children Impacted by Problematic Sexual Behavior of Other Youth.” This webinar was a great next installment in our Sexual Behavior in Children & Youth (SBCY) Series, which…

A Balancing Act: Food Safety and Food Waste

According to the CDC, about 1 in every 6 Americans or roughly 48 million people get sick each year due to foodborne illness. The USDA estimates that in the United States, our food waste is about 30-40% of our food supply.

Early Intervention Telehealth: Thoughts from Providers – Part Four

When the COVID-19 pandemic began early in 2020, early intervention (EI) systems had to transform their service delivery model almost overnight. Over time, some states have been able to put in place forms of remote service delivery, such as telehealth in order to safely meet the needs of young children…

Breaking Down the GameStop/Reddit/Robinhood Story

By Barbara O’Neill, Ph.D., CFP®, [email protected]. Recent news about the meteoric rise of GameStop stock caused by an organized group of online traders provides a “teachable moment” for Personal Financial Managers (PFMs) and other financial educators. Many people have questions about exactly what happened and are interested in learning about…

Resource Discovery: Traumatic Brain Injury Awareness Month

March is Brain Injury Awareness Month and with that comes lots of great resources, specifically for military families. Traumatic brain injuries received during combat affect about 1.7 million military service members and veterans annually, according to the CDC (2020). Also, the possibility of sustaining a TBI is increased for military…

Early Intervention Telehealth: Thoughts from Providers – Part Three

Early intervention (EI) service delivery has had to adapt over the last year to mitigate the risks associated with the COVID-19 pandemic. In some states, forms of remote service delivery, such as telehealth have been implemented in order to safely meet the needs of young children with disabilities and their…

Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) Investment Options

By Barbara O’Neill, Ph.D., CFP®, AFC® [email protected] One of the best ways to save for retirement is in a tax-deferred employer savings plan. Like 401(k) plans in the private sector, the Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) is a defined contribution plan that allows service members (and federal government workers) to voluntarily…

Preparing Your Emergency Food Stockpile Before the Next Disaster

Obtaining food amid a natural or man-made disaster can be an unsettling thought. I believe that we can all recount the early days of the current pandemic and the run on the supermarkets that we witnessed.

Helping Families Start on a Journaling Journey

Finding easy, accessible ways to communicate and connect becomes difficult during times of great stress. Journaling is one technique that can help. Journaling has many benefits to both physical wellness and mental health. These benefits include reducing stress, improving mood and communication skills, and helping with the healthy processing of…

Centers for Independent Living: Person-Centered Planning

Early Intervention Telehealth: Thoughts from Providers – Part Two

The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted the delivery of early intervention (EI) services. To safely meet the needs of young children with disabilities and their families, some states have been able to implement forms of remote service delivery, such as telehealth. Telehealth is generally defined as an alternative to providing services…

A Crash Course in Cryptocurrencies

By Barbara O’Neill, Ph.D., CFP®, AFC® [email protected]. Pick up any personal finance textbook and you are likely to see an “Investment Risk and Reward Pyramid” graphic. The graphic will likely show low risk, low return investments, like cash equivalents and U.S. Treasury securities, at the base and high risk, high…

Preparing for Disasters

Food and nutrition are core elements of survival. Therefore, it is vital to know how to access safe food before, during, and after disasters.

Talking to Your Teen: Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month

Romantic relationships between teenagers can be tumultuous, passionate, and complicated. Affecting all things such as self-esteem, self-image, peer groups, and family relationships, teen dating is a huge aspect of the teenager's experience.

What is “Learned Helplessness?”

Written by: Mary Brintnall-Peterson, Ph.D., MBP Consulting, LLC, Professor Emeritus, UW-Extension & Caregiver (Third article of three-part series on caregiver helplessness.) Helplessness is a feeling many care receivers and caregivers experience when both are dealing with a chronic or life threating disease, especially when there is a lot of distress.…

Early Intervention Telehealth: Thoughts from Providers – Part One

Historically, in the U.S., individual states have varied greatly in their delivery of early intervention (EI) services; however, the COVID-19 pandemic has triggered even greater differences. Some states have begun using remote service delivery (e.g., telehealth, live video visits). Generally, telehealth is defined by the Early Childhood Technical Assistance Center…

Resource Discovery: PTSD Resources for Military Service Members and Their Families

With such high percentages of military service members and veterans who have dealt with PTSD, what are some of the resources and breakthroughs that are happening today to combat the effects of PTSD? We wanted to share a handful of resources that can help with the effects of PTSD. These…

Dietary Guidelines Webinar: Your questions answered!

As promised, Dr. Donovan has answered your questions that did not get answered during the webinar that she presenter on January 27. If you missed it you can watch the recording at: oneop.org/event/79976/

Centers for Independent Living – Employment Services

Connecting with Families Experiencing Cases of PSB

In the latest Sexual Behavior in Children and Youth (SBCY) series webinar, "Engaging Families in Clinical Services: A Discussion on Engagement in the Family Advocacy Setting,” we discuss how service providers and families engaged in clinical services are impacted by their unique history and experiences. And how these factors shape…

Take-Aways from a Military Meet-Up

By Barbara O’Neill, Ph.D., CFP®, AFC® [email protected]. Dr. Barbara O'Neill During the virtual 2020 AFCPE Symposium, I attended a “military meet-up” for members who provide financial education and counseling programs for service members and their families. It was a structured discussion using Zoom with a series of questions for the…

The Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2020-2025

Recently, The Center for Nutrition Policy and Promotion in the United States Department of Agriculture recently the 9th iteration of the Dietary Guidelines for Americans (DGA). Guidelines established in the DGA are intended for use as recommendations for the American public to follow.

New Year’s Resolutions- Healthy Habits for the Military Family

2020 was a bit of a rollercoaster and the events of last year will most definitely shape 2021. With everything going on in the world around us, it is hard sometimes to ground ourselves and to remember what is truly important for us and our families. With that in mind,…

Are You Making Your Care Receiver Feel Helpless?

Written by: Mary Brintnall-Peterson, Ph.D., MBP Consulting, LLC, Professor Emeritus, UW-Extension & Caregiver (Second article in three-part series on caregiver helplessness.) Knowing that I can’t be the only caregiver feeling helpless, I researched the topic to better understand the emotions associated with helplessness and to garner coping strategies. During my…

Recap: Dietary Guidelines For Americans, 2020-2025

Every five years, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) publish a new set of Dietary Guidelines for Americans based on the latest scientific evidence. This set of guidelines helps Americans understand what to eat to live healthfully and reduce their…

Ethical Issues and Standards of Practice

By Barbara O’Neill, Ph.D., CFP®, AFC® [email protected] One hallmark of a professional credential, such as the AFCPE Accredited Financial Counselor® (AFC®) designation, is a code of ethics. Ethics are principles of proper conduct derived from morals (i.e., principles about what is right and wrong). Ethics are intimately grounded in the…

Go Beyond the Webinar| Engaging Families in Clinical Services: A Discussion on Engagement in Family Advocacy Settings

The goals of this webinar focused on factors that impact engagement for families in clinical services. Further, the research of McKay et al. related to caregiver engagement was discussed and applied to the family advocacy setting. This also included identifying the factors, protective and otherwise, that impact engagement in clinical…

Creating Healthy Habits for the New Year

With the New Year comes a new opportunity to finally get started on the habits and goals you’ve been thinking about. Maybe you had these same goals last year but weren’t able to follow through. In fact, 92% of Americans do not follow through with their New Year's resolutions.

Downsizing Holiday Debt

By Barbara O’Neill, Ph.D., CFP®, [email protected]. Like many Americans, it is not uncommon for military families to have leftover holiday debt still hanging over their heads like a big dark cloud. What can you do to help these clients? There are a number of time-tested ways to dig out from…

Centers for Independent Living – Advocacy & Self-Determination

What Service Members Need to Know About Life Insurance

By Barbara O’Neill, Ph.D., CFP®, AFC® [email protected] One of the costliest financial risks that families face is the death of a breadwinner. This is especially true if a spouse and children depend upon that person for all of their support. Not surprisingly, given the risks inherent in military Service, life…

Unpacking Stay-Play-Talk

Stay-Play-Talk (SPT) is a peer-mediated intervention strategy. This strategy can be so beneficial for children who are socially isolated! Stay-Play-Talk can really be adjusted in so many ways to meet the needs of both the child and teacher. In this blog post we want to briefly review the steps for…

Healthy Eating for Older Adults

Eating healthy as an older adult is essential for improving and maintaining a high quality of life. However, older individuals are more likely to face difficulties when it comes to their health.

A One-Hour Financial Check-Up

By Barbara O’Neill, Ph.D., CFP®, AFC® [email protected] Personal Financial Managers (PFMs) are often in a position to provide their clients with a financial “check-up.” Like a medical exam, a review of clients’ finances can identify strategies to improve their “financial fitness” and screen for potential problems, such as a high…

Centering Ourselves this Holiday: Self-care and Wellness for Support Professionals

Our interactions with each other have transformed in major ways this year. With COVID-19 cases still rising as we head into the holiday season, connecting with loved ones will continue to look different this winter. After a year of navigating how to best support vulnerable individuals, families, and communities, establishing…

Caregiver Problem-Solving

Written by: Mary Brintnall-Peterson, Ph.D., MBP Consulting, LLC, Professor Emeritus, UW-Extension & Caregiver. Problem-solving is a task all of us have done throughout our life but as a caregiver problem-solving seems to be different. As I care for my adult son, who has cancer, I find problem solving becomes more…

Lifestyle Medicine and How to Implement it for Military Families

There is compelling evidence to show that we could eliminate 80% of all heart disease and strokes, 90% of all diabetes, and 60% of all cancers by making changes to our lifestyle. Which opens up the question: what are these changes and why is heart disease still the leading cause…

Plant-Based Diets: Health, The Environment, and Lifestyle Medicine

Author: Christian Maino Vieytes, Doctoral Student, Division of Nutritional Sciences, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Lifestyle Medicine and Plant-based Diet The field of lifestyle medicine has seen an explosion over the last decade. Along with it, we have seen a surge in the interest and pursuit of plant-based diets…

13 Themed Baskets to Gift This Holiday Season

By Laura Royer. With the holidays approaching, military families may be looking for easy and cost-affordable gift ideas to give to family members. One cost-effective idea is to gift holiday baskets that, if strategically approached, can help your client save money on gift-giving this season. The following are 13 ideas…

Sustainable Nutrition and Why it Matters

By: Haley Singer, Undergraduate Student in Food Science and Human Nutrition at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. What is sustainable nutrition? Sustainable nutrition is the impact of diet and the food system on the planet. Today, malnutrition continues to be a problem as the number of overweight people and…

Dealing with Depression: Self-Care for Early Childhood Professionals During the COVID-19 Pandemic

2020 has been a difficult a year for many people. As the year concludes, extra attention should turn to the issue of depression. Shortened daylight hours, holiday stress, and other factors may lead to an increase in depressive symptoms during this season. As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to disrupt life…

10 Money Saving Tips

By Laura Royer One of the biggest reasons many military families do not save money is that they do not know where to start. While there are many different ways to find the money to save, here are 10 easy ways to help military families you work with as Personal…

Go Beyond the Webinar| Problematic Sexual Behavior: The Importance of a Multidisciplinary Evidence-Based Approach

The goals of this webinar were to identify normative vs. cautionary vs. problematic sexual behavior in children and where these behaviors fall on a continuum. This also included going over common misconceptions and what is supported by academic research. Also, we explored strategies that professionals across disciplines can use and…

Why Can’t They Be Friends?

Do you ever wonder how to help young children build and maintain friendships with peers? Do you have children who struggle to have conversations, use kind words, play together, or solve social problems? If so, this webinar is for you!

It’s the Best Sale of the Year, or is it? 13 Myths About Black Friday

By Laura Royer Black Friday is the most anticipated sale of the year because it is touted to be the “biggest” sale and “best” deal of the year. Back in the day, this was probably true, but today it is much different. Many of the deals end up being about…

Centers for Independent Living: Aging & Disability Networks

Pt. 3 Vlog Series: Centers for Independent Living – Transitioning to Adulthood. Centers for Independent Living (CILs) are community-based centers that are run by and for people with disabilities and offer a broad range of services to empower and enable people to stay in the community (ACL, 2020). Watch and listen…

10 Ways to Prepare for Cyber Monday

By Laura Royer Holiday sales are in full effect and Cyber Monday is one that many military families look forward to shopping. While there may be some great deals, as Personal Finance Managers (PFMs), it’s important to educate your clients on how to properly manage their holiday budget so they…

Holidays in Early Childhood Classrooms: Respecting Cultures and Beliefs

This time of year it can be easy to focus on our own cultural practices surrounding the winter holidays. However, in order to create an inclusive classroom in which all children and families feel represented and accepted, early childhood professionals should take care to avoid certain practices. Here we discuss…

Lifestyle Medicine vs. Integrative Medicine

In America, healthcare is primarily conventionally based, meaning surgical procedures and pharmacology are used to treat symptoms of diseases. However, these practices are not adequate for the many Americans facing chronic illnesses like diabetes, hypertension, heart disease, cancer, and many more.

Beneficiary Designation Decisions

By Barbara O’Neill, Ph.D., CFP®, AFC® [email protected] Having appropriate and up-to-date beneficiary designations is an important part of the financial planning process. It is not enough to build wealth over time, people also want their assets to go to beneficiaries that they care deeply about (e.g., spouses, children, and/or charitable…

Staying Positive: Internally Focused Strategies to Help Stay Positive

Written by: Mary Brintnall-Peterson, Ph.D., MBP Consulting, LLC, Professor Emeritus, UW-Extension & Caregiver. (Fourth article in a four-part series on staying positive as a caregiver.) Since there were so many strategies to help us maintain a positive attitude two articles were needed and I’ve probably missed many others. If your…

Investment Myths: Truth or Trick?

