the military child in hawaii - johns hopkins bloomberg school of

Robert Wm. Blum MD MPH PhD Lynne Michael Blum MS PhD

M.E. Hughes MA PhD Kristin Mmari MA DrPH

The Military Child in Hawaii Study

Acknowledgements

• Jenita Parekh

• Daesha Ramacharian

Study Objectives

1) To document youth and parental perceptions of education in Hawaii and possible contributing factors such as living in Hawaii, and issues of transition to new school and living environments and deployment;

2) To explore how attitudes, concerns and perceptions change over time;

3) To identify the consequences of living and being schooled in Hawaii after families leave this assignment;

4) To provide policy and programmatic guidance to assure that military families experience a positive tour of duty in Hawaii.

Study Parameters

• A contract not a grant

• A census not a sample

• Active duty military

• All branches of service

• Sample restricted to Oahu

• Children ages 10-18 for quantitative and 8-18 for qualitative data collection

• Web-based data collection (www.hawaiikids.org)

http://www.hawaiikids.org/

Sources of Data

• Parent cross-sectional survey data (n=1479)

• Parent longitudinal survey data - two surveys completed approximately a year apart (n=117)

• Parent focus group data (31 focus groups 2010-2012)

• Child cross-sectional survey data (n=180)

• Child focus group data (22 focus groups 2010-2012)

Construction of PACOM Samples

Branch Women Men

Total Military Civilian Military Civilian

Air Force 28 90 36 2 156

Army 115 348 315 9 787

Coast Guard 8 26 24 0 58

Marines 17 66 95 2 180

Navy 49 129 109 3 290

Total 217 659 579 16 1471

Parent Cross Section

7

8

Educational Level of Parent Respondents

Less Than High School 1%

High School Grad 25%

2 Years College or Tech School 24%

4 Years College 27%

Graduate Degree 23%

Parent Cross Section N=1479

Hawaii and the Military

This Is What They Expect

10

View of Non Military Hawaiians

• Military is a closed group of mainlanders behind “the gate” (aka the base or installation).

• Military are elitist with entitlements not available to locals (e.g., cheaper food and clothing).

• Creates a culture of “haves” and “have nots”

Not Like a Tropical Paradise

Major or Significant Challenge

Traffic 59%

Quality of Affordable Housing 56%

Cost of Living 66%

Parent Cross Section N = 1436

12

Stressors: Traffic

13

…my husband would spend about four hours a day in traffic. And he had to leave the house around four to get to work by seven. Where we lived: it was 22 miles from driveway to parking spot…. He had to leave at four in the morning to get there in time. And if he didn't leave base by 3:30, he wasn't getting home till after six

Being the Outsiders


Experiences of Prejudice and Racism 26%


14

Prejudice and Racism

15

The teachers are very accepting of racism and said it was just the way things were in Hawaii. They allowed the children to openly call my son ‘white boy’ and allowed students to physically touch my daughter’s skin and hair….

Isolation vs Integration

Loss of Social Connections


Social Isolation 30%

Distance from Extended Family 52%


17

Children’s Perspectives


Missing Family 65%

Missing Life on Mainland 52%

Parent Deployment 40%

Child Cross Section N = 180

18

Residential Segregation

Where Does Family Live?

Private House in Community 34%

Military Housing Neighborhood 23%

On Base 44%

Parent Cross Section, Year 1 Only N=919

19

Feelings About Connection to Military Community

Very satisfied 38%

Somewhat satisfied 44%

Little or not satisfied 19%

Parent Cross Section N= 1447

20

Community of Affiliation

21

To What Extent Are People in Hawaii Welcoming?

More than other places 28%

About the same as other places 51%

Less than other places 21%


Perceptions of Local Community

How Supportive Are People In Hawaii of You Being In the Military?

Not very supportive 21%

Somewhat supportive 55%

Very supportive 24%

Parent Cross Section, Year 1 Asked of Military Members Only N=969

22

Perceptions of Local Community

Community Engagement

Respondent Is Involved In

At Least One Community Activity 50%

School Volunteers (3+ Times Last Year) 33%

Parent Cross Section, Volunteer Question Year 2 Only N=1479 (565)

23


Cultural differences 18%

Language and slang people use 16%

N=1469

24

Perceived Barriers

Strongly Agree or Agree That

Child experiences prejudice and discrimination due to military affiliation

15%

Child experiences prejudice and discrimination due to racial and cultural background

18%

Students in child’s school treat each other with respect

41%


25

Adaptation to Hawaii: Colonialist or Integrationist Perspectives

26

Colonialist and Integrationist Perspectives

• Colonialists have a pejorative view of the locals and the public schools.

• They tend to be isolationist with half of military reporting that they do not engage the community beyond the military compound.

• They view locals as either simple minded or lazy.

