1. Military Families Internship:
Building Partnerships to
Strengthen Families and
Communities
Sally Koblinsky
Alexandra Bitonti
Family Science Department University of Maryland
Jayne Fitzgerald
Operation: Military Kids
University of Maryland Extension

2. Context
• President Obama: Military
families a national priority
• Healthy People 2020
• Extension’s Military Families Initiative
• University of Maryland Land Grant Mission

3. Military Families
• 2 million troops deployed in OEF/OIF
55% married, 44% with children
• 40% National Guard & Reserves
• Challenges
• Short supply of professionals
trained to meet military family needs

4. Internship Program Goals
• Increase student knowledge of
military culture and military
families
• Enhance professional
development
• Reach military families
• Build partnerships
• Improve community capacity

5. Internship Basics
• Capstone Family Science internship:
120-150 hours
• Internship contract
• Online Army OneSource
course
• Bi-weekly seminars
• Military families panel

6. Internship Sites
• Walter Reed National Military Medical Center
• Fort George G. Meade and Andrews Air Force Base
• Operation: Military Kids/4-H Operation Homefront and
Operation Second Chance
• Easter Seals Military and Veterans Services
• Women Veterans Interactive Foundation
• Serving Together/Montgomery County Mental Health
• State of Maryland/Maryland’s Commitment to
Veterans
• UMD Office of Veteran Student Life

7. Issues Addressed by Interns
• Family Readiness
• Child and Youth Development
• Respite Care
• Spousal Employment
• Veterans Employment Transition
• Emergency Financial & Housing Aid
• Mental Health Issues
• Women Veteran Issues
• Transition to College Life

8. Warrior Family Coordination Cell
Student Intern’s Experience
Alexandra Bitonti
Senior, Family Science
Walter Reed Bethesda
Warrior Family
Coordination Cell

9. WFCC
• Population
• Duties and
Responsibilities
• What I Learned

10. Extension Internships with
Military Families
Jayne Fitzgerald
Operation: Military Kids
University of Maryland
Extension

11. Extension’s Military Initiatives
• Operation Military Kids
• Military 4-H Clubs
• Military Extension
Internship Program
• Project Y.E.S.
• Adventure Camps
• Army Youth Development

12. Extension’s Unique Opportunities
• Help military children deal with deployments
• Reach military families in rural areas
• Reach Guard and Reserve families
• Support families of injured
service members
• Connect military families with
local community resources

13. Operation: Military Kids Intern Projects
• Yoga, Pilates, Zumba
• Art
• Babysitting
• Speak Out
• Health
• Nutrition

14. Midterm Evaluation:
Military Families Internship
Mean
• Ability to Learn: Military Culture & Families 4.8
• Written Communication Skills 4.7
• Listening/Oral Communication 4.8
• Creative Thinking & Problem-solving 4.7
• Professional/Career Skills 4.7
• Interpersonal/Teamwork Skills 4.7
• Work Habits 4.9
• Organizational Effectiveness Skills 4.8
• Scale: 1 = Unsatisfactory, 5 = Exceptional

15. Final Evaluation
• Intern Goals: Level of
Achievement
• Professional Growth
• Military Families Seminar
Evaluation
• Impact on Future Education
and Career

16. Recommended Strategies for
Extension Educators
• Assess local/state needs for assistance with
military family issues
• Build partnerships with the
military, universities, and
community agencies
• Help students to increase
work force readiness

17. Questions
• Sally Koblinsky koblinsk@umd.edu
• Jayne Fitzgerald jefitz@umd.edu
• Alexandra Bitonti abitonti@terpmail.umd.edu
• Military Families Internship Article
http://www.ncfr.org/ncfr-report/focus/military-
families/internship
Thank you!