By Barbara O’Neill, Ph.D., CFP®, AFC® [email protected] Investing is a frequent topic that Personal Financial Managers (PFMs) get questions about. Whether questions relate to Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) asset allocation decisions or investments made into IRAs or taxable accounts, service members typically have much to learn, and may also have…

Student Loan Debt Relief for Military Families

By Laura Royer Military service can be appealing to new recruits because of education benefits. Service members can expect to receive opportunities for financial aid as well as the benefits of lower to zero percent interest rates, deferment, and special repayment programs or even partial to full loan forgiveness. There…

Go Beyond the Webinar| Healthy Moms, Happy Babies I & II

On October 1st and 7th 2020, OneOp hosted two recent webinars called “Healthy Moms, Happy Babies I: Supporting Staff to Help Families Remotely” and “Healthy Moms, Happy Babies II: Virtually Supporting Parents Experiencing Domestic Abuse.” These webinars were, in part, to showcase some of the work being done at Futures…

Ending Hunger in The United States

pexels-august-de-richelieu-4259140 Author: Christian Maino Vieytes, Doctoral Student, Division of Nutritional Sciences, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Optimal health derives from a complicated equation. The determinants of health are numerous, and many of them tie into the social factors that define our lives. These variables include the conditions we are…

Setting up Classrooms for Success During a Pandemic: Strategies for Early Childhood Educators

As students across the country are learning new rules and expectations related to COVID-19, early childhood educators are tasked with providing the support needed for young children to succeed and stay healthy. This post focuses on three strategies educators can use to set up their classrooms to support the needs…

Addressing Food Access for Military Families

By Molly C. Herndon, MS Many families are experiencing hard times right now, and spending money on nutritious and wholesome food may not be a top priority. However, food insecurity is a problem that has affected families long before we felt COVID’s financial impact. Food insecurity is defined by the…

Food Insecurity Among Service Members and Veterans

Unfortunately, food insecurity is a common issue among many active-duty members, veterans, and military families. Food insecurity can be defined as the state of being without reliable access to a sufficient quantity of affordable, nutritious food. According to a recent study, “estimates of food insecurity among veterans vary widely, ranging…

Continuing the Conversation on Caring for Children During COVID-19 and Other Emergencies

Whether you and your family are still working and attending school from home, going in for only a few days out of the week and have a new hybrid model, or are back to heading into the office or school full time, each of our professional and personal lives has…

A New Adventure for our Military Kids

Going back to school is a big change for all kids. Now, because of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, going back to school may be even more stressful, and may look very different for many children and families, especially our military kids.

Working Together Isn’t Always Easy

As an early childhood practitioner, connecting with and including families of young children with disabilities to support positive behavior at school, childcare, and home is important work. However, this isn't always easy. At times you may feel frustrated with some of the families you work with.

Avoiding Scams during Uncertain Times

We find ourselves in a tenuous climate. The world is gripped by a rapidly spreading and deadly viral pandemic.

COVID-19 Era Personal Finance Tips for the Financially Unscathed

By Barbara O’Neill, Ph.D., CFP®, AFC® [email protected]. Americans have lived with the financial effects of COVID-19 for more than six months. Many have experienced a loss or reduction of income, and related impacts such as food insecurity, depletion of savings, and outstanding payments for rent, utilities, loans, and other household…

Go Beyond the Webinar| Modeling Healthy Technology Behaviors for Young Children

For this latest installment, we were joined by Dr. Erin Taylor, a Licensed Clinical Psychologist and Assistant Professor at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center – Center on Child Abuse and Neglect (CCAN) in Oklahoma City, OK. Her goals in this webinar were to share her active involvement in…

Staying Positive: Action Strategies to Help Caregivers Stay Positive

Written by: Mary Brintnall-Peterson, Ph.D., MBP Consulting, LLC, Professor Emeritus, UW-Extension & Caregiver. (Third article in a four-part series on staying positive as a caregiver.) Since every caregiver will experience stress sometime in their caregiver journey and the realization of the need for caregivers to be positive to stay healthy…

What Financial Practitioners Need to Know About Food Insecurity

By Barbara O’Neill, Ph.D., CFP®, AFC® [email protected] The term “food insecurity” is defined by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) as “a lack of consistent access to enough food for an active, healthy lifestyle.” While food insecurity is related to hunger (i.e., many food insecure people go hungry), it is…

Centers for Independent Living: Preparing Parents & Caregivers

Pt. 2 Vlog Series: Centers for Independent Living – Transitioning to Adulthood. Centers for Independent Living (CILs) are community-based centers that are run by and for people with disabilities and offer a broad range of services to empower and enable people to stay in the community (ACL, 2020). Watch and listen…

Early Childhood Drop off and Pick-up Procedures during a Pandemic

Across the country preschools and childcare centers are working to serve children while also managing the risks of spreading COVID-19. Many centers have adjusted their drop-off and pick-up procedures to minimize exposure. Some programs require families to stay in the car while a staff member helps the child in and…

Eight Strategies to Deal with Debt

By Barbara O’Neill, Ph.D., CFP®, AFC® [email protected] Personal financial managers (PFMs) are well aware of signs of overextended credit and debt. Some of the most common indicators that individuals and families have too much debt are when they… put off paying bills because they do not have enough money to…

How to Teach Nutrition to Someone with Low Nutrition Literacy

Nutrition education is important to prevent disease and to not only increase longevity but the quality of life. One major obstacle to educating military families about good nutrition practices is nutrition literacy.

Building Relationships with Children’s Families Can Make a Big Difference

Do you want to build stronger relationships with families? Do you struggle to have conversations with families around sensitive or difficult topics? Do you need ideas for how to meaningfully involve families in early childhood? Building positive relationships with children’s families that affirms their culture and identity is an important part…

Helping Military Families Get Caught Up on Bills

By Laura Royer. Occasionally, military families may find themselves falling behind on bills. This could be due to poor planning before relocations or deployment, or it may be due to a lack of money management skills. Regardless of the reasons, it is important for Personal Finance Managers (PFMs) to help…

Nutrition Literacy in America

The rise in overweight and obese adults has led to devastating increases in rates of heart disease, stroke, and cancer. These worrying statistics are the source of much anguish for public health professionals who worry about nutrition literacy remaining low in the United States.

Navigating the Ever-Changing Reality of Youth Tech Use

As our Sexual Behaviors in Children and Youth (SBCY) Series continues to evolve, our training has expanded to include a focus on healthy relationships and tech use. In our SBCY training, “Supporting Youth to Set Healthy Boundaries with Technology,” Jasmine Uribe discussed how technology is used to harm teens and…

Back to School: Special Needs & Social Distancing

Written by: Lakshmi Mahadevan, Ph.D., Associate Professor and Extension Specialist – Special Populations, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service. Most of us have been living a “social distancing," “quarantining," “working from home," “physically distant” type of existence since perhaps March 2020. While the circumstances that led us to these types of…

Financial Preparedness and Natural Disasters

By Barbara O’Neill, Ph.D., CFP®, AFC® [email protected] The official dates for hurricane season are the six months from June 1 through November 30 of each year. At this same time, other natural disasters, such as tornadoes, floods, and wildfires, also occur frequently. After a natural disaster, someone’s life is turned…

Communication Methods for Low Health Literacy Patients

According to the CDC, health literacy is defined as “the degree to which an individual has the capacity to obtain, communicate, process, and understand basic health information and services to make appropriate health decisions”. It is essential for dietitians and other health professionals to be aware of their patients’ health…

Military Families and Reestablishing Normalcy: Returning to Routines amidst COVID-19 for Families with Teens

Adaptability is a trait that members of military families need to be able to pick up quickly. But change can come fast, and military families can struggle with transitions. With these transitions, what are some of the best ways we as professionals can help military families specifically, with re-establishing some…

In-Person Learning for Young Children During a Pandemic

Across the country, many schools are beginning a new year that will look different than previous ones. Due to COVID-19, there are new rules and expectations in place for children and adults. These changes may lead to behavioral challenges for young children in childcare, preschool, and early intervention settings. In…

Applying Positive Psychology to Financial Practice

By Barbara O’Neill, Ph.D., CFP®, AFC® [email protected]. A major focus of Personal Finance Managers (PFMs) is helping military families thrive financially and reach financial goals. The field of positive psychology, with its emphasis on utilizing personal strengths and attaining greater happiness in life (a.k.a., flourishing), is strongly aligned with the…

Go Beyond the Webinar| Using Evidence-Based Programs to Best Support Military Families: An Intro to the Continuum of Evidence

On August 20th, 2020, OneOp hosted, “Using Evidence-Based Programs to Best Support Military Families: An Intro to the Continuum of Evidence.” In this webinar, we were joined by Dr. Daniel Perkins, Dr. Melissa Zack, and Jennifer Smith from the Clearinghouse for Military Family Readiness at Penn State University. Their goal…

Staying Positive: How Our Bodies React to Stress

Written by: Mary Brintnall-Peterson, Ph.D., MBP Consulting, LLC, Professor Emeritus, UW-Extension & Caregiver. (Second article in a four-part series on staying positive as a caregiver) Since every caregiver will experience stress sometime in their caregiver journey and the realization of the need for caregivers to be positive to stay healthy…

Overview of Centers for Independent Living & Administration for Community Living

Pt. 1 Vlog Series: Centers for Independent Living – Transitioning to Adulthood Centers for Independent Living (CILs) are community-based centers that are run by and for people with disabilities and offer a broad range of services to empower and enable people to stay in the community (ACL, 2020). Watch and…

Building Financial Resilience

By Barbara O’Neill, Ph.D., CFP®, AFC® [email protected]. The words “resilience” and “resiliency” have been used frequently since the COVID-19 pandemic began. Children, families, communities, and the nation as a whole have all been described as resilient: having the ability to function well and maintain a positive outlook despite experiencing highly…

Caring for Your Cognitive Health

Forgetfulness can happen at any age. You may walk into a room and forget what you needed, or maybe you forgot where you put your keys.

How Military Families Can Teach Their Kids About Money

Laura Royer By Laura Royer. Understanding how to manage money wisely is one of the most important skills a parent can teach a child. It’s even more important today with teens spending on average about $2,300 annually (2020 Taking Stock With Teens). The truth is many parents may struggle with…

Keeping Current & Putting Things in Perspective: Military Caregiving Resources

Written by: Christopher Plein, Ph.D. West Virginia University and OneOp Military Caregiving concentration. There has probably not been another time in our lives when we have been so focused on public health our healthcare delivery system, and caregiving. As we continue to navigate the unchartered waters of a global pandemic,…

Furloughs and Layoffs: What PFMs Need to Know

By Barbara O’Neill, Ph.D., CFP®, AFC® [email protected]. Millions of American workers were furloughed in 2020. While furloughs in the military are rare, they may impact a spouse’s employment in civilian jobs. Also known as “temporary layoffs,” furloughs occur in public and private sector workplaces. In some cases, employers ask for…

Improving Cognitive Function and Brain Health

The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) defines a healthy brain as one with the ability to perform all functional mental processes such as the ability to learn, reason, use language, and remember. The brain is a marvelous organ.

Staying Positive: The Link Between Being Positive & Stress

Written by: Mary Brintnall-Peterson, Ph.D., MBP Consulting, LLC, Professor Emeritus, UW-Extension & Caregiver. (First article in a four-part series on 'Staying Positive' as a caregiver.) As a caregiver, I am sure you have heard the statement—"Stay Positive” a million times. You’ve been told having a positive attitude will help keep…

How Military Couples Can Improve Communication About Money

By Laura Royer. Money is the source of many conflicts among couples. In fact, there are several studies that report that most couples cite money as their top reason for arguing, with debt generally the most common culprit. Meanwhile, managing finances and successfully paying off debt together is proven to…

Go Beyond the Webinar| Engaging Military Fathers to Model Healthy Relationships for Their Children: Lessons from Promundo’s Global Work with Dads

In our most recent OneOp webinar training, “Engaging Military Fathers to Model Healthy Relationships for Their Children: Lessons from Promundo’s Global Work with Dads,” we were joined by Jane Kato-Wallace of Promundo to discuss social, personal, and professional expectations of masculinity.

Helping Military Families Cope with COVID-19

By Barbara O’Neill, Ph.D., CFP®, AFC® [email protected]. Six months into the pandemic, Personal Financial Management (PFM) staff are helping military families stay afloat financially and emotionally. Starting in August, the $600 per week of federal unemployment benefits will go away, causing a “cash cliff” for unemployed military spouses. Moratoriums on…

Survivor Benefit Plan (SBP) Update

By Barbara O’Neill, Ph.D., CFP®, AFC® [email protected]. Like benefits for surviving spouses of workers who are covered by civilian pension plans, the Survivor Benefit Plan (SBP) provides a monthly stream of income, called an annuity, to military spouses and/or children when a Service member dies during active duty Service or…

Upcoming Webinar| Using Evidence-Based Programs to Best Support Military Families: An Intro to the Continuum of Evidence

Prioritizing the health and well-being of military families has always been important. This includes giving Service members the tools to excel both in their military careers as well as to thrive at home with their families. Managing this balance can be especially difficult for families during times of tough transitions.…

Talking to children about racism

This past spring, George Floyd, a Black man in Minneapolis, Minnesota was killed while being arrested by local police. The incident, along with the deaths of Breonna Taylor and Ahmaud Arbery earlier in the spring (and countless others before and since), triggered uprisings across the state, nation, and around the…

Military Life Cycle and Finances

By Selena Garrison. Financial issues can vary based on a service member’s place along the military lifecycle. Whether a service member is brand-new to the military, preparing for their first deployment, getting ready to separate and transition back to civilian life, or a veteran, there are military benefits that are…

Medicaid & Medicare in a Time of National Emergency

Christopher Plein, Ph.D. OneOp Military Caregiving Concentration Team and West Virginia University During times of local, regional, and national crisis, vulnerable and elderly populations have often been assisted by flexible and responsive actions provided under the Medicaid and Medicare programs. A joint federal and state program, Medicaid, provides coverage for…

COVID-19 Scams

By Molly C. Herndon. It is unfortunate but true that disasters and poor economic times are often golden opportunities for scammers to take advantage of consumers. In this post, during Military Consumer Protection Awareness Month, we highlight current COVID-19 related scams so that you and your clients can be vigilantly…

Centers for Independent Living – Transitioning to Adulthood

A Sneak Peek of an Upcoming Vlog Series! Stay tuned as the OneOp Military Caregiving concentration area launches their 9-part video blog (vlog) series on ‘Centers for Independent Living – Transitioning to Adulthood’ next month. Vlog host, Lakshmi Mahadevan, Ph.D., Extension Program Specialist for Special Populations at Texas A&M AgriLife…

How to Prioritize Debt in Times of Financial Crisis: How to Spot a Creditor Scam

By Laura Royer Whenever a financial crisis hits, especially a global one, it sets up great opportunities for scam artists to prey on the timely situation. Therefore, it is important that Personal Finance Managers (PFMs) working with military families or service members encourage them to be mindful of who they…

Go Beyond the Webinar| Supporting Youth to Set Healthy Boundaries with Technology

On June 10, 2020, OneOp hosted the latest webinar in our ongoing Sexual Behavior in Children & Youth Series. In “Supporting Youth to Set Healthy Boundaries with Technology,” we were joined by Jasmine Uribe, Chief Operating Officer for Break the Cycle, a great organization that inspires and supports young people…

Culturally-Sensitive Practices

Cultural sensitivity in the health care setting is essential for enhancing the quality of care a patient receives. Effective and thoughtful communication in a multicultural society, such as the one we share here in the United States, is of vital importance.

