NYS OMH Contributes to Talk, Listen Connect: Deployments, Homecomings, Changes

ALBANY, NY (04/29/2008)(readMedia)-- Talk, Listen, Connect: Deployments, Homecomings, Changes, the second phase of a collaborative military outreach program designed to provide support and resources for military families with young children, was unveiled today by Sesame Workshop, the nonprofit organization behind Sesame Street. The new program is the result of collaboration among many organizations, including Sesame Workshop, the New York State Office of Mental Health (OMH), the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs, Military OneSource, Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., American Greetings, the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, United Services Organization, the Military Child Education Coalition and the Joseph Drown Foundation.

Talk, Listen, Connect: Deployments, Homecomings, Changes was developed to help military families with young children between the ages of two and five years, build a sense of stability and resiliency during times of separation and change. The program follows the initial Talk, Listen, Connect: Helping Families During Military Deployment, launched in 2006 to help military families cope with the feelings, challenges and concerns experienced during the various phases of deployment. The success of that first effort, and the overwhelming support it received from the military community, made clear the need for the second phase of outreach. According to statistics, as many as 700,000 children under the age of five have a parent in the military.

OMH Commissioner Mike Hogan, Ph.D. said, “We greatly appreciate the ability to work with Sesame Workshop on the second phase of Talk, Listen, Connect. The extensive demands on military families mean there is a greater need than ever for supports and practical assistance to families, and no one communicates better than Sesame Street. Because New York’s Fort Drum is currently the largest point of deployment in the U.S., we feel a special obligation to assist. We will distribute 30,000 kits to families across New York State as a result of this terrific partnership, and we believe it will make a difference for our military families and children.”

OMH worked closely with Sesame Workshop on outreach programs for families with young children after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, and has been involved in the development and roll-out of both Talk, Listen, Connect programs as well. OMH provided clinical support and review of the materials developed for the military outreach programs, has served as a clearinghouse for military families who live in New York, and has also done extensive outreach with Fort Drum, the New York National Guard and the Reserves to support families that are experiencing the stress of deployment. Links to all three outreach programs can be found on the OMH webpage at www.omh.state.ny.us

Talk, Listen, Connect: Deployments, Homecomings, Changes seeks to:

• Reduce the level of anxiety children may experience during homecomings after multiple deployments;

• Help parents with ways to cope with multiple deployments;

• Help young children gain an age-appropriate understanding of a parent’s injury by including them and the entire family in the rehabilitation process; and

• Reassure children that they are loved and secure, and that together with their families, they can learn new ways of being there for one another and having hope for the future.

The bilingual (English/Spanish) multimedia outreach kit includes DVDs for children and adults starring the Muppets from Sesame Street, print materials for children, parents and caregivers, and facilitators; and postcards featuring the beloved Sesame Street characters for parents and children to stay connected. Sesame Workshop will produce and distribute 500,000 kits at no cost to individual families, schools, child care programs, family support programs, hospitals and rehabilitation centers and other organizations serving the needs of military families with the help of Military OneSource, the New York State Office of Mental Health (NYSOMH), United Services Organization (USO), the Military Child Education Coalition (MCEC) and other partners. Special emphasis will be made to reach families of the Reserves and National Guard. The kit materials will also be available online at www.sesameworkshop.org/tlc, where streaming video is being provided by the Department of Defense Military Community and Family Policy Program Support Group, so families everywhere can view the videos and download the information.

In continuing efforts to keep families connected, Sesame Workshop will unveil the enhanced Talk, Listen, Connect Web experience in Fall 2008. Supporting the outreach materials, the enhanced Web site will feature fun and interactive activities for families to share together and stay connected.

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