MILITARY SUPPORT for Arkansas Connections Academy Families

A military family smiling together - Connections Academy

FAMILY ASSISTANCE

Here for Those Who Serve

Family. It’s the building block of communities, and an important part of helping children develop the character and resilience they need to thrive. That’s why our Military Support Team is so important. At Arkansas Connections Academy, we make sure that military families receive the support needed to overcome their unique challenges. We welcome military families into our community with open arms.

If you or your spouse serves in the U.S. military, we’re prepared to assist:

When your family transfers from a base in another state
If your family needs guidance when transitioning to an online environment
When you need information about Arkansas graduation requirements
If your child needs extra support during a family member’s deployment
As you plan a transfer to an out-of-state base
Whenever other needs related to military service arise

GET IN TOUCH

Military Support Team Contacts

Arleen Smith

School Military Liaison, Grades K-6

Email arlsmith@arca.connectionsacademy.org
Phone 479-662-9521

Daniel Cisar

District Military Education Coordinator

Email dcisar@arca.connectionsacademy.org
Phone 479-662-9340

Tom Welch

School Military Liaison, Grades 7-12

Email twelch@arca.connectionsacademy.org
Phone 479-662-9262

RESOURCES

Military Support Resources

Military Support Team liaisons have developed a comprehensive catalog of resources to support the unique needs of Arkansas Connections Academy military families. Here are the many resources we have available:

Educational Resources

Arkansas Department of Education Statewide Community Resources Portal - This website offers a search engine to locate a wide variety of resources available within the state of Arkansas. Users may search by county or region.
Military Child Education Coalition - MCEC supports all military-connected children by educating, advocating, and collaborating to resolve education challenges associated with the military lifestyle.
Military Interstate Children's Compact Commission - Through the Interstate Compact, MIC3 addresses key educational transition issues encountered by children of military families.
School Liaison - Little Rock Air Force Base - This page will provide you information and resource links on many school related topics concerning your child’s PreK-12 military connected child education.
School Liaison - Pine Bluff Arsenal - This page will provide you information and resource links on many school related topics concerning your child’s PreK-12 military connected child education.
STARBASE Arkansas - DoD STARBASE is a premier educational program, sponsored by the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Reserve Affairs. At DoD STARBASE students participate in challenging "hands-on, mind-on" activities in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM). We are working to expose our nation’s youth to the technological environments and positive civilian and military role models found on Active, Guard, and Reserve military bases and installations, nurture a winning network of collaborators, and build mutual loyalty within our communities, by providing 25 hours of exemplary hands-on instruction and activities that meet or exceed the National Standards.
Tutor.com - Tutor.com is an online tutoring company founded in 1998 that connects students to tutors in online classrooms. The service offers on-demand and scheduled tutoring to students, from fourth grade through college. Users can connect with live tutors of more than 40 subjects online, including math, science, essay writing, foreign language and test prep. As of 2020, the company has over 3,000 tutors.

Family Resources

American Legion Temporary Financial Assistance - American Legion Temporary Financial Assistance helps families in need meet the cost of shelter, food, utilities and health expenses.
Arkansas Department of Human Services - Find Service Providers - This website offers a search engine for locating child care providers, mental health and substance abuse care providers, and primary care physicians in the Medicaid network.
Arkansas National Guard Child and Youth Programs - The National Guard Youth Program is available to help provide the support and resources they need to help deal with separation from a parent, child care issues, difficulties with school, or any other problems. Children of all ages can be affected at any phase of military life; we have programs to help one and all.
Arkansas National Guard Soldier and Family Assistance Centers - The Arkansas Soldier and Family Assistance Centers are a resource to soldiers and to family members.
BLOOM - Bloom is the place you can find comfort and advice about everything military kid related: from moving tips to the top things to do at your duty station.
FOCUS (Families OverComing Under Stress) - FOCUS provides resilience training to military children, families, and couples. It teaches practical skills to help families and couples overcome common challenges related to a military life. It helps build on current strengths and teach new strategies to enhance communication and problem solving, goal setting and creating a shared family story.
Military Family Advisory Network - The Military Family Advisory Network is a nonprofit organization committed to taking a collaborative, impact-drive, and authentic approach to addressing the needs of military and veteran families.
Military Family Life Counseling (Leidos) - The Military and Family Life Counseling Program supports service members, their families and survivors with non-medical counseling worldwide. Trained to work with the military community, military and family life counselors deliver valuable face-to-face counseling services, briefings and presentations to the military community both on and off the installation.
Military OneSource - Military OneSource is your 24/7 connection to information, answers and support to help you reach your goals, overcome challenges and thrive.
National Child Traumatic Stress Network - Military and Veterans - This section of the NCTSN Learning Center focuses on US military and veteran culture, as well as the special issues involved with providing mental health care to military service members, veterans, and their families. Content in this section explores the wide range of work being done in military and VA behavioral health programs and with community partners who provide mental health services to military families.
National Military Family Association - NMFA is on a mission to stand up for, support, and enhance the quality of life for every military family through bold advocacy, innovative programming, and dynamic and responsive solutions.
National Resource Directory - The NRD is a database of validated resources that supports recovery, rehabilitation, and reintegration for service members, veterans, family members, and caregivers.
Operation Homefront - Operation Homefront, a nationally recognized 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, builds strong, stable, and secure military families so they can thrive, not simply struggle to get by, in the communities they have worked so hard to protect. The organization provides relief and recurring family support programs and services throughout the year to help military families overcome short-term difficulties so they don’t become long-term hardships.
Our Military Kids - Our Military Kids recognizes the sacrifice of children of deployed National Guard, deployed Reserve, or post 9/11 combat-injured service members by offering extracurricular activity grants that build the child's self-confidence, enhance family wellness, and strengthen a shared sense of community.
Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS) - TAPS is a national nonprofit organization providing compassionate care and comprehensive resources for all those grieving the death of a military or veteran loved one. Since 1994, TAPS has provided comfort and hope 24/7 through a national peer support network and connection to grief resources, all at no cost to surviving families and loved ones. APS provides a variety of programs to survivors nationally and worldwide.
USA Cares - Veteran and Family Support System - USA Cares’ mission is to provide post-9/11 military veterans, service members, and their families with financial assistance and post service skills training to create a foundation for long-term stability. Services improve the quality of life for veterans and their families and reduce potential factors that can contribute to veteran suicide.