Expanding Understanding of Classroom Rules

When creating and teaching classroom rules, it is very important to remember that teaching the rules is not a one-time event. Reviewing classroom rules often is necessary.

How to Prioritize Debt in Times of Financial Crisis: The Statutes of Limitations for Collecting Debt by State

By Laura Royer. When it comes to dealing with debt in times of a financial crisis, it is helpful to determine if any of the debts owed are time-barred and, if so, have reached the statute of limitations for collection. Personal Finance Managers (PFMs) can help clients determine if their…

5 Tips to Improve Implicit Biases for Nutrition Professionals

A review by The Ohio State University defines implicit biases as unconscious positive or negative attitudes or stereotypes we associate with individuals based on skin color, sexuality, gender, age, and other features. Research shows that implicit biases are subconscious behaviors.

Questions from the Webinar: Cancer Preventive Lifestyle Behaviors: Why You Should Talk to Your Clients Now

I think if you deliver the information in a way that is empowering, you can minimize fear. For example, sharing that almost 50% of cancer cases could be prevented through nutrition, physical activity, maintaining healthy body weight, using sunscreen, and not smoking is empowering.

How to Prioritize Debt in Times of Financial Crisis: Working With Debt Collectors

By Laura Royer, [email protected] If a military family is receiving calls or notifications from debt collectors, it’s important for Personal Finance Managers (PFMs) to help them understand their rights, which are covered under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA). PFMs can tell clients that this act specifically prohibits debt…

Financial Crisis: Debt Collection

By Laura Royer, [email protected]. If a military family is experiencing financial hardship or has debt that has been sent to collection, it’s important for them to understand how to work with debt collectors. Personal Finance Managers (PFMs) can help clients understand the difference between different types of debt collectors. The…

Upcoming Webinar | Engaging Fathers to Model Healthy Relationships for their Children

With Father’s Day right around the corner, it’s important to honor and celebrate the roles of dads and father figures in our lives. A father’s role in a child’s life can be a very positive influence. We see it in research, and we see the benefits of kids having caring…

Is Caregiving Making You Feel Like Your Life is on Hold?

Written by: Mary Brintnall-Peterson, Ph.D., MBP Consulting, LLC, Professor Emeritus, UW-Extension & Caregiver. For most of my career as an educator I created and taught educational programs based on research and insights from family caregivers, military caregivers and the professional who support them. Yet my last 18 months as a…

Using the Environment to Support Children’s Engagement and Appropriate Behavior

“Is it time for recess?” “It’s my turn to be line leader!” “Stop running!” If any of these sounds familiar, consider how the classroom environment can be used to help. The classroom environment can play a powerful role in helping children understand and follow routines and expectations.

How Military Families Can Manage Stress During a Financial Setback

By Laura Royer When working with military families that are experiencing a financial setback, there are many ways to support clients, beyond providing financial advice. Personal Finance Managers (PFM) can also provide some tips for how to manage the stress itself while your client is navigating a financial storm. Here…

Cultural Competence for Health Professionals

“To be effective in encouraging clients to make healthier food choices and improving health outcomes, health care professionals must possess specific knowledge about food habits, preferences, and practices for the ethnic and racial groups they see in their practice” (Diabetes Spectrum). Culture is a major factor contributing to the food…

How Well are You Coping?

Written by: Alicia Cassels, MA If you are struggling to deal with overwhelming feelings of distress related to COVID-19, you are not alone. Results of a recent U.S. Census Bureau Survey indicate that, unsurprisingly, American adults are experiencing difficulty controlling feelings of worry and anxiety related to the outbreak. The U.S.…

How to Help Military Families Navigate a Financial Crisis

By Laura Royer. The COVID-19 pandemic has caused many military families to feel a financial crunch. As a Personal Finance Managers (PFMs) working with military families that are experiencing a financial setback, here are things that your clients can do to navigate a “financial storm.” Assess Their Net Worth Have…

Gather ‘Round: Cooking for Creativity and Family Connectivity

If this season has given me anything it’s the gift of time. I had never really given much thought to what I would do if I had more hours in the day or week. Now I know the answer - I would spend it in the kitchen with my family.

Keep Calm & Carry On: Smoothing the Waters of Rage

Written by: Christopher Plein, Ph.D., West Virginia University, and OneOp Caregiving Concentration. Throughout these unique times, the MFLN continues to provide webinars and other programs to help build a learning network among those working with military families. Well-known challenges, long-familiar to those who help others, take on new dimensions as…

Meet the Presenters for Cancer Preventive Lifestyle Behaviors: Why You Should Talk to Your Clients Now

Cancer is the second leading cause of death in the United States according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). In the Cancer Preventative Lifestyle Behaviors webinar Dr. Berg and Dr. Rafie share guidelines on nutrition, physical activity, and weight management for cancer prevention.

Financial Crisis: Understanding How to Prioritize Debt

By Laura Royer When facing a financial crisis, a military household may not be able to pay all of the bills. If that is the case, it is important for the Personal Finance Manager (PFM) to help the client understand how to prioritize which bills are more critical than others.…

Resource Discovery: Caring for Each Other Initiative

Sesame Street’s dedication to the healthy development of children and families has been reflected in the vibrant, relatable, relevant programming they have provided for more than 50 years. While Sesame Street has always been a resource for children and parents, Sesame Street in Communities is a research-based component of the…

Do cancer-fighting foods exist? Cancer prevention through lifestyle and nutrition

At its most basic level, cancer is an abnormal growth of human cells. Cancer development is associated with several factors: family history and genetics as well as lifestyle factors such as smoking, alcohol overuse, diet and weight, and environmental exposure, like sun tanning.

Planning for your Child’s Special Needs: Centers for Independent Living

Written by: Lakshmi Mahadevan, Ph.D., Associate Professor and Extension Specialist – Special Populations, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service. For parents, guardians and youth with special needs, transition from school to adulthood and beyond can be very challenging and scary. Service providers like Centers for Independent Living (CILs) can ease the…

Financial Crisis: Evaluate and Manage Spending

By Laura Royer Personal Finance Managers (PFM) working with military families need to know about options for their clients who are dealing with overwhelming debt. If you are working with families who are dealing with financial hardship or are knee-deep in debt, they may need to create a specific emergency…

Cancer Prevention: The Role of Nutrition and Lifestyle

When it comes to cancer, genes may play a significant role. The contributions made by genes on our cancer fate manifests through a unique phenomenon: mutations.

Upcoming Webinar| Supporting Youth to Set Healthy Boundaries with Technology

With the recent changes our world has seen, connecting with others via technology has become much more prevalent. Whether it be for work purposes or connecting with friends and family over social media, staying home and connecting through our devices has become the new norm.

Assisting Military Families as they Successfully Navigate the Military-to-Civilian Transition

by Jennifer Rea, PhD. "Transitions are times of both opportunity and vulnerability characterized by adjustments to cultural shifts that require management of relationships and social identity.” Drs. Pedlar, Thompson & Castro (2019), contributing authors in the book; Military Veteran Reintegration All individuals experience major life transitions, such as entering adulthood,…

Caregiving, Cancer, & the Coronavirus

Written by: Mary Brintnall-Peterson, Ph.D., MBP Consulting, LLC, Professor Emeritus, UW-Extension & Caregiver. Caregiving is Difficult Enough Caregiving is difficult enough but the uncertainty of the coronavirus adds another hurdle to overcome. As a caregiver living with my adult son who has colon cancer, I am personally experiencing how the…

Food Insecurity Amidst a Pandemic

Many people think of food insecurity as a person being hungry, but hunger and food insecurity are different in definition. Since hunger can be difficult to measure, the USDA measures food insecurity instead of hunger.

COVID-19 Financial Survival Strategies

By Barbara O’Neill, Ph.D., CFP®, AFC® [email protected]. Personal Finance Manager’s offices are on the front lines helping military families cope with the financial impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Below are six tips to consider personally and share with clients: Know the Terms: Words like “waived,” “suspended,” and “deferred” are being…

The Importance of Self-Care for Military Caregivers and Families

Caregivers are known to be tough and strong. You are often expected to put your needs aside to provide care for a loved one above all else. This is especially true for military caregivers that take care of a loved one who is a wounded service member. However, while you…

COVID-19 & the Military Community: Keeping Informed

Written by: Christopher Plein, Ph.D. West Virginia University & OneOp Military Caregiving concentration. As I write this blog from my laptop computer on a makeshift desk set up in my living room, I take comfort knowing that I am part of a virtual learning network that spans across our nation…

The Cost of Aging: Health Care

By Molly C. Herndon. In this series, we're examining the practical considerations caregivers have around the financial side of providing care to a loved one. Part 1 took a look at housing options and this post will discuss health care considerations. Health Care Older Americans have higher life expectancies than…

COVID-19 and Advance Care Planning: Now More than Ever

By Marlene S. Stum, Ph.D. Many of us are focused on staying well and protecting others as we face the uncertainty and risk of COVID-19. Wash your hands, stay six feet apart, and wear a cloth mask are now everyday realities. There’s something else that each of us should be…

The Cost of Aging: Housing

by Molly C. Herndon. Over 36% of Americans provide unpaid care for a family member, so the chances are high that you have clients who are providing care for a family member. More than 40 million caregivers are over 65, which compounds the financial issues around providing care. The costs…

Resource Discovery: The Imagine Project

Anxiety is commonplace in today’s culture and people experience it in a lot of different ways. Anxiety can be stifling…creating fear, worry, and uncertainty.

Nature’s Benefits for Families

Today more than ever, we spend our time glued to screens. And thanks to COVID-19, your time using devices has probably increased even more because of working from home, home-schooling children, and even boredom. Luckily, many organizations and state governments are encouraging people to get outdoors to promote health and…

Your Questions Answered – FODMAPs and Athletes: Current Research and Strategies

During the FODMAPs and Athletes: Current Research and Strategies live webinar there were so many great questions that we could not get them all answered during the allotted time. Our presenter, Dr. Lauren Killian graciously provided her answers below for you.

Connect while Social Distancing: Host a Virtual Game Night

Written by Alicia Cassels, MA. A good laugh has great short-term effects. When you start to laugh, it doesn't just lighten your load mentally, it actually induces physical changes in your body. -Mayo Clinic Imagine your friends laughing as they cheer you on in the heat of the game. Suddenly, you…

The Rationale for Implementing a Low FODMAP Diet

The term FODMAP is an acronym for “fermentable oligo-, di-, mono-saccharides, and polyols”. It can sound like a mouthful, but it is a term that encompasses foods with high concentrations of certain types of sugars and non-caloric sweeteners.

The Start of it All Was a Call About a Fall

By Barbara O’Neill, Ph.D., CFP®, AFC [email protected]. Many millennials in their late 30s and Gen-Xers in their 40s and 50s balance adult caregiving with full-time jobs and families of their own. Some of them are military families, who simultaneously support both older and younger family members while performing their military…

Battling Burnout: Practices to Overcome Therapist Compassion Fatigue

For those working in helping professions, experiencing burnout and compassion fatigue is very common. Counselors and therapists are especially susceptible. It is our job as professionals to meet our clients where they are at and to help them discover meaning and understanding through life’s challenges. However, helping professionals face the…

Morale, Welfare, and Recreation: Military Families’ Connection to Adventure

As the Outdoor Rx series comes to an end, we want to emphasize how nature-based recreation is beneficial for the general population, but even more so for military families. Luckily, military families have easy access to a program that promotes wellness through leisure, entertainment, and adventure: Morale, Welfare, and Recreation…

Connect while Social Distancing: Cook Online with a Loved One

Written by Alicia Cassels, MA. Share a meal online with a loved one. This week my sister and I did something that we have talked about, yet somehow never found time to do. We made pasta together. More precisely, my sister taught me how to make pasta. Although we are…

User’s Map to FODMAP

Researchers at Monash University developed the FODMAP diet to reduce the symptoms of IBS. The FODMAP diet reduces the intake of Fermentable Oligosaccharides, Disaccharides, Monosaccharides, and Polyols.

