ACS 'Kids Chat' opens new avenues of communication for children

By Spc. Nathan Thome (4th ID)April 2, 2013

Accomplishment
1 / 6 Show Caption + Hide Caption – FORT CARSON, Colo. " Dale Mckitrick (right, red shirt), financial, Fort Carson Army Community Service, and children part of the three to five age group, celebrate after completing a puzzle during "Kids Chat," a service provided under the Family Viole... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Helping hand
2 / 6 Show Caption + Hide Caption – FORT CARSON, Colo. " Mariana Grauptmann, victim advocate, Family Advocacy Program, Fort Carson Army Community Service, helps a child make her Halloween-style photo frame during "Kids Chat," a service provided under the Family Violence Prevention Plan... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Groups
3 / 6 Show Caption + Hide Caption – FORT CARSON, Colo. " Jill Nugin, manager, Family Advocacy Program, Fort Carson Army Community Service, directs children into their designated age groups during "Kids Chat," a service provided by the Family Violence Prevention Plan working group, at t... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Puzzle
4 / 6 Show Caption + Hide Caption – FORT CARSON, Colo. " Sergeant Brandie Senior, Army Community Service operations noncommissioned officer, Fort Carson ACS, helps children in the three to five age group assemble a puzzle during "Kids Chat," a service provided under the Family Violence... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Photo frames
5 / 6 Show Caption + Hide Caption – FORT CARSON, Colo. " Children in the six to 10 age group of "Kids Chat," a service provided under the Family Violence Prevention Plan working group, make Halloween-style picture frames for their family, while they talk about how their parent's deploy... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Questions
6 / 6 Show Caption + Hide Caption – FORT CARSON, Colo. " Francesca Vavioa (left),11, and Jaden Oberst, 13, choose between 14 different questions to answer and talk about during "Kids Chat," a service provided under the Family Violence Prevention Plan working group, at the 4th Brigade C... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

ACS's FVPP is currently a working group and only needs to be signed to become an official service provided by the FAP.

Kids Chat was developed to attack the problem of domestic and family violence at Fort Carson, said Jill Nugin, manager, FAP, Fort Carson ACS.

"The family violence task force was developed a year ago because of a significant increase in infant deaths…the community put this working group together to address what we could do to reduce the impact of child abuse," said Nugin.

Victim advocates and project managers, volunteers for Kids Chat, divided the kids into three age groups: three to five years old, six to 10 years old, and 11 to 16 years old. Adults also participated in the service; they gathered in a separate room and addressed their concerns about their husbands returning from deployment.

"Kids Chat speaks to family resilience and making families stronger and happier," said Nugin.

Toddlers and the slightly younger kids drew pictures, completed puzzles, and participated in story time, where the volunteers read stories to their group.

"These types of activities help nurture our children," said Sgt. Brandie Senior, ACS operations, ACS. "Children don't know how to communicate like adults, so integrating games helps them to open up and communicate their feelings and emotions."

Children from each age group showed their enthusiasm for the service through their openness with the volunteers. Children from all three age groups talked about their home lives and concerns about when their parents return from deployment.

"One of the things I miss most about my dad is spending time with him," said Evan Burciaga, 13. "When he was home, he would take me to the gun show, but since he deployed, I miss the time we would spend together."

Children in the middle group spent their time making Halloween-style picture frames for family photos, while talking about their parents and how they felt about their parents' deployment.

"We developed this program because, when the war first started, kids didn't have a good place to talk about their dads deploying or coming home," said Nugin.

This service is offered whenever kids are faced with a parent deploying, said Nugin.

In the teen's group of Kids Chat, they colored, made bead jewelry, and participated in an opening-up exercise. They could choose between 14 strips of green paper, each containing a question.

Each teen answered their question, opening up about their lives at home and how their parent's deployment has affected their roles in the family.

"Since my dad has left, I can do things that I haven't done before when he was here," said Jason Griego, 14. "I just feel like I'm a bigger person, like I have matured and become more independent."

As each group wrapped up their session, they all gathered in the 4th BCT HQ common area to mingle and eat ice cream. Kids from each group spoke with each other about what they learned from the service and how it helped them cope with their parents being deployed.

"Kids Chat is a great social-networking environment for our children because they get to be creative and play with adults and other children," said Senior. "The kids light up when you give them that one-on-one attention, making them feel special."

For more information on Fort Carson ACS, Family Advocacy and Family Violence Prevention Programs, call (719) 526-4590, or visit http://community.carson.army.mil/ACS.