May 2019 Camp Elmore EFMP Newsletter Vol. 10 No. 5

Naval Medical Center Portsmouth · Bldg 3, Floor 4, Rm 4.2-131 · 620 John Paul Jones Circle · Portsmouth, VA · FAX (757) 953-2420

My Hero: Military Kids Write About Their Moms and Dads By Allen Appel

Working through the Armed Services YMCA, Alan Appel and Mike Rothmiller have collected more than 100 essays from children whose parents are serving or have served in the military. The children’s heartfelt, moving, sometimes funny, and completely honest observations about their moms and dads truly capture the emotional connection between parent and child. It is a connection that cannot be severed even when a parent is thousands of miles away, gone for long stretches of time, and in danger. Inspiring, heartbreaking, and genuine, this book provides a fascinating look inside the hearts and minds of kids who love and honor their moms and dads as heroes - at home or on the battlefield.

This Book and many others found at: https://openlibrary.org/books/OL16490576M/My_hero

Armed Forces Day May 18

The heart of the PCS season will be upon us soon or maybe it’s already here!! HQMC EFMP assignment screeners have been busy screening orders for our enrolled EFMP families, ensuring services and medical care is appropriately available at the follow on duty station. For this reason, it is important to ensure your enrolled family member’s paper work is current and up to date. Page 1 MCO 1754.4B requires an update every 3 years, and/or if a condition Lending Library changes, ie. gets better, gets worse or if there are new diagnosis. A Note From the Program Manager Moving can be very stressful and know we are here to help! The family case- Page 2 worker and outreach specialist will be in touch with all inbound/outbound Did You Know families offering resources about their next duty station ~ and just make sure Feature Article everyone gets settled. We encourage families to visit Page 3 www.militaryonesource.mil, request a sponsor from their new unit and check Spotlight on Resources out the installation’s MCCS webpage. Recipe Corner Question from the Field We wish everyone a great month of May ~ and along with honoring and Page 4 remembering those service members who came before us ~ MCCS Hampton Upcoming Events Roads will celebrate military spouse with weekly spouse appreciation events! Keep an eye on social media pages and you can call Family Team Building at Remembering Their Sacrifice 445-6875. take care!! Semper Fi, Karina Phillips EFMP Manager/MCCS Deputy Director 757-445-6876 or 757-358-0885

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Did you know, the third week of May is Food Allergy Awareness Week?

There are about 15 million people in the U.S. with food allergies. Eight major food allergens—milk, egg, peanut, tree nuts, wheat, soy, fish, and crustacean shellfish— are responsible for most of the serious food allergy reactions in the United States.

In addition, each year, the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America declares May to be National Asthma and Allergy Awareness Month since it's a peak season for asthma and allergy sufferers. Did you know a diagnosis of allergies meets EFMP enrollment criteria?

Call the EFMP team in Hampton Roads for more information!

Welcome to … Have you met our dear friend “Pollen” yet? If you are new to Virginia then you may be experiencing a new side effect….SEASONAL ALLERGIES! We may not have had a winter snow storm this year but we will always definitely have a spring pollen storm, where EVERYTHING is covered in a blanket of yellow….and it is not pretty! Spring allergies affect everyone from young to old and in various forms. Some of the most common types of allergy symptoms are:

Itchy Eyes Sneezing Itchy Throat Eye Irritation Runny Nose Nasal Congestion (Which tends to build up as symptoms persist)

The period from late February to summer tends to be the worst for many allergy sufferers. Tree pollens such as oak, maple, and river birch are blooming during this time. The dry wind we see in early spring will spread allergens and raise the pollen count. Spring rains often flush everything down to the ocean and drop pollen counts. However, this warm wet weather can cause mold count to rise -- meaning trouble for those with mold allergies.

While it's difficult to entirely eliminate the effects of allergens on your body, there are steps you can take to make the symptoms less severe. Over-the-counter medications and antihistamines can treat allergies for a few weeks without a problem, and nasal steroid sprays work well for chronic symptoms.

Other solutions include:  If you have seasonal allergies and work outside, change out of your daytime clothes once you're home. This will reduce your exposure to any allergens collected during the day.  Wash your sheets weekly to reduce allergen buildup.  Keep your windows closed.  Stay inside from 10am to 4pm if possible.  Saline sinus rinses (Neti-pot) help flush out allergens and limit the allergic reaction.  If you're allergic to your pets, keep them out of your bedroom. (They carry pollen on their coat)  Plan ahead for next month’s allergy. If you know oak tree pollen will be high in March and April, start taking medication in February.

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My activechild.com is a website resource that compiles and lists various upcoming and ongoing events and activities for ALL children in the Hampton Roads/Yorktown area. This includes children with special needs. https://hamptonroads.myactivechild.com/blog/Special-Events-For-Children-With-Special-Needs/

“When you have a special needs child you aren’t always able to plan family activities in the same carefree way that others do. Many local businesses and museums have begun to recognize that there is a need to allocate time for families who may need extra time, or less stress about noise and/or behaviors, to enjoy all that they have to offer.”