Scholarship Resources

Dependent Education Assistance for High School Students - A high school student who is the dependent child of a 100% disabled veteran may be eligble to receive up to $1,400 per month if the student turns 18 years old while still in high school until the student graduates.
Fisher House Scholarships for Military Children - The Scholarships for Military Children Program was created to recognize military families' contributions to the fighting force's readiness and to celebrate the commissary's role in the military family community.
No Greater Sacrifice - No Greater Sacrifice (NGS) is dedicated to the children of our nation’s fallen and wounded Service members delivering scholarships and resources to improve their quality of life through the pursuit of higher education.

Financial Assistance Resources

American Legion Temporary Financial Assistance - American Legion Temporary Financial Assistance helps families in need meet the cost of shelter, food, utilities and health expenses.
Coalition to Salute America's Heroes - Emergency Financial Aid - Since 2004, the Coalition to Salute America’s Heroes has provided post 9/11 disabled American veterans with millions of dollars worth of Emergency Financial Aid and support services. Emergency Financial Aid often covers urgent expenses such as utility bills, mortgage/rent payments, auto loan payments, groceries, household supplies, and school supplies.
Feed Our Vets - Since February 2009, Feed Our Vets has provided free food assistance to more than 52,000 Veterans and their family members, distributing 3,850,000lbs. of food. Feed Our Vets is a 501 (c) 3 nonprofit organization whose mission is to help Veterans in the United States, their spouses and children whose circumstances have left them on the battlefield of hunger, and to involve the public in fighting Veteran hunger.
Modest Needs - Modest Needs is a non-profit organization that responsibly provides short-term financial assistance to individuals and families in temporary crisis who, because they are working and live just above the poverty level, are ineligible for most types of conventional social assistance but who (like many of us) are living one or two lost paychecks away from the kind of financial catastrophe that eventually leads to homelessness.
Operation Family Fund - Operation Family Fund provides financial assistance to eligible recipients in the form of grants. Below is a description on how to apply for assistance. Financial grants for each eligible member or members family to meet personal, short and long term living needs in these areas; food, rent or utilities, emergency transportation and vehicle repair, funeral expenses, legal expenses, medical/dental expenses, assistance with a home, rental, lease, purchase or home improvements, assistance with the purchase, rent or lease of a vehicle, trauma training and counseling, caregiver training and support.
Operation First Response Family Assistance Program - The mission of Operation First Response is to provide swift and compassionate emergency financial aid to the brave individuals and families who serve and protect America’s communities. OFR is dedicated to supporting military personnel, disabled veterans, Gold Star families, as well as police officers, firefighters, EMS professionals, paramedics, and 911 dispatchers.
Salute, Inc. - SALUTE provides everyday essentials at the most critical time, offering assistance with housing costs, utility bills, car expenses and food.
Semper Fi Fund - Semper Fi & America’s Fund cares for our Nation’s critically wounded, ill, and injured service members, veterans, and military families. Supporting all branches of the U.S. Armed Forces, the fund provide one-on-one case management, connection, and lifetime support.
Veterans Health Administration Food Security Office - The VHA Food Security Office (FSO) supports Veteran comprehensive health and wellbeing by ensuring food security. The FSO's mission is to provide resources to VA healthcare systems through partnerships, data management, and research and education to support an interdisciplinary approach to ensure Veteran food security to create an environment where all Veterans are food and nutrition secure.

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