Collecting Data on Challenging Behavior

In our first webinar in the “Intentional Design: Promoting Positive Behavior” webinar series, we discussed the importance of gathering information about children’s challenging behavior and shared some tools for doing so. But how do you know what data collection tool is best? Luckily, the tools we shared all help you…

Additional Benefits Amid the COVID-19 Pandemic for Military Families

By Laura Royer The Department of Veteran Affairs is releasing updated information with resources to mitigate the financial impact the COVID-19 pandemic is having on military families. The following is a summary of a few other ways the VA is trying to assist during this state of emergency. For Existing…

How to Stay Active in Nature During COVID-19

Our series on Outdoor Rx and nature-based recreation has been a wonderful learning opportunity and a way to see nature in a new perspective. Then COVID-19 came along. Businesses have shut down along with recreational activities that you or your family may have once been a part of. Your morning…

Strategies to Improve Conflicts Between Care Receiver & Caregiver

Changing Family Relationships Blog Series Written by: Mary Brintnall-Peterson, Ph.D., MBP Consulting, LLC, Professor Emeritus, UW-Extension & Caregiver Families experience ups and downs as they care for family members who need care. This is the fourth article in a series on how family relationships change and experience conflict when a family member…

Long-Term Care Basics: Part 1

By Barbara O’Neill, Ph.D., CFP®, [email protected] With an average U.S. life expectancy of 78.7 and many people living longer, the cost of long-term care is an increasing financial risk. The term “long-term care” refers to a wide range of services ranging from limited assistance at home with daily activities to…

Remote Instruction Resources for Teaching Children About Finances

By Molly C. Herndon During the coronavirus quarantine and time of self-isolation, we may find ourselves acting as homeschool instructors for our children. The financial fragility highlighted by the unstable stock market, job layoffs and rising unemployment rates all point to one lesson you can't afford to miss: teaching your…

Taking care of yourself in the time of COVID-19

By Cari Michaels Managing stress begins with self-care. Fortunately, there are many things you can do at home and on your own schedule to support your mental health, maintain healthy communication and prevent isolation during this time. Accept feelings of anxiety, worry, fear, boredom, loneliness, grief as they come. Know…

Telehealth: the future of medicine?

Photo from Unsplash by Javier Molina By Sarah Pittman, BS Graduate Student in Food Science and Human Nutrition at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. What is telehealth or virtual health care? Telehealth is the use of electronic information and telecommunications technologies to support long-distance clinical health care, patient and…

Nature-Based Therapy for Treatment of Substance Use Disorders in Veterans

As we keep moving through this series that started as simply exploring how initiatives like Outdoor Rx can benefit military families, more resources and uses for nature-based therapy become apparent in the current literature. Because veterans are at a higher risk for suicide, last week we explored how NBT can…

Helpful Resources for Difficult Times

Written by: Christopher Plein, Ph.D. West Virginia University & OneOp Military Caregiving concentration Many of us recall the tragic events of September 11, 2001. In the days that followed, we were anxious and apprehensive. Finding comfort and confidence was the order of the day as we moved into a new reality.…

Child Identity Theft Scams

By Barbara O’Neill, Ph.D., CFP®, AFC [email protected] The statistics are startling. According to a survey by Javelin Strategy and Research, more than one million children, two-thirds of them age 7 or younger, were identity theft victims in 2017. More than one million children! Even more shocking: 6 in 10 child…

Resources for Constructive Conversations with Your Child about Coronavirus

With news updating by the hour, we are all experiencing uncertainty over the global COVID-19 outbreak. For many, every part of daily life is shifting. This includes changes to family routines, parental schedules, and children staying home from school. Considering this, fears, stress, and discomfort that often come with big…

COVID-19 – Family Social Science offers coping resources

By: Pauline Boss, Professor Emeritus of Family Social Science, University of Minnesota Unanswered questions, uncertainty and the disruption of family and work life due to COVID-19 are causing a pandemic of anxiety and distress. What can help? Pauline Boss, professor emeritus of Family Social Science, says giving it a name…

Planning for Your Child with Special Needs – Managing Social Distancing

by: Lakshmi Mahadevan, Ph.D., Associate Professor and Extension Specialist – Special Populations, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service Due to school closures and stay-at-home directives during the coronavirus, families need to plan for how to manage the special needs of their children on a daily basis. Particularly challenging is finding resources…

Using Nature-Based Therapy for Veteran Suicide Prevention

Suicide is public health concern in the United States among civilians and military service members and veterans. However, the experiences of military life create an increased risk of suicide for veterans. Bettman et al. (2019) reported that veterans of Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom are at a risk…

COVID-19: Military Personnel, Pay, & Benefits Q&A

COVID-19 - or coronavirus - has impacted military personnel, pay and benefits. Here is a collection of Frequently Asked Questions answered by the Department of Defense, as of March 26, 2020. Alternate Places of Duty and Telework Q. I am unable to report to duty with my unit because my…

Caregiving for Older Adults During the Coronavirus

In the midst of the worldwide coronavirus, or COVID-19 pandemic, there is a lot of fear and uncertainty, especially if you are caring for someone who is older or has a chronic condition. Older adults are particularly vulnerable (CDC,2020) meaning they, their caregivers, and the professionals who serve them need…

Community Involvement During COVID-19

The last few weeks have seen frequently changing guidelines and updated information regarding how to keep ourselves safe during the COVID-19 pandemic. While we are all taking precautionary measures to stay healthy, it can seem like life is on hold during the coronavirus. You may be working from home, quarantining,…

Identity Theft: Reduce Your Risk

By Barbara O’Neill, Ph.D., CFP®, [email protected] According to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), military families report identity theft at more than twice the rate of civilians. Identity theft is not typically a “stand-alone” crime but, rather, part of another crime such as credit card fraud. A 1998 law made it…

The Battles They Fought: A Brief History of Women in the U.S. Military

By: Jennifer Rea, PhD "War holds many ironies and among them is the liberating effect upon women” - Doris Weatherford, Women’s History Scholar American women have served in the military for a long time and with much distinction. Their service (although prohibited at the time) first began during the Revolutionary…

A Closer Look at the Benefits of Nature-Based Therapy for Service Members

Welcome back to Friday Field Notes! Last week, we explored how nature-based recreation is helpful for all humans regardless of cultural background, but also how culture affects access to such recreation. This week, we’ll focus specifically on military service members and the benefits of increasing contact with nature. History of…

Preparing for Children with Special Needs – Traumatic Brain Injury

Written by: Lakshmi Mahadevan, Ph.D., Associate Professor and Extension Specialist – Special Populations, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service Did you know that March in TBI Awareness Month? Defining Traumatic Brain Injury Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) occurs when there is sudden trauma to the brain (National Institute of Neurological Disorders and…

You are what you eat – and how you sleep?

In today’s fast-paced world, we often feel pressured to reduce sleep to increase productivity. However, studies show that this is actually an ineffective method.

PAWS Up! The Benefits of Service Dogs and Mental Health

A few months back, my wife and I added a new member to our family. His name is Copper and he is a two-year-old Basset Hound. Copper is a rescue dog, and as common with rescues, we didn’t get much info on his past. His life before he ended up…

Supporting Military Families During the Coronavirus Outbreak

With the recent outbreak of Coronavirus (COVID-19), military service members and civilians alike must take precautions to prevent the spread of the virus. Here in Community Capacity Building, we want to take a look at the ways that we can all support our communities during this outbreak and time of…

What is Challenging Behavior? What Can We Do About It?

Families and teachers often identify challenging behavior as a significant problem in the home and school/childcare settings. Challenging behavior is defined as "any repeated pattern of behavior...that interferes with or is at risk of interfering with the child's optimal learning or engagement in pro-social interactions with peers and adults" (Smith…

2020 Tax Filing Strategies

By Barbara O’Neill, Ph.D., CFP®, [email protected] Are you getting ready to file your federal income tax return? 2020 is the second tax filing season following the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA). Because of the TCJA, over 25 million taxpayers claimed the standard deduction instead of itemizing deductions on their…

Sleep On It: A Guide to a Healthy Night of Sleep

Can you remember the last time you woke up from a restful night of sleep, without the aid of an alarm or of a child requiring attention? This question may evokes a longing for that restful, deep sleep you have not enjoyed for some time.

Resources for Trying Times: The Impact of Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)

I was out this weekend having dinner with a close friend. While waiting for food and listening to the band, she told me that her childhood best friend had experienced mild traumatic brain injury (TBI). I listened to her share the struggles her friend was facing, as a young, outgoing…

Caregiving & Conflict with Family Members

Changing Family Relationships Blog Series Written by: Mary Brintnall-Peterson, Ph.D., MBP Consulting, LLC, Professor Emeritus, UW-Extension & Caregiver Strategies to Improve Conflicts between Family & Individual Family Members This is the third article in a series of four on how family relationships change and experience conflict when a family member needs…

American Indian History and Current Contributions to the Military

By Jennifer Garbow According to the National Congress of American Indians, “There are 573 federally recognized Indian Nations (variously called tribes, nations, bands, pueblos, communities and native villages) in the United States. Approximately 229 of these ethnically, culturally and linguistically diverse nations are located in Alaska; the other federally recognized…

Intuitive Eating Combating Eating Disorders

The Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders (ANAD) estimates there are at least 30 million people who suffer from disordered eating. Disordered eating does not only mean being diagnosed with anorexia, bulimia, or other commonly recognized eating disorders.

Military Considerations for the 2019 Earned Income Tax Credit

By Selena Garrison The Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) can help working people with low to moderate income reduce the amount of tax they owe or even allow them to receive a refund. As a fully refundable tax credit, people who qualify for the EITC can get a refund above…

The Importance of Outdoor Rx: Improving Health Outcomes Through Nature-Based Recreation

Welcome back to Friday Field Notes! Last week, we explored what Outdoor Rx is, why it is important for military families and how it is related to Total Force Fitness (TFF). This week, we take a deeper dive in to Outdoor Rx, its benefits, and why it is a great…

Military Family Readiness: Keeping Up with the National Defense Authorization Act

Written by: Christopher Plein, Ph.D. West Virginia University Military life is complex and ever changing. The challenges involved are increasingly being recognized across society and in the halls of government. Such issues as access to healthcare, education, child care, housing, and employment opportunities are vital to military family readiness. These…

Pension Advances: Not a Good Option for Military Retirees

By Carol Church As anyone who works with service members knows, a military pension is a valuable and honorable thing. It signifies many years of hard work and devotion to our county. And for many people, it is an incredibly important financial lifeline. That’s why it’s so galling to hear…

Resource Discovery: CDC’s Dating Matters Initiative

Today’s teens are bombarded with stressful situations. From social media pressures, the torrents of school life, personal life, and balancing the unique challenges youths in military families face, the changes and development youth undergo from elementary to high school are vital to their development into adulthood.

Resources for a Healthy & Successful Special Education Journey

Written by: Lakshmi Mahadevan, Ph.D., Associate Professor and Extension Specialist – Special Populations, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service Are you considering getting your child evaluated to determine his or her special needs? Has your child recently been diagnosed with a disability or special need? Are you in the process of…

In this interview, OneOp spoke with Ms. Juanda R. Bryant, author of The Mini Adventures of Danny and the Deployer and Operation Care Package.

TSP Investment Options: Learning More about the G Fund

By Carol Church Military service members are fortunate to have the investment options of the Thrift Savings Plan, or TSP, available. This defined contribution plan offers excellent savings and tax benefits that are similar but arguably substantially superior to those provided to private sector employees via 401K plans. From tsp.gov…

Managing the Transition to Higher Education for Service Members

by Jennifer Rea, PhD Have you ever seen the movie Back to School? The plot of this 1986 film centers on a wealthy, uneducated father, Thornton Melon (Rodney Dangerfield). Thornton enrolls in college with his son, Jason (Keith Gordon), to show solidarity and the importance of earning an education. Service…

Be a Diet Detective: Spotting a Fad Weight Loss Diet

With the new year, often comes diets promising quick and incredible results. The diet typically sounds simple: “Eat this one food and see awesome weight loss results!” or “Don’t eat this food group to lose weight!”.

Long-Term Care Basics: Part 2

By Barbara O’Neill, Ph.D., CFP®, [email protected] Long-Term Care Basics-Part 1 described guidelines for considering the purchase of long-term care (LTC) insurance, basic LTC insurance terms such as inflation riders and elimination period, and tips for purchasing a LTC policy. Below is some additional background information and expert recommendations to consider:…

Relationships and Intimacy: Resources for Military Couples

What are the keys to a long-lasting and happy relationship? Everywhere you turn, websites, television, and magazines get readers and viewers by asking this question and then providing a top ten list of ways to make loving relationships last.

Reasons for Family Conflict while Caregiving

Changing Family Relationships Blog Series Written by: Mary Brintnall-Peterson, Ph.D., MBP Consulting, LLC, Professor Emeritus, UW-Extension & Caregiver Reasons for Family Conflict This is the second article in a four-part series on changing family relationships of families who are caring for someone with cancer. All families have conflict and caregiving is…

Webinar| An Overview of the Branch Out Parenting Program and Other Thrive Resources

OneOp is excited about the ongoing Thrive Series! This series includes an Anchored podcast episode to introduce the Thrive Initiative, as well as webinars highlighting the first three parenting programs.

Military Families & Disaster Preparedness: Network Literacy

We have made it to the end of our series on disaster preparedness! To wrap up this series, this week’s Friday Field Notes will feature OneOp Network Literacy (MFL NetLit). The OneOp NetLit team helps individuals become more resilient and adaptive within complex social systems through relationship building, personal growth,…

Military Health Care: A Changing Landscape

Christopher Plein, Ph.D., West Virginia University Much of the work of OneOp focuses on providing ready access to important information relating to trends and developments in family readiness resources and services. Among the most important of these are services and benefits offered through the Defense Health Agency, such as the…

What’s Included in My Gross Income?

Selena Garrison, University of Florida It’s that time of year again: Tax Time. With the many different forms of income that can received by members of the Armed Forces, it is important to know what income is taxable and what income is excluded from taxation. IRS Publication 3, Armed Forces’…

Resource Discovery: Moore Center for the Prevention of Child Sexual Abuse

How do we better understand child sexual abuse and what are ways in which we can prevent it from happening before it starts? Answering this question has been one of the main goals of OneOp’s Sexual Behavior in Children and Youth Series. To understand, not just the laws and consequences…

Keeping Diet and Activity Goals on Track While Traveling

With the start of the new year, many of us have set goals to eat healthier and be more physically active. Until the new routine becomes a habit, it can be challenging to stick to our goals while away from home.

