scholarly journals Navigating health care systems for military-connected children with autism spectrum disorder: A qualitative study of military families experiencing mandatory relocation

2019 ◽  
Vol 24 (7) ◽  
pp. 478-484 ◽  
Author(s):  
Heidi Cramm ◽  
Garth Smith ◽  
Dawa Samdup ◽  
Ashley Williams ◽  
Lucia Rühland
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Military Families ◽  
Health Care Systems ◽  
Armed Forces ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
Canadian Armed Forces ◽  
Children With Asd ◽  
Care Systems ◽  
Canadian Military ◽  
The Military

Abstract Background Most military families experience mandatory relocation, or posting, several times during the military career. For Canadian military families who must access provincial or territorial health care systems, maintaining reasonable continuity of care is a persistent issue. Such challenges may be amplified when a child in a military family has special needs within the health and educational systems. Objective The purpose of this qualitative study was to gain a better understanding of Canadian Armed Forces families’ experiences in navigating health care systems on behalf of a child with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in the context of mandatory relocation. Methods Parents of children with ASD, where at least one parent serves in the Canadian Armed Forces and had faced military-related relocation, were recruited. Semi-structured interviews were recorded, transcribed verbatim, and analyzed thematically. Results Twelve participants represented 12 families and 15 children with ASD. Participants discussed two primary themes. (1) High mobility inherent in the military lifestyle can create disruptions and discontinuities to service, including delays in diagnosis or intervention, losses and gains in available services determined by the direction of posting, and the need to start health care access processes over again when relocating. (2) Navigating health systems for children with ASD creates personal stress and frustration related to relocating, and has career implications for both parents. Conclusions Military-related relocation can create significant disruption in access to health and educational services for Canadian military families who have a child with ASD, and take a personal toll on these families.

The Impact of Deployment on Children From Canadian Military Families

2016 ◽  
Vol 43 (4) ◽  
pp. 654-673 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alla Skomorovsky ◽  
Amanda Bullock
Keyword(s):  
Military Families ◽  
Armed Forces ◽  
Well Being ◽  
School Age Children ◽  
Canadian Armed Forces ◽  
Social Support Seeking ◽  
Parental Deployment ◽  
Resilience Factors ◽  
Canadian Military ◽  
The Impact

Children in military families experience various stressors associated with the demands of military life, such as parental absences due to deployments. However, there is a limited understanding of children’s well-being to parental deployment from Canadian military families. This study was conducted to examine the impact of deployment on the well-being of school age children from Canadian Armed Forces families and to consider the resilience factors in their well-being. Focus groups with children ( N = 85) showed that deployment negatively impacted children’s well-being, routines, and family dynamics. Active distraction and social support seeking served as the most effective protective factors against deployment stress. Recommendations for mitigating the impact of deployment are offered.

‘Healthy Relationships’ campaign: Preventing and addressing family and gender-based violence

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carley Robb-Jackson ◽  
Sandra Campbell
Keyword(s):  
Military Families ◽  
Armed Forces ◽  
The United States ◽  
Military Family ◽  
Gender Based Violence ◽  
Healthy Relationships ◽  
Canadian Armed Forces ◽  
Gender Based ◽  
And Gender ◽  
Canadian Military

LAY SUMMARY Canadian military families face distinct challenges due to the military lifestyle, primarily due to relocation, absences and deployments, and risk of injury and death. Tied to these challenges is the intimate partner relationship and the ability of the family unit to thrive. To support families, Military Family Services (MFS) undertook a collaborative process to create a modernized campaign focused on healthy relationships for Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) members, Veterans, and their families. The “Healthy Relationships” campaign is a unique social media campaign centred on positive behaviour change, inspiration, and sharing of real military families’ stories. The campaign sought to shift the narrative from previous anti-family-violence messaging to promoting positive, healthy, and equitable relationships. The campaign was successful in its rollout across bases and wings in Canada, Europe, and the United States.

scholarly journals “The Strength behind the Uniform”: Acknowledging the Contributions of Military Families or Co-Opting Women’s Labour?