Also, be sure to check out other sections of the webpage for program listings ACTIVITIES and ATHLETIC PROGRAMS for children with special needs.

Fruit Tarts for Mother’s Day

VANILLA BEAN SHORTBREAD FILLING

INGREDIENTS INGREDIENTS 4 oz softened cream 1 cup softened butter cheese 1/2 cup sugar 1/2 cup ricotta cheese Seeds scraped from 1 vanilla bean 1/3 cup powdered sugar 1 1/2 cups all purpose flour, plus more for rolling 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 1 1/2 cups diced strawberries INSTRUCTIONS 1/2 cup Mixed Berry Preserves 1) Preheat oven to 300 degrees F. 2) Add softened butter to mixer bowl and beat at low speed until INSTRUCTIONS smooth, add sugar and beat at medium speed about 2 minutes. In a medium-sized bowl, combine cream cheese, ricotta cheese, Add vanilla bean seeds and mix until combined. Add flour 1/2 powdered sugar and vanilla. Mix until smooth. Can be refrigerated cup at a time, beating at medium speed until incorporated. until tarts are ready to assemble but spreads easier at room 3) Shape dough into a disc and place on a lightly floured surface. temperature. Lightly flour the top of the dough and roll to about 1/4 inch thickness. TO ASSEMBLE THE TARTS: 4) Using a 3 inch cookie or biscuit cutter, cut into circles and Place a dollop of filling on cooled cookie and spread evenly, top with carefully place on a lined baking sheet about 2 inches apart. diced strawberries and drizzle with Mixed Berry Preserves. (Re-roll dough as needed.). Repeat with remaining ingredients. 5) Bake for 25 minutes or until golden brown. Cool on baking Serve immediately. sheet. Adapted from: https://www.missinthekitchen.com/easy-fruit-tarts-for-mothers-day/

“Where do I start in regards to learning about special education/IEP process?”

This is definitely a VERY common question we receive, and is also routinely discussed at conferences and seminars across the country. Here in Hampton Roads, our “go to” resources for education and assistance in regards to IEPs are:

PEATC.org Disability Law Center of Virginia----https://www.dlcv.org/ Virginia Dept of Education---http://www.doe.virginia.gov/

Remember too that your family caseworker is happy to attend IEPs with you and your family for support. Give your FCW a call today to discuss further!

Page 3 For more information and additional details on these events, please visit our online Special Needs Events Calendar at : www.mccshamptonroads.com/EFMP%20Calendar.htm

Got Behaviors? Family Book Clubs Understanding Military Youth with May 6th & 13th 6:00pm - 8:00pm Emotional Disabilities Meyera E. Central Library (Lunch & Learn) *** Kid friendly dinners *** May 15th 11:30am - 1:00pm Limited space, sign up today at: Register w/ Lesia Howard at: http://bluestarfam.us/START-Norfolk-Spring2019 [email protected]

MCFTB Stress Management Credo Mid-Atlantic (Lunch & Learn) 2019 Retreat Schedule May 7th 11:30am - 2:30pm *Marriage Enrichment Retreat* * Registration required * Spring retreats are full, but register now for the fall Contact MCFTB at: at: http://www.mccshamptonroads.com/images/2019/ (757) 445-6875 efmp/2019_credo.pdf or call ACS Survivor Outreach Services CNRMA CREDO Office @ (757) 444-7654

Presents L.I.N.K.S. for Spouses Run for the Fallen st nd th May 21 & 22 9:00am - 1:30pm May 11 Check-in 7:00am (Must attend both days) Pre-registration & Race packet pick-up info: * Registration required * https://lee.armymwr.com/programs/runforthefallen *** Deadline: May 8th *** Contact MCFTB at: (757) 445-6875 Tricare for Life Class A Better Understanding of Your Entitlements PEATC th Individualized Education Program (IEP) Clinic May 14 9:am - 11:00am st For more information dial: May 21 Oceana (757) 953-0434 Register at: https://bit.ly/2IJVt3w Squared Away nd rd May 22 - 23 Register at: https://bit.ly/2NII0sy

*** SAVE THE DATE *** Day Summer Bash!!! Slade Cutter Park near Camp Elmore June 28th

Brought to you courtesy of the MCCS Hampton Roads, Camp Elmore EFMP Office. Neither MCCS, the Marine Corps or any other part of the federal government officially endorses the above organizations, their products or services.

Camp Elmore EFMP Office Program Manager at Camp Elmore Naval Medical Center Portsmouth (located off Terminal Blvd, behind the MCX) Monday—Friday: 0730-1600 Monday—Friday: 0800-1630

Family Case Worker Training, Education, Outreach Administrative Assistant Erin Reighard Melinda Little Leona Bacote Thomas (757) 953-2270 (757) 953-2222 (757) 953-2291 [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] Page 4