Lease-to-Own: The Newest Trends

By Barbara O’Neill, Ph.D., CFP®, [email protected] A costly, but popular, way to purchase household goods is rent-to-own (a.k.a., lease-to-own) plans. The rent-to-own (RTO) industry began in the 1970s with a limited selection of goods to offer consumers. Most of the items were low-end furniture and appliances. Today, RTO is an…

All in the Family: OneOp Parenting Programs and Resources

Raising healthy children is a full-time job, as many parents can attest to. Every child and family is unique and many require additional help to navigate all the challenges both inside and outside of the family unit. Military families have unique challenges as well, often involving issues around parental military…

Military Families & Disaster Preparedness: Early Intervention

As we continue our discussion of disaster preparedness, we want to take time to address children through exploring the resources offered by the OneOp Early Intervention (OneOp FDEI) team. OneOp FDEI is a subdivision of the Family Development team that addresses service providers who work with military families with young…

Factors that Influence Family Relationships when Caregiving

Changing Family Relationships Blog Series Written by: Mary Brintnall-Peterson, Ph.D., MBP Consulting, LLC, Professor Emeritus, UW-Extension & Caregiver Family members typically provide support to cancer victims and are in it for the long haul. They do whatever is needed and often at the expense of their own health or needs. No matter…

Insights from Age Proof

By Barbara O’Neill, Ph.D., CFP®, [email protected] Personal Financial Management program personnel often counsel military families about many aspects of their lives including finances, health, and relationships. I recently read the book Age Proof by Jean Chatzky and Dr. Michael Roizen that discusses a crucial intersection in people’s lives: their bodies…

Go Beyond the Webinar| From Hysteria to Hope: Bringing Reason to Sexual Abuse in Childhood

On November 21, 2019, OneOp hosted the latest webinar in our ongoing Sexual Behavior in Children & Youth Series. In “From Hysteria to Hope: Bringing Reason to Sexual Abuse in Childhood,” Dr. Elizabeth Letourneau provided her insights into how problematic and/or illegal sexual behavior in childhood can be framed as…

Planning for Children with Special Needs: Managing Routines During Times of Change

Routines at home and school help children with special needs feel safe and secure. Consistently set expectations and knowing how to respond to them enables children with special needs to be: Responsible members of the family and classroom. Calm during unexpected changes. Resilient when faced with unpredictability. Thoughtful and ask…

The ‘Inside-out’ Perspective

In recent years, there have been many powerful autobiographies, blogs, novels and movies about the lived experiences of autistic . Many of these narratives encourage us to examine our assumptions about normality and the notion of impairment. They challenge the framing of autism as a deficit within the individual that…

Effective Collaborative Leaders Utilize “Pull” and “Win-Win” Strategies

by Russ Linden In the 2019 OneOp Virtual Conference Relationships for Readiness, I used some polls in my presentation on Collaboration across Boundaries. One of them asked participants to assess themselves on the 5 characteristics of effective collaborative leaders: Which of these characteristics are strengths? Here are the results (participants…

Implementing the Recommended Practices: Resources for Early Childhood Practitioners

In 2009 The National Association for the Education of Young Children and the Division for Early Childhood issued a joint statement in support of inclusion. The position statement highlights three defining features of inclusion: access, participation, and supports. However, turning these inclusion features into inclusion practices can be challenging for…

Military Families & Disaster Preparedness: Nutrition & Wellness

To kick off our tour through MFLN’s concentration areas and how each one can contribute to disaster preparedness, this week’s Friday Field Notes will focus on Nutrition and Wellness. The Nutrition & Wellness team at OneOp mainly focuses on applying research with education and counseling to meet the needs of…

Supporting the Inclusion of Young Children with Autism

In 2009 The National Association for the Education of Young Children and the Division for Early Childhood issued a joint statement in support of inclusion. The joint statement includes this definition of early childhood inclusion: "Early childhood inclusion embodies the values, policies, and practices that support the right of every…

Inclusion of Young Children with Disabilities in Childcare

In the final webinar of the 2019 webinar series on autism, OneOp discusses the inclusion of young children with autism in a variety of settings. Recently we sat down with several experts in the field of early childhood special education who each share a passion for inclusion.

Inclusion of Young Children with Disabilities in Private Preschools

Inclusion of Young Children with Disabilities in Montessori Schools

Resource Discovery: TedMed Talk on Child Sexual Abuse Prevention

This blog asks, how do you have difficult talks about child sexual abuse with children, youth, and their parents?

A Simple Way to Brew Some Connection

We have a Keurig in our office - a newer, fancy-ish model. We have a box of shared coffee pods, a stash of cups, and often a bottle of coffee creamer someone bought and wrote “for everyone” on the label so we could all partake.

Making the Case for Retail Dietitians

Registered Dietitian Nutritionists (RDN) fulfill a variety of roles including clinical practice, public health, and community nutrition. A new role has emerged more recently that utilizes skill sets found in each of these practice areas, the supermarket RDN.

Doctor Appointments with Children with Autism

Going to a doctor appointment can be stressful for many young children and their caregivers. However, for children with autism and their families this can be even more stressful. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention one in every 59 children in the U.S. is diagnosed with autism…

A Follow-up to the 2019 OneOp Virtual Conference

It has been just a little over a month since our annual OneOp Virtual Conference entitled “Relationships for Readiness”. The 2019 three-day conference was a great opportunity to showcase the innovative ways that service providers and educators can rethink their work with military families. The primary focus of this year’s…

Successful collaboration requires effective leadership

By: Betsy Olson Russ Linden is passionate about collaboration. In his September 18 session, Collaboration Across Boundaries, part of the OneOp 2019 Virtual Conference, Relationships for Readiness, Mr. Linden outlines the components of a collaborative mindset and how to lead in a collaborative environment. In it, he reminds us of a…

Saying Something About Abuse: Domestic Violence Awareness Month

This blog highlights the history of Domestic Violence awareness month, as well as shares resources helpful in giving teens and parents tools for support.

Resource Discovery: THRIVE Initiative

by Courtney O'Grady, Ed. M.The Clearinghouse for Military Family Readiness at Penn State has partnered with the Office of Military Community and Family Policy within the Department of Defense and the National Institute of Food and Agriculture within the U.S. Department of Agriculture on an initiative designed to empower parents…

Handling a Windfall

By Carol Church As far as financial issues go, experiencing an unexpected windfall or a sudden infusion of cash may sound like a solution in search of a problem. But as anyone who’s experienced something like this (at least on a large scale) can testify, it can be destabilizing to…

Retail Marketing in Your Commissary!

Can the retail environment be harnessed to affect positive change? Can retail be used as a means to advocate for public health?

How to Read a Mutual Fund Prospectus

By Barbara O’Neill, Ph.D., CFP®, Rutgers Cooperative Extension, [email protected] A critical personal finance skill is knowing how to read a mutual fund prospectus. It is not uncommon for workers in employer retirement savings plans (e.g., 401(k) and 403(b) plans) to be given a stack of prospectuses to decipher to choose…

Get Connected with Your Food Again

As the years go by, it seems that people are getting more and more unaware of where their food originates. There have been significant social movements to bring people back to the source of their produce and meat.

Community Outings with Children with Autism

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, one in every 59 children in the U.S. is diagnosed with autism. The two primary characteristics of autism include deficits in social communication and interactions and restricted, repetitive patterns of behavior. These characteristics can make community outings, such as going to…

Suicide Prevention & Wellness Resources

This blog posts shares resources to promote suicide prevention and wellness for military families.

What is Bitcoin? And Should Anyone Be Buying it?

By Carol Church Has anyone you know been talking about bitcoin lately? If your life is like mine, perhaps someone you know can’t STOP talking about it! It’s enough to make a financially minded person either very curious or very skeptical. What is Bitcoin? Bitcoin is a currency system that…

The Many Health Benefits of the DASH Diet

Several diets have been advertised in the media as being “silver bullets” but the reality is that the reported benefits of such diets are not backed by science. Only a handful of these “diets” have been investigated using trusted research methods.

Add a Dash of the DASH Diet into Your Daily Eating!

Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH diet) was developed in conjunction with the National Institutes of Health (NIH) as a dietary treatment to reduce high blood pressure. Similar to a Mediterranean eating pattern, the DASH diet emphasizes whole grains, fruits, vegetables, low-fat dairy products, lean proteins, and a limited intake…

Investing Basics: Part 2

By Barbara O’Neill, Ph.D., CFP®, Rutgers Cooperative Extension, [email protected] In a prior post, five key action steps related to investing were presented: Address the prerequisites, Set SMART investment goals, Understand risk-reward relationships, Understand and accept specific investment risks, and Assess your risk tolerance. This blog post continues the conversation about…

Investing Basics: Part 1

By Barbara O’Neill, Ph.D., CFP®, Rutgers Cooperative Extension, [email protected] People invest for various reasons: To achieve financial goals (e.g., buy a car) To earn a higher return than bank savings accounts, money market funds, and certificates of deposit (CDs). To increase current income (e.g., dividends, interest, and capital gains) To…

Nutrition and Brain Power

The young adult human brain represents only 2% of body weight but requires 20% of the body’s resting energy needs, but this is not true for children. At age 10, a child’s brain represents 5-10% of body mass and consumes 1.5 times the oxygen per gram of tissue compared to…

Military Families Getting United Through Reading

By: Jason Jowers, M.S. MFT US Air Force One of the most challenging parts of school for many kids is learning how to read. And with the school year getting back into full swing, many children are facing these educational challenges for the first time. For military families, it can…

Resource Discovery: Warrior Expeditions

By: Jason Jowers, M.S. MFT Pixabay The healing power of nature cannot be understated. There are countless articles and blog posts out there that highlight the importance of being in nature for both physical and mental well-being. Also, there are many great organizations that are infusing exercise and the great…

Building a Healthy Relationship with Food

As with friendships and romantic relationships, a healthy relationship with food requires thought and effort. What is a healthy relationship with food, you ask?

Breastmilk, the Microbiome, and the Enduring Health Corollary

Knowledge about the benefits of breastfeeding has exploded in the last 20 years thanks, in part, to the burgeoning realm of microbiome science, or the study of the gut flora. These terms collectively refer to all of the micro-organisms, and their genetic material, that inhabit our gastrointestinal tract (primarily from…

Correlations Between Health and Wealth

By Molly C. Herndon Studies have shown a positive correlation between good health and higher income. That is people who earn more money tend to have less disease and better health, overall. Poor health and higher rates of disease are associated more with those in lower income groups. Those living…

Health and Wealth Research Relationships

Barbara O’Neill, Ph.D., CFP® [email protected] What makes some people practice positive health and financial behaviors while others do not? Many people, including health and financial educators, policy makers, and behavioral researchers, are interested in knowing the answer to this question. Findings from recent research studies provide some interesting insights: A…

Make Food Safe: Minimizing Your Risk of Foodborne Illness

The week of September 14, 2006, is one that has gone down in the history books. It marked the first time in history that individuals in the United States were without spinach for a total of five days.

Holding a Food Safe Picnic 101

Summer picnics are a wonderful way to spend time outdoors with friends and family, but if the food is cooked or stored improperly someone may become sick due to pathogens such as norovirus and salmonella. Every year, nearly 50 million people in the United States fall ill due to foodborne…

Resource Discovery: It’s Perfectly Normal!

By: Khushbu Patel Pexels Children often display behaviors considered sexualized by the adults observing them. It is important for parents and professionals to understand the various factors constituting normal and concerning sexualized behavior. This will help keep children safe and flourishing throughout their childhood and youth. Discussing the topic of…

Avoiding Burnout

Wellbeing and self-care are multifaceted. The dimensions of health and wellness include physical, social, emotional, psychological, intellectual, and spiritual.

Going Tiny: Living Simpler and the Benefits for Military Families

By: Jason M. Jowers, M.S. MFT PixabayWhen searching for our first home, my wife and I made a list of “must haves” and established a budget. It was important for us to have a house that fit our short term needs, while honoring our long term goals. Having always viewed…

Meet the Presenters for Yuck! I Don’t Eat That! Nutrition & Selective Eating in Young Children with Autism

Did you miss this webinar Yuck! I Don't Eat That! Nutrition & Selective Eating in Young Children with Autism?

Food insecurity in America’s Heroes

Food insecurity in America’s Heroes By Sarah Pittman, Human Nutrition Graduate Student at the University of Illinois Food insecurity is one definition that has changed meaning since the term first came into existence. The current definition of food insecurity by the USDA is “a lack of consistent access to…

Resources to Support Children with Feeding Concerns and Food Selectivity

There are many articles written about young children attaining developmental milestones such as walking, producing multiple word phrases, and writing their name. There are also external influences on the development of these skills including prematurity and exposure to language models, that may result in milestones being achieved at differing times.

