Veterans and military families have a wealth of stories and history to offer students and certain needs that can be filled by energetic, engaged, and caring young people. This type of service learning helps students put their history and social studies education into context. This book presents service learning with many examples of how students can use it to get to know and learn from local veterans while also giving back to them and providing assistance to a segment of the population that has served our national interests and now requires our assistance and support.

Showing students the human side of immigration debates, service-learning opportunities with immigrant and migrant communities can offer an enormously rewarding experience to participants. In addition to enhancing discussions on immigration that can take place in history, social studies, language, political science, economics, or other classes, these opportunities give students a chance to directly affect the lives of those who often find themselves on the periphery of society. This volume examines the various service-learning projects available to those who wish to positively impact immigrant and migrant communities and guides readers through the process of successfully executing a service-learning project.

Because protecting environmental resources has become an issue of scientific, political, and historical import, service-learning projects that serve the planet have become an important part of a wide range of curricula. Students will find a wealth of opportunities both at home and abroad that will directly impact the Earth’s wildlife, aquatic health, and natural resources. This engaging volume surveys the various projects available to students interested in using service learning to find solutions to local and global environmental issues. Readers also learn how to tie projects to coursework and apply their skills to future pursuits.

Loads of learning takes place in the classroom, but it is by no means the only place for students to gain knowledge and experience. This innovative resource introduces service learning and why it can be such a helpful tool for students, the elderly, and the larger community. Successful service learning projects are described throughout the book, which highlight how they work as well as the benefits of getting to know the often overlooked senior population within our communities. Forthright discussions of the challenges and benefits highlight why service-learning projects can be a satisfying, fun, and memorable way to learn.

Anyone who has seen the hungry or homeless on city streets or in rural areas is likely to be touched by the hardship they see. A growing number of schools are incorporating service learning into their curriculum. These programs heighten the students’ sense of community and engage them with a sense of service and civic responsibility. Readers of this book will learn about ways that service learning can help people suffering from hunger and homelessness. The detailed examples provided provide excellent starting points for an individual’s or a school’s exploration into service learning.

The service-learning movement integrates community service with meaningful instruction and learning. One of the most rewarding aspects of service learning is the good feeling participants get from giving back to their communities at large, and a key way to give back is through improving community health and safety. This book explains the core principles of service learning and how to translate these values into programs that focus on public health and safety. Both domestic and international initiatives are discussed, and simple steps are laid out to encourage readers to get involved—both in their own backyards and across borders.

Students who wish to participate in service learning projects will find this book full of real-life examples and first-hand information about what service learning is, what is expected of them throughout the experience, and what they should expect to get out of it. They will also see beyond the educational and resume-enhancing benefits of a service learning project to recognize the often life-changing impact it can have on all involved.

The U.S. military has been continuously engaged in foreign conflicts for over two decades. The strains that these deployments, the associated increases in operational tempo, and the general challenges of military life affect not only service members but also the people who depend on them and who support them as they support the nation â€" their families. Family members provide support to service members while they serve or when they have difficulties; family problems can interfere with the ability of service members to deploy or remain in theater; and family members are central influences on whether members continue to serve. In addition, rising family diversity and complexity will likely increase the difficulty of creating military policies, programs and practices that adequately support families in the performance of military duties. Strengthening the Military Family Readiness System for a Changing American Society examines the challenges and opportunities facing military families and what is known about effective strategies for supporting and protecting military children and families, as well as lessons to be learned from these experiences. This report offers recommendations regarding what is needed to strengthen the support system for military families.

The need has never been more crucial for community health providers, programs, and organizations to have access to training in addressing the unique behavioral health challenges facing our veterans, active duty military, and their families. Handbook of Military Social Work is edited by renowned leaders in the field, with contributions from social work professionals drawing from their wealth of experience working with veterans, active duty military, and their families. Handbook of Military Social Work considers: Military culture and diversity Women in the military Posttraumatic stress disorder in veterans Traumatic brain injury in the military Suicide in the military Homelessness among veterans Cycles of deployment and family well-being Grief, loss, and bereavement in military families Interventions for military children and youth Offering thoughtful advice covering the spectrum of issues encountered by mental health professionals working with individuals and families, Handbook of Military Social Work will contribute to the improvement of efforts to help our military personnel, veterans, and their families deal with the challenges they face.

Every veteran has a story. You just have to listen to it. It can be surprising how difficult it is...and also how easy...for a veteran to be able to tell their story. The impacts of combat, deployments, or even just military experience in general are felt long after a veteran leaves the service. The guns do not always go silent when a veteran leaves the military...neither should the veteran. When combat veteran and retired Army Noncommissioned Officer Duane France retired, he knew he wanted to continue to serve his fellow veterans. As a grandson, nephew, and son of combat veterans, he grew up knowing the impact of combat and military service on veterans and their families, and as a leader with five combat and operational deployments, he saw the same things happening in the service members of his generation. After starting to work as a clinical mental health counselor exclusively for veterans and their spouses, Duane started to write his observations and experiences on his blog, Head Space and Timing, located at www.veteranmentalhealth.com. This book is a collection of 52 articles designed to help veterans, those who support them, and those who care for them to understand the military experience and to change the way they think about veteran mental health.