Helping Your Kids Manage a Mid-Year Move
Source: Military OneSource
Relocating is part of the military lifestyle. For parents, it can be hectic - packing up the house, looking for a new place to live, and managing the cost of a move. For children it can be a lot tougher. If you are moving during the school year, your children may be uprooted from school, friends, and their favorite activities. You may wonder: Will their school records transfer? Can they still play sports at our new location? Will they make friends? Luckily, there are many resources to help you and your children deal with a mid-year move!
School Liaison Officers
School Liaison Officers (SLO) are invaluable when it comes to navigating a new school system. Your SLO can help you address issues like school registration problems, special education paperwork and placement, high school graduation requirements, and much more. Prior to your move, contact your current SLO and reach out to the SLO at your new duty station as well. They can work together to provide your family with a smooth transition. To contact an SLO, visit MilitaryINSTALLATIONS or call Military OneSource at (800) 342-9647.
Tutor.com
Tutor.com is an online tutoring program that offers free online tutoring and homework help for everything from elementary school concepts to advanced high school coursework. Students work with a professional tutor in a secure online classroom where they can chat, draw on a shared whiteboard, and view the web together. This is a great way for your children to get the extra support they may need after a mid-year move!
Military Youth on the Move
Military Youth on the Move is a website designed for military children who are coping with issues that arise in the face of a move, like transitioning to a new school, saying goodbye to friends, and finding ways to get involved in a new location. The articles are easy to read and filled with advice for children of all ages. The site also includes a section designed for parents to help you support your children through a move, a deployment, or additional issues that your children may face.
Youth Sponsorship Programs
Many installations offer Youth Sponsorship Programs, another great way to provide your children with comfort before moving to a new location. Youth Sponsorship helps connect your child with another child at your new location. Your child can ask questions and make a friend before the move even takes place! Contact your installation Family Center to see if Youth Sponsorship is available on your installation.
Moving with a Special Needs Child
Moving mid-year can be challenging for any family, but there are some unique issues that come up when moving with a child with special needs. To ease the transition, make sure your child is enrolled in the Exceptional Family Member Program (EFMP). This will ensure that your child’s medical and educational needs will be considered during the duty station selection. Your new installation’s EFMP Family Support staff can also help you find information on local special education programs, community resources, and federal benefits for your child.
You can also find a lot of great information and resources in the EFMP section on MilitaryHOMEFRONT. Download the Special Care Organizational Record (SCOR), an ideal tool for managing health and educational records at any time, but especially helpful during your mid-year move. Use it to record and track all kind of important information regarding your child’s medical and educational information, insurance information, and much more. You can also order a hard copy of the SCOR by calling Military OneSource at (800) 342-9647. You can also read through Module 4: Families in Transition in the DoD Special Needs Parent Took Kit.
Plan My Move
Use Plan My Move to learn about schools, sports, activities, and library programs in your new location to get your children excited about what is ahead. Plan a few activities for the first couple of weeks after you arrive to help your family feel connected with your new location. Plan My Move can also help you stay organized with printable checklists and a customizable moving calendar. On the first screen of Plan My Move, you are asked to note whether you are traveling with a family member with special needs. By clicking “yes,” you are given specialized information to help you in the moving process.
With the proper planning and the help of these great resources, you can make your next move a smooth one for you and your children.
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