Bankruptcy Q&A for Service Members

By Carol Church What is Bankruptcy? In Chapter 7 bankruptcy, debtors liquidate all assets, except any that may be exempt in their states. In return, all debt is discharged. In Chapter 13 bankruptcy, filers may be allowed to keep property and are given 3 to 5 years to pay off…

Break [n.] an interruption in continuity

Interruptions to typical daily routines can happen often. These breaks in routine can be unexpected, like when a family member comes down with the flu. They can also be expected, such as a holiday or summer vacation. Some families, particularly military families, may frequently experience a break in their routines…

Life Insurance Basics

By Barbara O’Neill, Ph.D., CFP®, Rutgers Cooperative Extension, [email protected] Compared to their civilian counterparts, service members at any age (as well as police and fire fighters) have a greater need to understand and purchase life insurance. When your job requires you to “put yourself in harm’s way,” it is important…

Resource Discovery| Danny and the Blue Cloud: Coping with Childhood Depression

By: Jason M. Jowers Pexels Recently, I had the pleasure of spending some time with my brother, his wife, and my 15-month old niece. While the adults talked, my niece (who just so happens to be building increased confidence since she started walking) fell and landed on her hands and…

Go Beyond the Webinar | Sexualized Behaviors in Children & Youth

On May 22, 2019, Dr. Shelly Martin provided her expertise on working with children and families in recognizing normal childhood sexualized behaviors, as well as what to do when that behavior might become concerning or problematic. Dr. Martin is a child abuse pediatrician and a Colonel in the US Air…

Food and Mood

Food plays a big part in our society today. Food is not only used for nourishment and fuel for our bodies, but we also use it for celebrating, gathering and enjoyment. But the food we put into our bodies has a major impact on our gut-brain axis

Conversation with a Dietitian: Diet, Nutrition, Selective Eating, and Young Children with Autism

During the webinar “Yuck! I don’t eat that!” we addressed a number of questions and misconceptions about diets and eating habits among young children with autism. We asked Dr. Seema Agrawal to share her expertise in addressing some of these misconceptions. In the video below Dr. Agrawal answers the following…

An Example to Follow: Military Fathers, Parenting, and Deployment

By: Jason M. Jowers US Air Force Military families have their own unique set of challenges that they face. One of those common challenges is deployment and what that means for the parent being deployed and the family as a whole. With Father’s Day coming up, I wanted to highlight…

Importance of Exercise and Ways to Maintain Your Fitness on Vacation

We’ve all heard it many times...exercise is important! Exercise is often only thought of as a method of weight loss and maintenance, but it has several other significant health benefits.

A Day of Remembrance: The Importance of Memorial Day

By: Jason M. Jowers Pexels For most of us, Memorial Day means getting a long weekend, various shopping deals or discounts, and our first chance to feel like summer is right around the corner. And while these are all great things, they sometimes overshadow the true reason for this federal…

Feeding Behavior of Children with Autism

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention one in every 59 children in the U.S. is diagnosed with autism. Although the two primary characteristics of autism include deficits in social communication and interactions, and restricted, repetitive patterns of behavior, many children with autism also have difficulties with eating…

The Composition of Oils

Although oils are NOT a food group they still play a very important part in a healthy diet because of the essential nutrients they provide. Many people ask, what is the BEST oil to use?

The Great Outdoors: The Health Benefits of Nature for Military Families

By: Jason Jowers Military life can be challenging and stressful for military service members and their families. And with this increased stress, it makes it harder and harder for parents to find meaningful ways to connect with their kids and to provide support in their everyday lives. One way for…

Changing Social Norms: Spanking and Child Development

By: Jason M. Jowers Pixabay What do we know about the effects of spanking as a form of child discipline? Are parents and families continuing this behavior, which has been a part of our culture for many generations in the past? Or, will this practice fade out? Many say that…

Exercise: A Holistic Exploration of What it Means to Move Your Body

The contemporary context of living has given way to a generation of individuals with sedentary and generally unhealthy lifestyles. Along with these changes, we have seen dramatic rises in chronic illness such as obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and cancer.

Upcoming Webinar | Sexualized Behaviors in Children & Youth

How do we address sex and sexual behaviors with children and youth? Talking about sex can be especially difficult for parents, as well as for teachers or other professionals who work with children and youth. Yet discussing sex and sexuality is very important for families and professionals when implementing strategies…

Your Questions Answered: International Lifestyle Recommendations for Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS)

The current worldwide prevalence of PCOS is estimated to be 8 – 13%. However, there continues to be substantial debate over the most appropriate criteria to diagnose the condition, as well as differences in how PCOS is evaluated across providers, health centers, and countries.

Supporting Siblings of Children with Autism

All family members should be respected, valued, and supported. Siblings of children with autism need to feel informed as well as other family members. Siblings should be encouraged to advocate for their needs and the needs of their sibling with autism. Learning how to relate to or interact with their…

Understanding Military Homecoming After Deployment

By Leanne Knobloch, University of Illinois For many military couples, deployment can be a seemingly endless countdown to the service member’s homecoming. But, after the big day finally arrives and the welcome home ceremony is over, what’s next for military couples? A new study our research team published in the…

Resource Discovery: There’s a Cat in Our Class! A Tale about Getting Along

By: Jason M. Jowers, MS Pexels Teaching children about diversity and inclusion can be challenging for parents and professionals. In this article from PBS Parents, Dr. Chris Metzler has several suggestions when talking to kids about respecting differences . These suggestions include: Leading by example is overly important for parents…

Stress: An Issue of Modifiable Lifestyle Factors

For a long time, it has been common knowledge that stress kills. Scientific knowledge has come to the forefront while attempting to answer how stress mediates this effect. Indeed, there are now enormous research efforts examining the relationships and mechanisms by which psychological stress mediates decreased longevity.

Celiac and A Completely Gluten Free Life

Finding products that are gluten free used to be such a hard task. But with people being more aware of gluten in their diets (celiac and non celiac people alike) as well as the FDA stepping in on the manner, it has made finding gluten in food and non-food products…

Military Marriages Matter: How Deployment Affects Marriages and Couples

By: Khushbu Patel Pexels Combat deployments have become more frequent and longer than prior deployments since the onset of military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. And with these deployments, military service members are spending more time away from their families and there are transitional periods for all family members that…

Staying Connected During Deployment

By: Leanne Knobloch, Ph.D Throughout history, military families have worked hard to stay connected during deployment. During prior conflicts, service members and their loved ones relied on the mail to stay in touch, often waiting eagerly for a letter that would be months old when it arrived (if it came…

Erasing the Stigma: Mental Health for Men

By: Jason M. Jowers, MS PixabayThe stigma of getting treatment for mental health issues is something that is pretty common in our society and culture. We seem to have this idea of mental illness as less than other health issues that can persist. This can often lead to shame for…

The Impacts of Nutrition on Mental Health

The winter months with cold, wet, dark and windy weather can lead to seasonal depression and an overall feeling of melancholy. Research has shown that living a healthy lifestyle with a balanced diet and regular exercise can boost your mood not only in the winter months but all year round.

Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome Nutritional Management

Unfortunately, the origins of PCOS are somewhat difficult to pinpoint and the causes within each individual case of PCOS will vary. Nevertheless, it is generally accepted that PCOS results from the interplay of environmental, behavioral, and genetic factors.

Talk about It: Talking to Kids about Sexual Abuse

By: Jason Jowers, MS Pixabay Talking to children and youth about sex can be tough enough for parents, but it is even tougher when talking about issues of sexual abuse. Sexual abuse affects up to one in four children according to the Committee on Child Abuse and Neglect within the…

World Autism Month: Learn More to Support Young Children and Their Families

April is World Autism Month. This is an opportunity to learn more about autism spectrum disorder and how it impacts more than 70 million individuals around the world. Once considered a rare disorder, current data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) show that 1 in every 59…

Upcoming Webinar| Home Is Where Your Heart Is

Relocation is a big issue that has profound effects on military families. After receiving Permanent Change of Station (PCS) orders, it can be a scramble to get things in order for a family to move. PCS affects all members of a military family, from finding housing to military spouses changing…

Financial Planning for a PCS

By Carol Church When Permanent Change of Station (PCS) orders come in, military families may experience mixed feelings such as excitement, fear, or anticipation. While it may be a way of life, it isn’t always an easy one. One aspect of a PCS that can be challenging and stressful is…

Is Anyone Out There? Support System Obstacles Faced by Single Parents in the Military

By: Jason M. Jowers, MS PexelsFamily stress can be at an all-time high within military families during times of deployment. This is even more so true for single-parent military families. The REACH Center at the University of Minnesota conducts research that can help us to better identify and address key…

Resource Discovery: Shield Up! How Upstanding Bystanders Stop Bullying

By: Jason M. Jowers, MS PixabayBullying is an ongoing problem that impacts children and youth on a daily basis. According to the CDC, 1 in 5 high school students reported being bullied on school property in the last year and bullying is also the most commonly reported discipline problem in…

The Facts about PCOS

Polycystic ovarian syndrome, also known as PCOS, is a hormonal disease that can affect the ovaries, with a prevalence of around 6.5% of women of reproductive age.

New Series: Sexual Behavior in Children & Youth

It is estimated that 1 in 10 children are sexually abused before their 18th birthday . Most perpetrators of child sexual abuse are often family members or close friends of the family. However, one interesting statistic is that one third of child sexual abuse cases are perpetrated by children…

Ketogenic Diets: The Silver Bullet for Weight-Loss?

Keto is in! The newest low-carbohydrate craze is the magic pill that will rescue all of our weight-loss efforts! Or will it?

Resource Discovery| Sesame Street in Communities

The blog explores Sesame Street in Communities, which provides resources for parents and caregivers, as well as for service providers working with children.

Ketogenic Diet: A Successful Weight Loss Diet?

By: Annabelle Shaffer, Dietetics senior at University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Overview of Ketogenic Diets The ketogenic diet, popularly known as the keto diet, is low in carbohydrates, moderate in protein, and high in fat.1 While an official definition is not recognized, carbohydrates are often restricted to less than 50 g…

Go Beyond the Webinar| SS4MF Kids Serve Too! Series| Safe and Sound: Caring in Our Community

On January 17, 2019, our second webinar in the five-part Kids Serve Too! Series, was brought to you by OneOp (MFLN) and Sesame Street for Military Families (SS4MF). MFLN’s Family Development concentration area took the helm to host this particular webinar on the impact of childhood trauma and community violence.…

We can talk, but can we communicate?

by Joyce Serido, PhD, MBA A practitioner walks up to a researcher at a conference and says, “How can I use your research in my practice?” As a financial behavior researcher, I am excited to teach people about the new and interesting findings in my field. Many practitioners, and most people,…

Practicing Emotional First Aid: Maintaining Our Psychological Health

This blog discusses psychological health and barriers for both civilians and military service members alike.

Food as Medicine: The Growing Significance of Culinary Medicine

The power of food to promote healing and a general sense of well-being has long been a known commodity in different cultures. Eastern cultures, in particular, have harnessed the potential of food as a modality for healing.

A Spotlight on Building Resilience: The Daily Influence of Positive Emotions

This blog discusses how we can foster experiences of happiness, gratitude, contentment, and love during times of hardship.

Omega 3’s: EPA vs DHA Health Benefits

By: Sarah Pittman BS in dietetics from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Omega 3’s are essential fatty acids that are found in fish oils. These fatty acids are composed of two crucial components: EPA and DHA. EPA and DHA are highly unsaturated (polyunsaturated) fats that are found in…

Let’s Chat About Culinary Medicine

Dr. John La Puma is one of the founding fathers of culinary medicine and defines it as “an emerging field that blends the art of food and cooking with the science of medicine”. The field focuses on utilizing food to prevent disease and improve a patient’s well-being, but does not…

Develop a Financial Margin of Safety

By Barbara O’Neill, Ph.D., CFP®, Rutgers Cooperative Extension, [email protected] This post describes small steps that people can take to create a margin of safety (a.k.a., a buffer or a cushion) for their personal finances. According to author and productivity expert, James Clear, the term “margin of safety” is an engineering…

Exercising in Nature

The benefits of physical exercise are endless, physically, emotionally and even socially; exercise can lead you to a happier and healthier life. But does the location of physical activity impact your wellbeing more or less than others?

Upcoming Webinar | Safe and Sound: Caring in Our Community

This blog covers Sesame Street for Military Families as a free, bilingual resource with information and activities on a variety of topics with military families in mind.

Go Beyond the Webinar| Insights into Raising Financially Responsible Children

Neale Godfrey, New York Times bestselling author and Executive in Residence at the Columbia Graduate School of Business rounded out the third and final webinar in our collaborative Family Finances Series on November 27, 2018. Godfrey offered answers and insights into the questions above and many more pertaining to the…

Using Household Items in Early Intervention and At-Home Activities

In "A bagless approach in early intervention? What is that?" OneOp guest author Crystal Williams, Ed.M. discussed a bagless approach in Early Intervention and the ways in which such an approach can benefit children and families. Recently Crystal also designed a set of activity cards providers can give to caregivers…

Giving Back: Managing Stress and Money During the Holidays

By: Molly Herndon, MS and Jason M. Jowers, MS MFT Pixabay The holiday season is here and with it comes holiday cheer and, often, holiday stress. Self-care is very important in working through emotional and financial stress during the holidays. Read more about ways to manage holiday stress here. The holiday…

When You Can’t Trust Your Gut: Making Sense of Irritable Bowel Syndrome and Dietary Strategies

Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) is a condition defined by continuous bouts of abdominal pain and altered bowel habits resulting in an abnormal stool. Unlike the inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD), IBS does not have a detectable disease origin or explanation.

Building Communication and Language Through Interactions: Key Concepts

As our final blog we want to leave you with a summary of key concepts to build communication and language as you interact with caregivers and their young children, within their daily routines. We believe that the implementation of the following key practices will facilitate successful interactions:

Family Centered Practices in Early Intervention

The OSEP key principles and the DEC recommended practices both stress the importance of routines and relationships as a part of family centered practices. When learning or practicing a new skill using familiar routines, young children apply the skills to meaningful contexts. These experiences also are linked to important individuals…

The Spice of Life: Getting to Know Blended Families

This blog post discusses blended families becoming much more common in our society and internationally and the impact on work as service providers.

Day One: Tips for Establishing Collaborative Relationships with Families

By Dora Doss, M.S., SLP-CCCWhen an early intervention service provider begins working with a new family, often a primary goal is to establish a collaborative relationship right from the start. Research has highlighted the benefits of discussing a provider’s role with a family during the first initial visit and encouraging…

Meet Me at the Table: Family Mealtimes and the Holidays

By: Jason M. Jowers, Bari Sobelson PixabayThe holidays are a busy time filled with obligations galore- including family and food! Why not make the best out of this holiday season by combining the two and reap the many benefits of family mealtimes? You're probably thinking that this is a lot…

Becoming More Plant-Centric: A Review of Plant-Based Diets

We’ve heard the term, perhaps, thrown around loosely, but what does it actually mean to follow a plant-based diet? Researchers at Harvard have established that a plant-based diet “emphasizes intake of whole grains, fruits, vegetables, nuts and legumes” and consists “of a diverse family of dietary patterns, defined in terms…

Building Communication Through Interactive Storybook Reading

In this blog Dr. Juliann Woods and Dr. Mollie Romano discuss shared book reading and a few tips and strategies.

