Supporting Children of Deployed Parents: Voices of Experience Teach Valuable Lessons

The National Institute for Trauma and Loss in Children Annual Practitioners Assembly is in progress this week at Macomb Education Center, Clinton Township, MI. On Tuesday, July 13, 2010, a seven-member panel with varied personal and professional experiences with military service, military families, and military family life opened the event and told their power stories of the challenges of war, deployments, reintegration, and ultimately, dedication, courage, and hope. This dynamic panel represented the “voices of experience” and provided attendees with a unique view of the multiple challenges confronting military parents and particularly their children. These “voices of experience” included:

Debra Casolari who is serving as the current Child Life Program Director for Walter Reed Army Medical Center; her previous experience includes serving as the Director of Child Life at an inner-city academic medical center and over two years as a Staff Child Life Therapist at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. Debra served as volunteer Child Life Services coordinator for Operation Smile International’s medical missions to Romania, China, Russia, Ecuador, Philippines, Africa, Thailand and Cambodia.

Retired Brigadier General Don Scott who is a US Army 30 year veteran who had two tours in Vietnam. While away on duty, his wife Betty raised their three sons. General Scott also served as the Founding Director of AmeriCorps National Civilian Community Corps established in 1993. His decorations include the Distinguished Service Medal, the Legion of Merit, six Bronze Stars and the Combat Infantryman’s Badge. He also received his MA in Counseling and Human Development back in 1982.

Margaret Dellio Storey, a retired Major from the US Army where she served from 1982 to 2003. She was a deployed mom and held such positions as Field Combat Officer, Field Combat Medic among others. She also served in Operation Desert Shield, Desert Storm and currently works for Perry Schools in Ohio.

Christopher Sullins, a Military and Family Life Consultant with the Joint Family Support and Assistance Program (JFSAP) in MI. He provides counseling to service members and their families. He deployed to Iraq as a combat stress control prevention team officer and supported military, federal and contract personnel in various locations throughout central Iraq.

Maryann Williams who works for the Department of Defense as a teacher and counselor. She has worked directly with the children of military families stationed at Fort Bragg, NC for the majority of her career.

Josephine Zutell, a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist from Arizona. Jo has been providing assistance to military families in both off and on base schools (Luke Air Force Base) for many years. Her spouse was also deployed up to one year in length several times at a time when almost no help was available which unfortunately today still remains a challenge for many guard families who do not live near bases or are in smaller communities with no support.

In addition, the conference includes a variety of courses and workshops on how we can help children and families of the military as well as practical strategies and activities to help all children move from being just survivors to thrivers. But most importantly, attendees at this week’s event are privileged to hear about “lessons learned” first hand from our nation’s military, military wives, and mental health professionals who are dedicated to helping US service men and women and their families and children. Those of us in attendance are indeed fortunate to be in the presence of these “voices of experience” and to learn more about the ways we can be helpful to military personnel and their families.

Be well,

Cathy Malchiodi, PhD, LPCC, LPAT

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