27

Colonialist Perspective

28

These schools mirror the culture of Hawaii. And you have the teachers and the administrators who reflect the Hawaiian culture, in which education is not a priority and when you talk about fixing it, you're going to bring in a group of leaders who all have that same culture: ‘Okay, okay, got it, yep, no worries.’ And they're going to go right back and do what they did. Because who holds the standard? Because we're not in the business of education, we can't hold them to that standard. Military Parent

Colonialist Perspective

29

They pick on us because we are smart and they are jealous, they come from poor, bad families and don’t care about school. I also think that they are jealous because we are teachers to them. Child in Military Family

The Other View: Integrationist

• They see themselves as guests in a foreign culture.

• They want to learn about the culture and to engage with the customs.

• They seek opportunities to get to know and become part of the Hawaii experience.

Integrationist perspective

31

We’re all transplants here, and I find it’s very difficult for kids who live here, to include my son but even for me. And the only way I have begun to understand it is to remove myself from the military culture and go to work all day in the local culture, and the longer I’m here, I’m much more accepted….

Integrationist Perspective

32

When people come from the mainland and don’t immerse themselves in the culture, they’re going to have problems

Integrationist perspective

33

You just have to live it. You have to be part of the community. It’s not a learned thing. You have to experience it. I would be very afraid too, if I’m put in a situation where I don’t know the culture, the language. But at the same time, it’s good to see it from the other perspective, and see that it’s not all that bad.

Integrationist perspective is important for coping…

• Having such a perspective promotes community/local

engagement – which then fosters a sense of ‘acceptance’

• This perspective helps families engage in new experiences and learning about the culture that promotes a positive attitudes towards living in Hawaii… despite the stressors

I mean, every place is going to have its issues. Here, there’s so much to do outside. We try and pick something to do almost every weekend – do something new that we haven’t tried before.. My son just loves it here – never wants to move.

34

… but social isolation has perceived advantages

I like that I’m surrounded by people who I can either relate to or communicate with, who understand what I’m going through, and what we do. It’s the camaraderie

I think it’s better for the kids {to live on base}. When we did, it didn’t phase them when dad came and went because everyone had a member, a dad or mom, who was gone. Then, we moved into this community, and the kids would come up to my kids and were like, ‘when is your dad going to go?’ Oh, you poor kids. And, even for us, they just kind of swarmed us. The kids realized, oh, this doesn’t happen to everyone – and they then start thinking about the down sides of deployment.

Education

School is where all camps meet

• Children must attend public school; no military schools.

• Different perspectives become apparent when the children are not happy in the schools.

• Blame falls on the school for not helping the children adjust and feel welcome.

Dissatisfied With

Quality of education in Hawaii 48%

How child treated by teachers 16%

How child treated by classmates 17%


38

Strongly

Disagree/

Disagree

Strongly

Agree/

Agree

Teachers are well qualified 286 (25%) 430 (38%)

My child is learning grade

appropriate information 424 (38%) 490 (43%)

My child is challenged 547 (49%) 377 (34%)


39

Parents’ Opinions – Child in Public School

Education: One of the Main Stressors

40

I feel like I failed my children because I didn’t listen. People told me, ‘the school system is difficult.’ And, I kept telling myself, ‘my kids are really strong in school, they’re independent.’ Now, I see my kids are totally different children – and because of that – I have to figure out if I send them back to mainland so at least they can catch up.

Education: Affects More than a Child’s Academics

41

If your kids are not in a school where they are doing well – it affects the military member who is getting ready to deploy. Even for my family, when my son was diagnosed with dyslexia, my husband was already gone. So, that whole year while he was deployed, I had to fight with the school system, and then he felt terrible because he wasn’t here to fight with me.

Creating DoD Schools is not a viable alternative.

42

Deployment

Who in Family Has Ever Been Deployed?

Respondent 480 38%

Spouse 475 38%

Respondent and Spouse 29 2%

Neither 268 21%


44

Number of Deployments

1 208 21%

2 233 24%

3 206 21%

4 or more 331 34%


45

How Likely To Be Deployed Again?

Certain 165 17%

Highly Likely 159 16%

50-50 chance 174 18%

Unlikely 275 28%

Definitely not 116 12%

Don’t know 86 9%


46

Consequences of Deployment for Military Member

Injury 11 16%

Injury + Psych Problems 13 18%

Psychological Problems 51 28%

None Reported 400 12%

Parent Cross Section, Civilians with Ever-Deployed Spouses N=475

47

Consequences of Deployment for Family

Made us more religious 80 17%

Created financial stress 42 9%

Made us stronger/closer 289 61%

Harder to get along 60 13%

Separation or divorce more likely

29 6%

Don’t know 86 9%


48

49

Deployment Effects on Child: Depression

Symptoms Usual or Less than Usual 229 56%

Symptoms More than Usual 181 44%


The Cycle of Deployment

50

Worst Part of Deployment for Self/Family

Before 98 23

During 213 50

Reunion 72 17

Redeployment 39 9


51

Specific ‘weeks’ of deployment that are difficult:

“Week 3 is most difficult. Week 3 is when you realize that it’s no longer just a local operation…. Up until then, because our husbands all do weekly ops, they can be out for 10 days, two weeks – and that is normal. Week 3 is when it’s ‘this is deployment.’ (military spouse)