2021 ◽  
Vol 41 (2) ◽  
pp. 57-71
Author(s):  
Leigh Spanner
Keyword(s):  
Gender Equality ◽  
Military Families ◽  
Armed Forces ◽  
Division Of Labour ◽  
Military Family ◽  
Operational Effectiveness ◽  
Organizational Goals ◽  
Labour Relations ◽  
Canadian Armed Forces ◽  
The Military

Since 2008, the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) has called the military family “the strength behind the uniform.” The contributions and sacrifices of military families, and in particular spouses, are now formally recognized as essential to operational effectiveness, such as the ability to deploy troops quickly and easily. This represents a departure from previous eras, which took for granted the “naturalness” of a gendered division of labour in military households in support of organizational goals. Making visible and valuing this work parallels recent efforts by the CAF to improve the wellbeing of its people and advance gender equality in the organization and on operations. This article considers the gendered labour and power implications of formally recognizing the contributions of military families and spouses to the CAF. What does recognizing the military family as “the strength behind the uniform” mean for women and the gendered labour relations in military families? By drawing on analyses of policies, programs, and institutional rhetoric, alongside interviews by military family members, the article argues that in formally recognizing the family’s contribution to operational effectiveness, the CAF is co-opting the labour and loyalty of women spouses in military families. The institutional emphasis on “taking care of its people” obscures the ways in which the service required of military families is gendered and relies on women being constrained by traditional gender norms. These findings have implications for the genuine wellbeing of military families and for assessing feminist progress, or lack thereof, within the CAF institution.

Caring for children and youth from Canada’s military families

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Heidi Cramm ◽  
Alyson Mahar ◽  
Linna Tam-Seto ◽  
Anne Rowan-Legg
Keyword(s):  
Military Families ◽  
Family Care ◽  
Armed Forces ◽  
Children And Youth ◽  
Surveillance Program ◽  
Canadian Armed Forces ◽  
Military Healthcare ◽  
The Military ◽  
The Impact ◽  
And Training

Abstract Introduction The lives of Canada’s military families are characterized by persistent stressors that can play a role in the health and development of children and youth. Military families are cared for by civilian physicians who may not be aware of this unique experience and risk. Our study sought to explore the knowledge and experiences of paediatricians providing care to Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) families. Methods A 14-item survey was disseminated electronically by the Canadian Paediatric Surveillance Program (CPSP) to all 2799 Canadian paediatricians and paediatric specialists registered with the CPSP. Questions were focused on: knowledge of CAF families; the impact of the military on family care; confidence in providing care to CAF families; and training/education needs. Results A total of 774 (28%) completed surveys were received. Approximately one third of respondents incorrectly believed that CAF families receive services from the federal military healthcare system. Nearly one quarter did not feel that identifying for military status informed patient care. Over half of respondents do not feel adequately prepared to provide care to CAF families. Discussion Findings from this exploratory study suggest that additional resources and training would benefit the care of CAF families. Conclusion CAF families experience a collection of risk factors that may negatively affect their health and access to services. The survey findings provide evidence of a need to further military literacy amongst Canadian paediatricians and provide direction for the development of enhanced resources and supports.

160: Cost-Effectiveness of Medical Management Strategies of Nephrolithiasis in Different Health Care Systems

2004 ◽  
Vol 171 (4S) ◽  
pp. 42-43 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yair Latan ◽  
David M. Wilhelm ◽  
David A. Duchene ◽  
Margaret S. Pearle
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Cost Effectiveness ◽  
Medical Management ◽  
Health Care Systems ◽  
Management Strategies ◽  
Care Systems

Barriers versus promotion: Culturally sensitive healthcare for elderly Turkish migrants in Austria and Germany

2014 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 41-46
Author(s):  
Nevin Altıntop
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Health Care Systems ◽  
Elderly Care ◽  
Field Research ◽  
Diversity Management ◽  
Culturally Sensitive ◽  
Turkish Migrants ◽  
Care Givers ◽  
Individual Care ◽  
Care Systems

What is the perception of Turkish migrants in elderly care? The increasing number of elder migrants within the German and Austrian population is causing the challenge of including them in an adequate (culturally sensitive) way into the German/Austrian health care system. Here I introduce the perception of elder Turkish migrants within the predominant paradigm of intercultural opening of health care in Germany as well as within the concept of diversity management of health care in Vienna (Austria). The qualitative investigation follows a field research in different German and Austrian cities within the last four years and an analysis based on the Grounded Theory Methodology. The meaning of intercultural opening on the one hand, and diversity management on the other hand with respect to elderly care will be evaluated. Whereas the intercultural opening directly demands a reduction of barriers to access institutional elderly care the concept of diversity is hardly successful in the inclusion of migrants into elderly care assistance – concerning both, migrants as care-givers and migrants as care-receivers. Despite the similarities between the health care systems of Germany and Austria there are decisive differences in the perception and inclusion of migrants in elderly care that is largely based on an 'individual care' concept of the responsible institutions. Finally, this investigation demonstrates how elderly care in Germany and Austria prepares to encounter the demand of 'individual care' in a diverse society.

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