Statement Of
Purpose
There are 2 million children with a parent
serving in the military. Present day military
life has a unique set of challenges: frequent
moves, multiple deployments, visible and
invisible injuries, and families being torn
apart. Hundreds of thousands of children have
experienced emotional trauma because their
parent must put the needs of our country before
theirs. Too often military kids feel they must
shoulder these burdens alone, putting them at
risk for a range of emotional and behavioral
problems, as well as poor academic outcomes.
We are grateful to the heroes that answer the
call to serve and take an oath to defend and
protect our freedom. How can the rest of us
serve those who put our country first? By taking
care of what's most precious to them, their
children.
Our Vision
Our vision is to ensure all military children
receive the support they need to thrive.
Mission Statement
The Comfort Crew for Military Kids delivers
proven resources to help military kids and their
families connect and build resiliency in the
face of extraordinary challenges.
Our Impact
The Comfort Crew for Military Kids aims to
provide as much to military families as
possible. Please take a look at our most recent
Annual
Report and Financials for 2021,
2022, and 2023;
to see our impact for yourself.
Our Challenge
Very few people know that there are over 2
million military kids in the United States that
are going through a very tough time.
Imagine the feelings a child experiences when
having a father deployed to a war zone for 12 or
18 months at a time.
Imagine how it would feel when a mother returns
from deployment with visible or invisible
injuries, such as PTSD. The fear and uncertainty
mixes with anger, confusion, shame, and sadness.
Imagine losing a parent. Military children are
too often asked to make this sacrifice, and the
effects of this loss at such a young age can be
crippling.
Military kids face these challenges and so many
others in this life that they have not chosen.
These challenges can leave them feeling sad,
angry, isolated, and wondering how to handle
these emotions.
Some students begin to struggle with their
classes, begin bullying their peers, and in come
cases, become victims of bullying themselves.
Some who don't have the tools and strategies to
handle the reality turn to drugs and alcohol to
"numb" their emotions, leading to substance
abuse at an extremely early age.
Most feel completely isolated and totally alone.
Quick Facts On Military
Kids
- One in three children with a deployed
parent is at "high-risk" for psychological
issues
- Depression is seen in about one in four
children
- Academic problems occur in one in five
children
- 37% of children with a deployed parent
reported that they seriously worry about
what could happen
- 34% of military parents feel "less or not
confident" that their children's school is
responsive to the unique aspects of military
family life
- Outpatient mental health visits provided
to children of active duty parents doubled
from one million to two million between 2003
and 2008
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