Specific weeks of deployment that are difficult: “Actually, my husband already left at the beginning of this week, but they are pulling in today just for two hours to refuel. He knows the girls have off school and he asked me to bring them down to see him… I said , ‘No, they are done with you, you are gone. They have said their goodbyes and have worked through this. You are going to kill me if I have to go through that again.” (military spouse)

Pre-deployment

For me, it’s hardest in the first two or three weeks before you leave, because you’re going through that anxiety. You know you’re leaving and, of course, we’re able to mostly detach or start that process, but the kids don’t really sense it until we’re gone. (military parent)

Reunion

“I don’t like it when my dad gets back, he does a lot of cussing. He cusses all the time, and I think he got used to it during deployment. It usually takes him about 6 months after he gets back from the war to stop.” (military child)

Reunion

“Well, and then if they’re gone for a year – they are different and you’re different, and the kids are different. I mean, my youngest is 5 and in the last 4 years, he has been gone 2 and ½ years. She doesn’t know him. And you come into this new family, that now everyone has to figure out their way again.” (military spouse) \

Getting used to deployment…? “You become accustomed to figuring out a routine and you figure out how to live life without dad…”

“You may establish habits, you may establish your way of dealing with it, but I would hope that a family would make it a goal that you don’t get used to it, because that would mean that your spouse who’s deploying is not a part of your family.”

What helps families ‘prepare’ for deployment? A few military spouses mentioned that it’s better when they don’t have to plan:

The deployment part is easier when it’s just a couple of days notice because I’m not planning, I’m not cleaning the house, I’m not washing his laundry. We don’t have enough time to fight before he goes.

I’ve always said my perfect deployment would be one where he calls me in the morning and says, ‘I forgot, we’re leaving today.’ Because it’s a torturous thing when the countdown begins.. ‘this is the last Tuesday night we’re having spaghetti’, etc.

Worst Part of Deployment: Child

Before 34 8%

During 305 73%

Reunion 46 11%

Redeployment 30 7%


59

Different responses for different children

My son has been quite accustomed to Daddy just always coming and going and I really don’t feel deployment has affected him that much, as he’s very self-motivated. My daughter – completely different situation. This is her 1st deployment in this school, and she doesn’t want to go; she doesn’t want to leave me alone.” (military parent)

I think it’s age-dependent, and personality, and where you are in the family line-up. My oldest son goes into responsibility mode, focused, and does well in school because Dad might find out about it. The youngest is more emotional and she does more fighting with her brothers. (military parent)

Deployment means added responsibilities for kids:

I get sad when my dad’s gone. I was sad that I couldn’t see my dad after school. I also have to watch my little brother and sister and I can’t go and do anything with my friends. I can get angry over that. (military child)

The Absence

When your parents are gone for so long and then they’ll leave and you’ll be like 12 and then they come back and you’re like 14 and you have changed so much and you don’t really like know them because you kind of forget little things about them and they don’t know you because you have grown up.

(student, army base)

62

Reentry

As much as we change while our parents are deployed, they change as well. Like going into a war zone and stuff, they come back completely different people sometimes.

(Student)

63

Reentry

I think when he came back, the first argument that I ever heard for 2 years now is that, “you don’t know what I have been through.” And half of me wants to just go up there and say, “you don’t know what we have been through; we have done so much for you and you just come home and start to yell. . . .

(Student)

64

Coping with deployment • A fair number of survey respondents reported

that deployment ‘made us more religious’ and ‘made us stronger as a family.’

• Remaining parent strategies: – Be more ‘loose’ on rules:

• They get to watch TV during dinner • I’m more low-key than my husband, and when he’s

home, the stress level gets turned up a bit. There’s more ‘we have to do this for Daddy’s work, we have to go this function, this barbecue, etc.’ When he’s gone, I’m like, ‘what do you guys want to do today? You want to go the beach. Okay, we’ll go to the beach’.”

Coping with deployment • Bringing extended family members to help:

– Whenever my husband is deployed, I always have a parent come live with me. I wouldn’t be able to do it without them

– A lot of families cope with deployment by having grandparents come and fly in to help out

• Making use of time that they have (in between deployments): – It’s not the quantity, but the quality of time that’s

important. When he’s home, we make sure it’s quality time – so we do things as a family.. When he’s not here, I try extra hard to be really conscious of what’s going on with my kids.. Much more than usual.

Coping with deployment

• Children’s perspectives: Communication with deployed dad matters!

• Well, when my dad was deployed to Afghanistan for 7 months at around Christmas time, he sent me this little doll. It’s a daddy doll, and it made me feel a lot better

• When my dad was deployed, my mom made a webcam and we got to see my dad. It was only on certain days, but we could see him in Afghanistan and we got to talk to him on the computer.

Coping with deployment

Having teachers with knowledge about deployment:

–My teacher would support me and there’s a counselor that was really great. There’s a little group that gets together in her office if they have a parent who is deployed, and she gives them information about how to deal with it.

the military child in hawaii - johns hopkins bloomberg school of

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