Resource Discovery| How to Teach Your Child about Money

By: David Lee, Sexton, Jr., MS Flickr Did you know that children’s money habits are formed by the age of seven? I certainly didn’t. However, researchers at the University of Cambridge suggest that this may, in fact, be the case (“How to Teach Your Child about Money”, 2017). But wait……

Your Questions Answered: Clinical Insight Into Vitamin B12

During the Clinical Insight into Vitamin B 12 webinar, presented by Dr. Roman Pawlak, Associate Professor of Nutrition at East Carolina University, there were questions that could not be answered in the time allotted.

Redefining Saving and Your Relationship with Money with a No-Spend Challenge

By Carol Church Saving more money, decreasing debt, and establishing an emergency fund are all basic “money goals” that financial counselors work hard to help clients meet. Sometimes, however, we may all get a little “stuck” or bored using the same familiar methods—experts and clients alike! At times like these,…

Does that Make Cents? Ways to Help Kids and Teens Learn about Money

By: Carol Church & David L. Sexton, Jr. PhotoSpin As parents and those who work with parents know, it can sometimes feel like there’s an overwhelming amount of information to convey to kids before they grow up. They need to know how to have a healthy relationship…how to run a…

Top 10 Military Money Mistakes

By Carol Church Service members have so much to think about in order to stay focused, keep their mood positive, and complete their service to our nation. With everything they have going on, it’s sometimes difficult to find the time to properly manage their finances and keep their financial lives…

Resource Discovery| Struggle Well: Thriving in the Aftermath of Trauma

Ken Falke and Josh Goldberg are no strangers to the struggle and hardships of life, having both been through their own and bearing witness to the experiences of others. Through their work at Boulder Crest, both Falke and Goldberg have made it their life's mission to help Veterans take their struggle…

The following is an interview with Patrice Karst, the author of The Invisible String. This interview has been edited for length and clarity.

WIC and Members of the Military

By Carol Church As discussed in Can Members of the Military Get SNAP Benefits? we typically hope and believe that members of the military and their families will be provided for when it comes to food, shelter, and medical care. Most of the time, this is the case. However, occasionally families…

Daily Family Routines Are Daily Learning Opportunities for Young Children

When providers discuss routines as contexts for early intervention, parents may wonder, “That sounds strange. Bath times are for bathing! How does that help my child learn?” As team members in early intervention, one of our primary goals is to share the fact that infants and toddlers learn by doing…

Can Members of the Military Get SNAP Benefits?

By Carol Church If you’re like me, you may generally think of the military as an occupation that gives its employees a certain basic level of financial security. This isn’t to say that E1s are wealthy by any means, and we know that many families do get into debt and…

Be the RULER of Your Emotions: Understanding and Applying Emotional Intelligence Skills

By: David Lee Sexton, Jr., MS Pixabay Have you ever found yourself overcome with emotion? Not necessarily even a single emotion, but multiple, possibly conflicting emotions, and just felt completely unable to interpret what you are feeling? It’s likely that many of us have experienced something like this that stands…

What’s the Deal with Vitamin B12?

Vitamin B12 represents an essential nutrient involved in energy metabolism. It forms what we in the field of nutrition call a co-enzyme.

Dis/ability, Race, and the Power of Language: Part II

In this post, Dr. Maggie Beneke extends the discussion around language use that began during her virtual conference presentation on Dis/ability, Race, and Equity. In part one of her blog last week, Dr. Beneke discussed person-first vs. identity-first language. Here in part two, she covers her own position in relation…

The following is an interview with Jerilyn Marler, the author of Lily Hates Goodbyes. This interview has been edited for length and clarity.

Did you Say Something, Honey? A Look at Distracted Parenting

By: David Lee Sexton, Jr. and Bari Sobelson, MS, LMFT Pexels "Mom!! Can you PLEASE put your phone down and pay attention to me for just a minute? I need your help." Ouch. That stings. I wish I could tell you that this was the one and only time my…

Dis/ability, Race, and the Power of Language: Part I

In this post, Dr. Maggie Beneke extends the discussion around language use that began during her virtual conference presentation on Dis/ability , Race, and Equity. In part one, she discusses her own position in relation to language use and person-first vs. identity-first language. Next week in part two, Dr. Beneke…

2018 Virtual Conference Session Recap: Sexual Orientation & Gender Expression Within Families

By: Jason M. Jowers, MFT On September 18-20, 2018, OneOp held their 2018 Virtual Conference entitled, “Cultural Competency: Awareness, Action, and Advocacy. The conference included six interactive webinar sessions that addressed topics such as privilege and power, race, equity, dis/ability, intersectionality, authentic dialog, sexual orientation, gender expression, and health disparities.…

Coconut Oil Facts

Cooking with oil is a staple dietary custom across an expanse of cultures. The use of coconut oil as a mainstream cooking oil has garnered attention within the last decade and is often labeled a “functional food”.

The following is an interview with Karen Panier, the author of Love Spots. This interview has been edited for length and clarity.

Resource Discovery| PsychArmor Institute

This blog features the resource that is the PsychArmor Institute, which provides training and information for civilians on military cultural competency.

Go Beyond the Webinar| Insights into Financial Planning for Life Events

Planning a wedding, getting married, becoming a parent, going through a divorce... all life events that can affect finances and emotions. Dr. Barbara O'Neill facilitated the second webinar of the 3-part Family Finances Series hosted by the MFLN's Personal Finance and Family Development Concentration Areas on August 28, 2018. During this webinar,…

The Benefits of Breakfast!

With school in full swing, and everyone getting back into their normal routines again, what better time to look at the current research of the benefits of eating breakfast to remember why it is so important!

A bagless approach in early intervention? What is that?

by Crystal Williams, Ed.M.Home visits are a primary form of service delivery in early intervention (EI). During home visits a professional or team of professionals come into the home to provide services, such as speech, physical, occupational, or developmental therapy. In the past, home visits were largely provider-centered. It was…

Examining the Connection between Poverty and Child Maltreatment and Neglect

By: David Lee Sexton, Jr., MS & Bari Sobelson PixabaySlack, Holl, McDaniel, Yoo, and Bolger (2004) provide extensive evidence documenting the relationship between poverty and child maltreatment, indicating the existence of a negative relationship between income and multiple forms of child abuse and neglect. This means that as the household…

Responding to separations at the border: what is our role?

Mexico-U.S. border at Tijuana. © Tomas Castelazo, www.tomascastelazo.com / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 4.0 In our early childhood mental health program at the University of Minnesota, one of the first things I teach new trainees is to screen for trauma. We ask about abuse and neglect, natural disasters, and…

Highlights and Resources from The Power of Family Mealtimes: Strategies to Promote Health and Wellbeing

When my children were growing up have the family together for mealtimes was important not always possible. My husband worked odd hours frequently when he was not there until the kids were in bed. So I confess to succumbing to faster, more convenience foods.

Dis/ability, Race, and Advancing Equity with Families

In the United States, children continue to face issues of inequity at the intersections of dis/ability and race. For instance, children and youth of Color continue to be over-identified in the categories of emotional behavioral disorder, intellectual dis/ability, and learning dis/ability (Artiles, Kozleski, Trent, Osher, & Ortiz, 2010; Skiba et…

Sharing the Cultural Competence Journey

When we started planning the 2018 OneOp Virtual Conference on cultural competency, a couple of issues came to mind. Well, actually, a lot of issues came to mind, but let's focus on just two.

The Distance Between Two Hearts: Veteran Parenting Training

By Bari Sobelson, MS, LMFT PixabayAt the beginning of this year, we shared a blog about the Department of Veterans Affairs' Veteran Training Online Self-Help Portal. As we mentioned, in the past blog, this portal is accessible to anyone, anytime, anywhere and showcases a variety of resources including apps, videos,…

Helping Families Support Early Communication Development in Young Children

More than ever, research indicates the incredible role of families in their children’s communication development. We are learning more and more about early brain development and how parents and other caregivers can contribute to the social, emotional and communication development of babies from day one. In fact, some of what…

Go Beyond the Webinar| Insights into Empowering Parents to THRIVE

In partnership with the Department of Defense's Office of Military Community and Family Policy, Penn State University's Clearinghouse for Military Family Readiness is implementing an initiative called THRIVE to empower parents as they nurture their children across developing stages. Dr. Jennifer DiNallo, Director of Research for the Clearinghouse for Military…

FD Virtual Conference Session| Sexual Orientation and Gender Expression within Families

This September, the OneOp will host the second annual Virtual Conference which will be held September 18-20. This year's conference will focus on cultural competency through awareness, action, and advocacy and will include a keynote, capnote, and 4 sessions in between. The Family Development team has invited past webinar facilitator,…

Making the Most of Meal Times

As a speech and language pathologist (SLP) and mother of three children ages 14, 11, and 3, I enjoy family mealtimes for the social, language, and bonding opportunities they provide. Yet when my boys were 3 and 1, I worked full time while my spouse was deployed and dinnertime was…

Opening Lines of Communication: Asking Financial Questions before Marriage

By: Carol Church & David Lee Sexton, Jr., MS PexelsAre wedding bells ringing soon for you or someone you know? Planning a wedding can be surprisingly hard work. It’s easy to get caught up in all the many details, from booking a venue to making the guest list. At times,…

Ask an Expert Series: Dispelling Myths Related to Dual Language Learners

Education professionals desire quality resources and information related to dual language learners. In order to provide that, we reached out to Elizabeth D. Peña, Ph.D. at the University of California, Irvine. Dr. Peña, a certified Speech-Language Pathologist, is a professor in the School of Education. She is also an American Speech…

The Family that Eats Together… Functions Better?

The average day for the average family can often be described fairly well in just one word: BUSY. Between work, maintaining the home, getting kids to and from school, after-school activities, such as sports or clubs, and everything in-between, families have packed schedules!

New Medical Treatment for Gastroporesis

Gastroparesis is a condition in which the motility in your stomach is slowed down or stopped, preventing the stomach from emptying properly.

Ask an Expert Series: Supporting Dual Language Children and Families

FD Webinar| Grow! Empowering Parents to THRIVE

Written by: David L. Sexton, Jr., MS & Bari Sobelson, MS, LMFT PhotoSpin What is the THRIVE Initiative? Penn State’s Clearinghouse for Military Readiness has partnered with the Department of Defense’s (DoD) Office of Military Community and Family Policy to assist parents in nurturing their children as they advance throughout…

Ask an Expert Series: Serving Dual Language Children and Families

Buying a Car: Tips for Service Members

By Barbara O’Neill, Ph.D., CFP®, Rutgers Cooperative Extension, [email protected] Personal Financial Management (PFM) program staff often counsel military families about the financial implications of “big ticket” purchases. “Big ticket” means that items cost more than most people can afford from a single paycheck including furniture, computers, electronics, appliances, and cars.…

Go Beyond the Webinar| Insights into Separation & Single Parenting in the Military

By: Bari Sobelson & Molly Herndon On July 10, 2018, the MFLN's Personal Finance and Family Development concentration areas hosted the first webinar of a three-part Family Finances Series. Personal Finance's Project Director, Dr. Martie Gillen and Family Development's Project Director, Dr. Kacy Mixon, joined forces to facilitate a conversation on…

Connecting the Dots Between Language and Literacy Learning: Part Two

Today we will share a few strategies to help support language and literacy development simultaneously within family activities with family members who are home and who may be deployed or stationed elsewhere. But first, we left you with one word of caution related to early literacy intervention - Try to…

Connecting the Dots Between Language and Literacy Learning: Part One

Recent research has reaffirmed the importance of language and literacy for children’s future academic success and has increasingly recognized the central importance of the family in the development of each. Interactions that occur between a parent and child such as comforting them when they cry, repeating their babbling, or pointing at…

Pawn Shops: The Basics

By Carol Church Have you ever visited a pawnshop? Businesses like these have been in business in one way or another for thousands of years. Pawnshops offer an opportunity for people in need of money to get a short-term loan by offering their belongings as collateral. Although bringing possessions to…

But WHY? How to Navigate Discussions about Divorce with your Children

By: Bari Sobelson, MS, LMFT Pexels After the decision was made about our divorce, my ex-husband and I had the looming task of telling the children. Luckily, our youngest child was only 1, so there was not a whole lot of explaining that needed to take place with him. But,…

Resource Discovery: IRIS Module – Dual language learners: Supporting young children in the classroom

Many education professionals have expressed a desire to learn more about supporting young dual language learners. Our team identified a wonderful free resource for providers from The IRIS Center. This module provides information about dual language learners and the importance of maintaining the home language while learning a second language.

The Military Lending Act: FAQs

By Carol Church What is the Military Lending Act? The original Military Lending Act was passed in 2006. It was created to protect service members from predatory lenders who may target these young and somewhat unsophisticated consumers. Unfortunately, the combination of a steady income and lower financial literacy can make…

Pension Advances: Not a Good Option for Military Retirees

Tackling the Tough Stuff: Financial and Emotional Planning at Divorce

By Barbara O’Neill, Ph.D., CFP®, Rutgers Cooperative Extension & David Sexton, Jr., OneOp Family Development Death, disability, and divorce are three common life events that can drastically change the personal finances of those involved. Often, as a result, an individual’s or family’s standard of living is reduced. Of these three…

Resource Discovery: Black Jack Jetty

By: David Lee Sexton, Jr., MS PexelsGrief is a universal burden that all of us are forced to endure all too frequently in our lives. For children, the loss of a parent is likely one of the most profound sources of grief imaginable. Unfortunately, children of military service members are…

Communication Development During the Incredible Toddler and Preschool Years

Watching children’s communication expand during the second year of life and through preschool is a great deal of fun to witness! From short, telegraphic phrases (“Mommy do”) to longer more elaborate sentences, the toddler and preschool years bring many achievements in children’s language, speech, and social use of communication.

