Navy Tutor Services

California is home to many military children. Considerable amounts of families in California are being affected by the deployment of their loved ones serving overseas. Military youth of service members in California can build support networks with youth like themselves; engage in physical activities, and learn life skills through activities offered by community partnerships that are a part of the Operation: Military Kids program. Providing services to families in their local communities is crucial. Mobilization and deployment are at a record high level and regardless of whether military youth are from active or reserve families, Operation: Military Kids in California provides opportunities and resources to these families.

Operation: Military Kids in California has a state team that covers the Greater Bay Area, Central Valley and Southern California areas. This team is led by the CA 4-H Military Liaison and is made up of community leaders, military family program coordinators and University of California youth service personnel. This team’s tasks are to educate the public about military family needs, implement youth programming and recruit youth and adult volunteers.

 

OMK Core Projects

OMK in California supports Ready, Set, Go trainings. These trainings are designed to offer insight into military culture and the deployment cycle.  The California state team provides support to military kids and their families by bringing local community resources together. Community partners are given an opportunity to develop strategies to create local support networks to support military families at these trainings.

For more information about Ready Set Go, please contact:
Chanda Gonzales, CA 4-H Military Liaison
(951) 323-742
crgonzales@ucdavis.edu

 

The Speak Out for Military Kids (SOMK) project is a youth led, adult supported project that generates community awareness of issues faced by youth of military families.  Partnership youth put together presentations, public service announcements, videos, and other materials. Youth actively seek opportunities to share their experiences using various mediums that have created with others in the community. 

OMK in California also offers the Hero Pack project. This project is a “Thank you” to military youth for their sacrifices. OMK partners, such as The American Legion, fill these packs with mementos and items designed to help connect kids with their deployed parent. Hero packs are distributed to military youth at military family holiday parties, mob briefings, camps, etc.

California OMK supports the Month of the Military Child. Community partners are encouraged to participate at events that support military kids during the month of April.  Presentations are given across the state that addresses the needs of military children and how local communities can help.  

For more information about SOMK/Hero Packs, Month of the Military Child, please contact:
Berney DeLaCruz, CA OMK Coordinator,
(661) 868-6227,
bdelacruz@ucdavis.edu

The 4-H/Army Babysitting training project teaches teens to baby sit for military children. Lessons on safety, first aid, nutrition, CPR, child development, entertainment and the business of babysitting are included in the training.  

California 4-H Local Clubs support Military Family & Youth Events by providing outreach services to all branches of the military. 4-H volunteer leaders and members work with military children and youth to conduct community service projects at military events. Military youth learn citizenship, leadership and life skills. 

For more information about 4-H Babysitting Project or 4-H local clubs, please contact:
Sylena Wise, 4-H Military Program Representative
(530)752-8585
smwise@ucdavis.edu

Joint Family Support Assistance Program (JFSAP) Yellow Ribbon Youth Programming events are held throughout the year across California to help support military families that have experienced some phase of deployment.  Activities that support children’s development needs as it relates to the deployment cycle are delivered by the OMK JFSAP Youth Specialist.    

Mobile Technology Lab (MTL) trainings assist kids with communicating with their deployed loved one. Youth can use the lab’s resources to create family photos and greeting cards for family members and soldiers who are or about to be deployed.  MTL Youth programming events are held in conjunction with military family programming events year round.

For more information about JFSAP Yellow Ribbon Events or the Mobile Technology Lab, please contact:

Janson Bellen, CA JFSAP OMK Specialist
(785) 313-3389,
janson.bellen@gmail.com