Family Life Development Center

 
 

Strong Families, Strong Soldiers (1992 – present ) is an ongoing project funded by a cooperative agreement between the Cooperative State Research, Education and Extension Service ( CSREES) U.S. Department of Agriculture and the U.S. Army.

As Cornell’s land grant partner to the US Army, our military project team of academic professionals in psychology, social work and program evaluation collaborate with the Army Family and Morale, Welfare and Recreation Command (FMWRC) family program staff at headquarters and region and installation level worldwide to provide technical assistance (needs assessments, survey analysis, outcome evaluation), evidence based research briefs and standardized training materials on a variety of research and program evaluation projects .

Our current projects ( 2006-07) include: Providing support for deployed Soldiers and Family Members through the Army’s Operation Ready project (revising and distributing briefing materials and commander, family member and family support group leader handbooks on topics such as Children and Deployment, Trauma in the Unit and Reunion/Reintegration Training). See a recent article on this at http://www.human.cornell.edu/che/Outreach/upload/HE_Mag-article-2.pdf

The military project team is currently engaged in

  • Conducting an evaluation for the Army’s Multicomponent Family Support Network implementation – aimed at enhancing the delivery of support services to Army families of the Active, Guard and Reserve regardless of geographic location.
  • Creating a series of on line training materials for the Army’s Family Advocacy Program staff who provide prevention and intervention services for strengthing families and reducing the incidence of child and domestic abuse.
  • Developing and disseminating public relations materials (proclamations, posters, command letters) for April Child Abuse Month and October Domestic Violence Month. See past and current ( April 2007 Child Abuse Month materials) at http://www.MyArmyLifeToo.com

Previous years' projects include

  • the development of sexual assault training modules for uniformed first responders
  • a research study on the impact of deployment on the rates of child and spouse abuse
  • handbooks on Volunteer Management for the Army Volunteer Corps
  • a manual for Emergency Placement Care for families living overseas.

 

Project Director: Marney Thomas