Military families face unique challenges that can impact family dynamics and child development. The Thrive Initiative, a major project funded by the U.S. Air Force, aims to equip parents with the tools they need to navigate these challenges effectively and foster strong, healthy family relationships. Definition of Military Family Resilience and Well-being:
Military family resilience refers to the ability of a family to withstand and recover from stressors, while maintaining a strong and healthy family unit. The concept of well-being encompasses physical, emotional, and mental health aspects, as well as social and economic stability. This new three-year project, which began in February, will focus on the widespread implementation and assessment of Thrive programming at as many as six Air Force installations. Thrive is a continuum of evidence-informed parenting programs designed to empower parents and caregivers with skills and strategies they can use to promote positive child development, resilience, and overall family well-being. The Thrive Initiative contains several key components, including:
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- Identifying installations
- Building rapport with installation points of contact
- Preparing program approval documentation
- Developing marketing materials
- Hiring personnel
- Recruiting parents and caregivers
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The Clearinghouse, an applied research center at the Social Science Research Institute and co-funded faculty and professor of family and youth resiliency and policy in the College of Agricultural Sciences, will partner with Air Force professionals at identified installations to plan for the launch of the parenting programs. This phase includes several critical tasks, such as identifying installations, building rapport with installation points of contact, and preparing program approval documentation. During the first year, the Clearinghouse will also hire personnel, including military spouses who live on or near the identified installations, to recruit parents and caregivers to participate in the Thrive programs. The project aims to engage 480 Air Force parents and caregivers in the program’s universal parent-education programs in the second year. Key Features of the Thrive Initiative:
The Thrive Initiative features several key features, including:
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- Facilitated virtual group sessions
- Self-paced online learning
- Research and evaluation
- Integration with other Air Force family-support initiatives
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In the program’s second year, half of the participants will engage in facilitated virtual group sessions, while the other half will complete the program online at their own pace. This presents an opportunity for researchers to compare the experiences of military-connected parents and caregivers participating in online-only sessions with those who receive support from a trained facilitator. Research Goals and Objectives:
The Thrive Initiative aims to evaluate the effectiveness of the Thrive programming in supporting military families. The research goals and objectives include:
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- Assess engagement data and participant feedback
- Examine how delivery approaches support military families
- Guide future Air Force family-support initiatives
- Ensure the most effective delivery of parenting resources is administered to military families
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The Thrive Initiative is the result of a partnership funded by the Department of Defense between the Office of the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Military Community and Family Policy and the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture through a grant/cooperative agreement with Penn State. Benefits of the Thrive Initiative:
The Thrive Initiative has several benefits for military families, including:
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- Access to evidence-informed parenting resources
- Empowerment of parents and caregivers with skills and strategies
- Promotion of positive child development, resilience, and overall family well-being
- Support for military families from infancy through adolescence
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In conclusion, the Thrive Initiative is a vital project that aims to empower military families through evidence-based parenting programs. By providing access to high-quality, research-backed parenting resources tailored to their specific challenges, the Thrive Initiative has the potential to support military families in their journey towards resilience and well-being.
