Week 10: Promoting Resilience

Just as our troops embody the courage and character that make America’s military the finest in the world, their family members embody the resilience and generosity that make our communities strong. They serve with heroism in their homes and neighborhoods while they are without the comfort of having loved ones nearby.
—President Barack Obama

This week, you examine strategies to promote resilience within military families. In addition, you submit your Final Project.

Learning Objectives

Students will:

• Analyze strategies to promote resilience in military families
• Evaluate stressors, family dynamics, challenges, and advantages of military families
• Submit the Final Project

Learning Resources

Required Readings

Irving, D. (2016, June 16). The resilience of military families. Rand Review. Retrieved from https://www.rand.org/blog/rand-review/2016/06/the-resilience-of-military-families.html

Kees, M., Nerenberg, L. S., Bachrach, J., & Sommer, L. A. (2015). Changing the personal narrative: A pilot study of a resiliency intervention for military spouses. Contemporary Family Therapy: An International Journal, 37(3), 221-231. 

Required Media

Laureate Education (Producer). (2014g). Transition and integration [Video file]. Baltimore, MD: Author.

Note: This media piece is a review from Week 9. The approximate length of this media piece is 4 minutes.

Discussion: Promoting Resilience

Resilience is commonplace among military families. Families express a level of resilience in daily activities as they live and navigate through military life. However, under extreme military engagement, such as extended deployments in combat zones, permanent change of station (PCS) overseas, and rigorous military schedules to name a few, why do some families show more resilience than others? What are some of the differences between these families, and how do you support military families to build resiliency?

For this Discussion, review the interviews of the military families in Transition and Integration. Consider how these families were resilient in coping with military life.

By Day 3

Post an explanation of one way each of the families were resilient in their military experience. Are there any differences you noted, and if so, in what ways is their resilience the same or different? Finally, explain one way you might promote resiliency in military families through the lens of your specialization

Read a selection of your colleagues’ posts.

By Day 5

Respond to two or more colleagues with alternative observations related to resilience.

Return to this Discussion to read the responses to your initial post. Note what you have learned and/or any insights you gained as a result of the comments your colleagues made.

To complete your Discussion, click on Discussions on the course navigation menu, and select “Week 10 Forum” to begin.

Submission and Grading Information

Grading Criteria

To access your rubric:
Week 10 Discussion Rubric

Post by Day 3 and Respond by Day 5

To participate in this Discussion:
Week 10 Discussion

Final Project

You were to choose one of the two following options for your Final Project, which is due Day 7 of this week.

1. Program Evaluation: Select a program or service and evaluate its use and appropriateness for military families.
   • Using the template provided, identify the program and describe the details (e.g., what is the purpose of the program, what are the essential elements, who does it benefit?).
   • Provide an executive summary of the program. In a descriptive narrative, provide any recommendations you might have for the program, what you learned about the program, and how it may or may not meet the needs of military families.
   • How will this information help you in your future role?
2. Volunteer or Social Service Learning Opportunity: For example, you can volunteer at an event with the Wounded Warrior Project or other military support program.
   • Locate a military program in which you can volunteer in a social service learning opportunity. You might lead an effort to send care packages to military personnel or military families. Think about a creative way that you could engage in a program to support military personnel and their families.
   • Describe the activity, what led you to choose that activity, and how you engaged in it.
   • Describe your experiences, benefits, limitations, and what you learned or gained from the activity.
   • Explain how the information you gained can help you in your role as a helping professional.

Summary: Explain how your chosen project may help you understand the stressors, family dynamics, challenges, and advantages of military families.

The Final Project will be a 10- to 12-page paper and must include the following:

• Identification of your chosen assignment (Option 1 or 2)
• A minimum of 5 scholarly articles
• Adherence to APA style and format