Resources & Programs for Children

Buddies Program

Join a group of kids that are going through the same kind of stuff...just like you. Get together once a month and try cool things and talk about what it is like being you, a kid in a military family. This program is for children 6 -11 years, last Saturday monthly, from 11am - 2pm. Meet at the South Side Community Centre. Pre-registration is required. For upcoming dates, visit our online calendar.
South Side Community Centre
613-687-2104

Children's Deployment Support Program (CDSP)

Watch for us at your school (click for a list of schools). Get out of class and just be you. If we are not at your school let us know. This activity-based program provides children from JK to grade 8 an opportunity to discuss their experiences related to a parent's absence and develop positive coping tools. Visit our School Based Deployment Support Program page.
CDSP Coordinator
613-687-1658

Children & Media: How much is too much?

This is a 1 ½ hour workshop that will increase your understanding of how the media and the news impacts your child’s development and understanding of the world around them. Visit our calendar for the next scheduled workshop.
Sarah, Deployment Programmer
613-687-2104 ext 0

Resources

Children's Books

• Student Deployment Journal  (1.51 mb)  
• A Father to be Proud of (2.62 mb)
• Joey's Mom is Going Away  (16.7 mb)
• My Mom is a Soldier (3.27 mb)

Friends for Life

FRIENDS for Life helps children and teenagers cope with feelings of fear, worry, and depression by building resilience and self-esteem and teaching cognitive and emotional skills in a simple, well-structured format. Used in schools and clinics throughout the world, FRIENDS is the only childhood anxiety prevention program acknowledged by the World Health Organization for its 12 years of comprehensive evaluation and practice. It has proved effective for up to 6 years after initial exposure.

Anxiety is the most common form of mental disorder, affecting up to 15% of children and adolescents. Anxiety significantly interferes with a child’s ability to confidently handle everyday situations including relationships with peers, adults and family, and school achievement. If left unattended, these anxiety difficulties may continue into young adulthood, sometimes leading to depression. FRIENDS combats anxiety by fostering an emotional resilience in children & teenagers that will stay with them for life. The Phoenix Centre for Children & Families and the PMFRC have teamed up to offer the FRIENDS for Life program to military families. This program includes:

FRIENDS for Children 7–11 years
FRIENDS for Youth 12–16 years

Phoenix Centre For Children and Families
Pembroke: 613-735-2374
Petawawa: 613-687-2104 ext 222

A Thousand Thanks to Military Kids

If you have a family member deployed – Salute Our Services (public web site) would like to recognize your child. They are excited to welcome their newest partners, Jon Wood and Kelly Bires from the Wood Brothers/JTG Racing Air Force team. Jon Wood drives #21 Air Force Ford Fusion in NASCAR's Nextel Cup Series. Kelly Bires drive #21 Air Force Ford F-150 in NASCAR's Craftsman Truck Series. Jon and Kelly join NBA great Shaquille O'Neal, racecar driver Tony Schumacher and Warner Bros. Looney Tunes® and Scooby-Doo characters in their efforts by signing thank you letters to children affected by a military deployment. You can fill out your child’s information, including which character you would prefer to sign the letter, at www.saluteourservices.org and Kids Serve Too will send a special letter of thanks to your child. Please allow 8-10 weeks for delivery. www.saluteourservices.org

The information on this page is provided by PMFRC