A Penn State Applied Research Center

The Clearinghouse received some significant recognition this month! Our colleagues at the Military Families Learning Network (MFLN) referenced our staff and our programs several times during their “Learning Through Change” virtual conference September 26-29, 2017.

The Clearinghouse came up in the first session on day two of the conference, entitled “Navigation Skills: Charting Your Course Through Organizational, Social, and Cultural Change.” The session was led by Barbara Thompson, who recently retired from the Department of Defense Office of Family Readiness Policy, and Judi Dekle, retired social worker who, as an Air Force officer and then a civilian employee, supported military families for more than 23 years. Thompson twice mentioned the Clearinghouse as a “key resource” for professionals who work with military families and for the military families themselves.

Thompson also cited one of our programs, THRIVE, as one of the top three most important and beneficial resources for military families to help get “parents and children off to a good start to reach their full potential. We’re going to be doing a huge service to military families.”
Thompson listed THRIVE alongside MilitaryOneSource and Reach as top resources for military families.

Thompson also discussed the critical importance of the Department of Defense seeking and developing evidence-informed programming and policies, and said that our Clearinghouse is helping the DoD to do just that.

The MFLN estimates that as many as 1,200 military-connected professionals tuned into the virtual conference! We’re excited to be included in such an important discussion and certainly strive to maintain the high standard of excellence for our military families and the professionals who serve them.

Link to “Additional Resources” from the session: http://create.extension.org/sites/default/files/AdditionalResources_NavigationSkills.pdf

Link to recorded session: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o9VoOSwAghk&feature=youtu.be