A Med in Shining Armor? Exploring the Potential for a Drug that can Prevent PTSD and Depression

By: Bari Sobelson, MS, LMFT Pexels “The path to better medicine is paved with accidental yet revolutionary discoveries”. And, that’s exactly what Rebecca Brachman shares with us in this Tedx on her news of a “serendipitous breakthrough treatment that may prevent mental disorders like Depression and PTSD”. Have you ever…

Go Beyond the Webinar| Insights into Culturally Alert Communication

By: Bari Sobelson On Thursday, May 24, 2018, Dr. Tammi Dice and Mr. Tony Dice facilitated a webinar addressing culturally alert communication. Dr. Dice started us off with this insightful and thought-provoking statement: "Rather than striving for cultural competence, my aim is really to be culturally humble because there's always…

A Horse is a Horse (of course, of course)… But Could a Horse be a Therapist’s Assistant?

By David Lee Sexton, Jr. PixabayEquine-Assisted Activities and Therapy Equine-assisted activities and therapy (EEA/T) refers to the collaboration between licensed therapists, professional horse handlers, and horses themselves to assist clients in their treatment (Trask, 2010). Trask (2010) suggests that the mere presence of the animal itself can be therapeutic, and…

Tools for Success: Helping Parents Teach their Kids to THRIVE!

By: David Lee Sexton, Jr. & Bari Sobelson, MS, LMFT PixabayDoes Not Come with a Manual... Sort of. It is difficult to imagine the stress of being a parent until you become one. One’s own life brings with it innumerable stressors including struggles at work or school, financial worries, maintaining…

Cultural Competence and its Role in the “Warrior Culture”

By: David Lee Sexton, Jr. Photo by: Lance Cpl. Josue Marquez, CC0 What is Cultural Competence? Cultural competence can be described as one’s best tool in working with culturally diverse groups (Alizadeh and Chavan, 2015). However, the exact definition of this construct and the components which make it up is…

FD Webinar| All Hands on Deck! Developing Culturally Alert Communication in Relationships

FlickrAre you curious about the relationship between self-awareness, knowledge of others, and culturally alert interventions? Do you want to know how to recognize the influence of intersecting identities on yourself and your clients? Are you interested in learning strategies for gaining self and other awareness? If you answered "yes" to…

Go Beyond the Webinar: Insights into Staying Strong by Seeking Help

By: Bari Sobelson, MS, LMFT & David Lee Sexton, Jr. Family and friends can be important influences in helping someone get treatment for mental health issues. Reaching out and letting them know you are there to help them is the first step. (U.S. Air Force illustration by Airman 1st Class…

Resource Discovery| Once I was Very Very Scared

By: Bari Sobelson, MS, LMFT Extended and repeated separations from a primary caregiver in the context of danger, media and communication exposure, the impact of combat exposure on returning parent, possible parental mental health problems, physical injury or loss, frequent relocations. These are all challenges faced by military children and…

Walking Alongside our Service Members, Veterans and Their Families

by Anita Harris Hering The highest reward for a person’s work is not what they get for it, but what they become because of it. – John Ruskin Ruskin’s quote could very well define my family of eight - three sisters, two brothers and my parents. Volunteerism within our church…

Resource Discovery| Quickies: A Handbook of Brief Sex Therapy

By: Bari Sobelson, MS, LMFT PexelsWhen presented with sexual issues in couples' therapy, students and colleagues of Drs. Shelley Green and Douglas Flemons have made the same assumption over and over; they must seek assistance from other clinicians. This was concerning to Green and Douglas, as these systemically trained therapists…

Resource Discovery: Feeding Therapy Resources

Feeding issues frequently come up in OneOp webinar evaluations as a topic caregivers struggle to address with young finicky eaters. It is my hope that this blog will provide readers with some key resources related to feeding that others have found useful.

Go Beyond the Webinar: Insights and Strategies into Protecting Youth from the Impacts of Violence

By: Bari Sobelson, MS, LMFT & David Lee Sexton, Jr. Our March 22, 2018 webinar was facilitated by Dr. Lauren Marlotte of the Division of Behavioral Health and Nathanson Family Resilience Center at the University of California Los Angeles. In this webinar, 3 broad areas of violence that impact youth were…

Questions Answered from the webinar: The low FODMAP diet for irritable bowel syndrome: From evidence to practice

This blog post answers questions asked in the Low FODMAP Diet for Irritable Bowel Syndrome: From Evidence to Practice.

Dissolving the Myth of the “Loony Line”: The Effects of Stigma on Military Personnel Mental Health Treatment Seeking

Pixabay By: David Lee Sexton Jr. Meet Dr. Thomas Britt Dr. Thomas Britt was a Captain in the Army whose responsibility was to evaluate soldiers returning from Desert Storm during the late 1990s. Utilizing a variety of screening instruments, Britt and his colleagues sought to determine if returning soldiers suffered…

Resource Discovery| Human Performance Resource Center (HPRC)

By: Lauren Messina, PhD, LCMFT, David Lee Sexton, Jr., & Bari Sobelson, MS, LMFT It is no secret that well-being is a construct made up of several, sometimes competing, factors. After all, our overall health is really a combination of our health at various levels, including psychological, physical, spiritual, and…

Getting to Know You: A Follow-Up on Speech Development

Infants spend much of their very first year getting to know their caregivers, as caregivers get to know them! Even after a few weeks of life, sensitive and nurturing parents know what their baby likes and doesn’t like, their habits, their temperaments, and their quirks as they watch development unfold…

A low FODMAP diet and IBS Symptoms

A diet low in short-chain fermentable carbohydrates, otherwise known as the FODMAP diet is frequently used to treat irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). But following a low FODMAP diet is next to impossible without the right education.

New Kid on the Block… Again: Helping Military Kids Cope with Relocation and Bullying

By: David Lee Sexton, Jr. Is there a more quintessential bullying target than “the new kid”? As someone who attended far more than one school throughout my childhood education, I can say with conviction that being “the new kid” can be a struggle. Changing schools can be a profound burden…

Child-Caregiver Relationship: Key Foundation for Children’s Language Development

OneOp's 2017 webinar series, The Importance of Play could be summed up in one word, “relationship!” In this series, Dr. Kristie Pretti-Frontczak stressed the importance of fostering relationships through play. Her illustration of the toothpaste theory was insightful when we consider all the things we debate as providers - What…

Cracked… But Not Broken: The Prevalence of ACEs in Juvenile Offenders

By: Bari Sobelson, MS, LMFT & David Lee Sexton, Jr. FlickrIt’s easy for us to get caught up in labels when we hear disturbing news stories about juveniles committing crimes around town and wreaking havoc in schools. Perhaps we label them as “bad eggs” or “menaces to society” and write…

Dietitian shares her experiences following a low FODMAP Diet

It was at a routine check that my doctor suggested I might have Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS). I was shocked. As a dietitian, I had heard about the low-FODMAP diet, had even attended presentations at FNCE, but did not realize that this was a diet that would apply to me…

Resource Discovery| The Defense and Veteran Brain Injury Center (DVBIC) and “A Head for the Future”

By: David Lee Sexton, Jr. What is the DVBIC? The Defense and Veteran Brain Injury Center (DVBIC) was founded by Congress in 1992 to serve as the pathway of care manager for traumatic brain injury (TBI) within the Military Health System (MHS). The center provides quality care for individuals ranging…

Getting to Their First Word: Supporting Early Communication

When parents talk about the speech and language of their children, words are often identified as the first major milestone. Parents and caregivers anxiously await and revel in the moment when a child’s first word is produced. Will it be “mama” or “dada”? There have been some friendly parental competitions…

Resource Discovery| The National Child Traumatic Stress Network’s School Personnel Resources

By: David Sexton, Jr. The National Child Traumatic Stress Network (NCTSN) is an organization dedicated to expanding access to treatment services for children and adolescents who have suffered traumatic events. In order to accomplish this mission, the NCTSN is involved in several initiatives to raise awareness on the impact of…

FD Webinar- Polishing our Protective Shields: Exploring Ways to Protect Youth from Violence

By: Bari Sobelson, MS, LMFT PexelsIt is no secret that youth can be profoundly impacted by acts of violence such as bullying, teen relationship violence, and school shootings. The question that weighs so heavily on the minds and hearts of parents, teachers and service professionals alike is what can be…

Counseling through Comfort: Utilizing Restorative Yoga for Rest, Introspection, Healing, and Self-Care

By: David Lee Sexton, Jr. PixabayMeet Adrienne Baggs Adrienne Baggs recently earned a Ph.D. in Counseling, but she prefers to help people process their emotions through yoga rather than dialogue. According to her website, Awaken through Rest: Restorative Yoga with Adrienne Baggs, Adrienne believes in the power of restorative yoga…

Resource Discovery: Sesame Street for Military Families

By: Bari Sobelson, MS, LMFT Sesame Workshop From Big Bird and Cookie Monster to Bert and Ernie, Oscar the Grouch, and Elmo, Sesame Workshop has provided more than 150 countries with the unique mission of helping kids grow stronger, smarter, and kinder. Through an array of platforms including television, film,…

Lipid Levels vs. Plant-Based Diets

One of the benefits of eating a plant-based diet is related to cardiovascular health. Studies have shown that eating a plant-based diet can reduce overall cholesterol and LDL levels.

The Reservist Travel Expense Deduction

By Carol Church Reservists in the military play an extremely important role, but it can sometimes be more difficult to find information about the benefits and special programs that are especially for them. Reservists definitely deserve to be fully informed about these measures. One such benefit is a special tax…

Resource Discovery| Caregiver Self-Care Activity Book

By: Bari Sobelson MS, LMFT & Hannah Hyde, M.Ed. We can't talk enough about the importance of self-care. We also can't talk enough about the importance of resources! VA Caregiver Support offers training, educational resources, and many other tools to assist and support caregivers in their important role in the health…

Resource Discovery: Why Zebras Don’t Get Ulcers

By: Bari Sobelson, MS, LMFT Interesting title, right? It certainly caught my attention, but it also caught my curiosity. While I never really thought about whether or not zebras got ulcers, I certainly knew humans did; and I grew up being told that worry causes ulcers, which meant that I…

Age-Based Financial Planning Milestones

By Barbara O’Neill, Ph.D., CFP®, Rutgers Cooperative Extension, [email protected] Similar to medical standards of care (e.g., having a mammogram starting at age 40, a colonoscopy starting at age 50, and regular blood pressure and bone density tests), certain age-based milestones can tell people the key financial planning action steps that…

Thrive: Empowering parents as they Nurture their Children

By: Bari Sobelson, MS, LMFT Resilient children, resourceful parents, ready families- imagine all of the possibilities! A new partnership between the Department of Defense's Office of Military Community and Family Policy and the Clearinghouse for Military Family Readiness at Penn State has been created to provide an initiative to empower parents…

Interview with Dr Julie Reeder, following a plant-based diet

Interview with Dr. Julie Reeder, a plant-based eating expert.

Burning the Candle at Both Ends: How to Combat Burnout

By David Lee Sexton, Jr., Bari Sobelson, MS, LMFT, & Hannah Hyde, M.Ed. The Helping Professions’ Kryptonite Burnout, sometimes known as compassion fatigue, affects those who are highly committed to their work, yet still experience negative outcomes (Francis, 2016). Individuals working in helping professions, such as counselors, social workers, or…

Three Signs You May Be Experiencing Burnout

By David Lee Sexton, Jr., Bari Sobelson, & Hannah Hyde Pexels With it being the beginning of the year, talk of resolutions abound! Why not take advantage of the opportunity to make some work resolutions as well? If you have experienced burnout in the past, you know that it can…

Moving Towards a Plant-based Diet – Why is it so Hard?

By Dr. Karen Chapman-Novakofski I like vegetables, almost all of them. I like them raw, roasted, steamed, and in casseroles. I like to grow vegetables, especially carrots and tomatoes. When I plan dinner, there is always a vegetable included. However, the meal centers around a meat dish and lunches…

Challenges Accepted: The Department of Veterans Affairs’ Online Self-Help Portal

By Bari Sobelson, MS, LMFT PixabayLife can present its share of everyday challenges, especially for Veterans and their families. The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) understands that those challenges may not just go away on their own. With that in mind, the VA has created a Veteran Online Self-Help Portal.…

The following is an interview with M.L. Sather, the author of Boo Boo Bear's Mission. More information about Boo Boo Bear and his experiences can be found on Facebook. This interview has been edited for length and clarity.

The following is an interview with Susan Kerner, author of Always By My Side and Mama's Right Here. Her own experience with loss and raising a child whose father has died inspired her to write these warm, sensitive, and touching books. This interview has been edited for length and clarity.

The following is an interview with Melinda Hardin and Bryan Langdo, the author and illustrator of Hero Mom and Hero Dad. Melinda, the book's author, earned a MS in mental health counseling from University of Massachusetts, Boston. She is married with two children. Bryan, the book's illustrator, has been drawing since…

The following is an interview with Devin Scillian, author of many children’s books, including H is for Honor: A Military Family Alphabet. A man of many talents, Mr. Scillian is also a journalist, broadcaster, actor, musician, and songwriter. This interview has been edited for length and clarity.

The following is an interview with Brenda Ehrmantraut, author of several children's books, including Night Catch, a story for military children facing the deployment of a parent. This interview has been edited for length and clarity.

The following is an interview with Seth Kastle, author of two popular children’s books, Why Is Dad So Mad? and Why Is Mom So Mad?, both dealing specifically with PTSD in parents. This interview has been edited for length and clarity.

The following is an interview with Sally Huss, author of numerous children's books including My Mother's Pearls, My Mother's Wings, and My Father's Shirt, all of which deal specifically with military separation. This interview has been edited for length and clarity.

Kids Serve Too!

Kids Serve Too!

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