military kids – American Red Cross Minnesota and Dakotas Region

University of Minnesota Duluth (UMD) football players who volunteered at the first Purple Up! Northland event which held this year on Saturday, April 13, 2024, in Superior, Wisconson.

On Saturday, April 13, we were able to bring Northland military families some Purple Up! support that generally happens in the Twin Cities or other large metro areas. These events happen around the nation each April, which is the Month of the Military Child. (A little more about the background of Purple Up! events here.)

This year, there was a desire by the local military community to bring an event like this to the Northland. And we were delighted to take part. We had families come from as far away as Ely and Willow River to participate!

We had partners from a bunch of organizations and local Red Cross volunteers, including those who serve with the Minnesota Army National Guard and those who work with local community partners like Essentia Health and US Bank. And through our partnership with University of Minnesota – Duluth Athletics, we had nine football players who volunteered. The students did an amazing job interacting with the around 40 military kids and their parents.

Our football volunteers ran games outside and tasked kids identifying who built up others, who were supporting their fellow participants, hyping up their friends as well as kids they did not know. When the end of the event came and it was time to give out special prizes, the football players called kids one by one and shared what they had done to be selected – ranging from “you helped your little brother” to “you were cheering for everyone!” A big part of work like this is to make sure military families feel connected and supported by each other and the community. The UMD football players were 100% that.

Our favorite picture is the compilation above when our Regional Service to the Armed Forces Director (SAF), Jeff Kazel gave a young man the final ‘grand prize.’ After, the young man shook the hand of each and every one of the football players. It was very sweet, and we think a couple of them might have got a little ‘dusty’ from it.

P.S. Much, much thanks to Red Cross volunteer Julie M. for tracking down some great giveaway prizes and to 148th Fighter Wing Family readiness leader Suzy H. for wanting to get this going in the Northland.

The American Red Cross has two new workshops that help children of military families to manage challenges that are specific to their lives. The workshops, Roger That! Communication Counts and 10-4: Confident Coping, teach essential life skills for military kids and teens to better manage stressful social situations.

“All kids face challenges,” says Diane Manwill, a behavioral health expert with the American Red Cross. “They are growing up and learning to navigate social situations. However, challenges faced by military kids may be compounded because military families move more frequently and family members may be more absent due to military deployments.”

Each of the workshops is composed of two modules with activities designed for children 8 to 12 and teens 12 to 18 years old. The Roger That! Communication Counts workshop focuses on the importance of developing quality interpersonal communication and listening skills. Operation 10-4: Confident Coping focuses on bolstering strengths present in older military children to help manage stressful situations. The new workshops are part of the Red Cross reconnection workshop series.

“My children have participated in these workshops and they make a difference,” says Kelsey Liverpool, co-founder and president of Kids Rank. “It helps because it gives children of military families a place where they can talk, where they feel safe, be with other people who understand what they are going through and learn how they might better adapt to their situation.”

Red Cross volunteers, who are licensed behavioral health professionals and trained to work with children, facilitate the workshops. All professionals have undergone extensive background checks as required by the Department of Defense for adults working with children. Additionally, a second adult is also available during these workshops for support and assistance to the groups.

“We were very proud to support the Red Cross in the development of this program over the past year along with many other subject matter experts in the field,” says Dr. Mary Keller with the Military Child Education Coalition. “We know that community-based initiatives, like this, make a positive difference for our military kids.”

For more information about this free and confidential program, go to redcross.org/reconnectionworkshops.