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JB MDL PASS helps military parents of school children

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Dennis L. Sloan
  • Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst Public Affairs
JOINT BASE MCGUIRE-DIX-LAKEHURST, N.J. --  The Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst Warfighter and Family Readiness Center staff offers many programs designed to help families adjust to their unique lifestyles.

One of the unique programs the WFRC staff offers is the Parent Advocates for Students and Schools program.

The PASS program educates military parents and students on how to navigate through school systems in response to their mobile lifestyle. The program also is intended to establish networking opportunities to bring about the best educational outcomes for military-connected families.

"Military children transition to a new school every two years," said Karl Hoover, 87th Force Support Squadron WFRC school liaison specialist. "By the time the children reach high school they have probably transitioned to six different schools, with six different lesson plans and focuses."

"By participating in PASS, parent's gain skills that can be used as they transition from state to state," said Sharon Gardner, 87th FSS WFRC school liaison officer.

The JB MDL PASS Volunteer Working Group is led by Carol Cabosky, wife of Lt. Col. Steven Cabosky, 87th FSS commander. The volunteers lead PASS meetings, recruit volunteers, provide ideas for marketing, assist with organizing and scheduling workshops, provide ideas and input for workshops as well as providing peer-to-peer mentoring to fellow parents on the base.

"We hope the PASS program will help make military moves as seamless as possible for students and their families," said Cabosky. "Relocation is inevitable and military children are faced with not only unique challenges, but also unique opportunities as a result."

The PASS Executive Committee, which oversees the program, includes the 87th Mission Support Group commander, WFRC personnel, Personal Work Life Consultant, School Liaison Officer, Exceptional Family Member Program coordinator and a PASS volunteer representative. The committee meets annually during the school year.

"We do attend meetings and answer questions parents or students may have, but we really leave the organization and actual running of meetings to the JB MDL PASS Volunteer Working Group," said Hoover. "Parents get to take the information stored in their hearts and minds. They can 'PASS' it on to neighbors or any parents who have questions on their children's education."

In 2010 Linda McNabb, wife of retired Gen. Duncan J. McNabb, organized PASS to oversee an adaptation of the Military Child Education Coalition Parent to Parent program which utilizes a force of volunteers to educate parents in effective parental advocacy.

"As a parent, I know how difficult it is for military children to transition from one school district to another and how challenging it can be for parents to find new services for a child with special needs," said McNabb. "Relocating my family several times during my husband's career made me realize how important it is for parents to share experiences and strategies with each other."

General Raymond Johns acknowledged that, "Pass is an investment in the readiness of the force and quality of life for our Airmen, families and community. This initiative is a true prevention model that enhances fitness and resiliency skills. We believe PASS can be a catalyst to help develop vibrant social networks among parents, thereby creating a deeper 'sense of belonging' in all of our installations and communities."

The four main objectives for the PASS program are to set up students with long-term success by increasing parents' abilities to promote partnerships with school systems utilizing base and community resources; to share ideas through workshops, peer-to-peer networking and advocacy meeting groups; reach out to parents with children of all ages to provide strategies for school readiness; to increase parents' knowledge of available supplemental services as well as their rights and responsibilities under statutory and regulatory education laws; as well as assisting parents and students to prepare for college and careers.

"The PASS workshops will provide tools to help parents manage the needs of their children throughout their school career," said Cabosky.

The five core PASS workshops are: Starting your child in School, Teaming with School Personnel, Individual Educational Plan, Student Portfolio and Roadmap to your Student's Future.

"We host the five core PASS workshops which have been established and directed by Air Mobility Command," said Hoover. "Besides those five, we also host some other PASS related programs to help parents and students with their educational futures, such as: the School Liaison Program, Exceptional Family Member Program, Military Family Consultants and Military One Source."

The latest workshop hosted by the WFRC staff was the College Preparation/Financial Aid workshop, which was held Dec. 3 at the McGuire WFRC. Parents and students heard from college representatives who explained the application process and how to use the financial aid system. This workshop wasn't solely geared toward the parent's participation, but their teens taking a more active role in their educational future.

"This workshop was not just for seniors in high school, but all high school students," said Gardner. "The sooner high school students become involved in this process; they are more likely to be successful in navigating the college admission process. This workshop is geared towards getting teens to become stakeholders in their education."

Various workshops are held throughout the year and scheduled at certain dates to coincide with the student's educational progression. Please check the Joint Base 87th FSS website for the next scheduled workshop.

"Please be on the lookout for these workshops, so you can learn what educational opportunities are available for your children," said Gardner. "Also, just by attending the workshops, you are volunteering. Once you attend a workshop you become an ambassador to the program and are encouraged to spread your knowledge to other parents. 'PASS' it on--It's what the whole program is about."

Call Sharon Gardner at 562-6271 or Karl Hoover at 754-2023 for more information on the PASS program.