The Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service and OneOp have a new online course available at no cost for military family service providers.
The “Military Culture: A Guide for Extension Professionals” course can be accessed and downloaded at https://tx.ag/MilitaryExtensionGuide.
“AgriLife Extension and the national Cooperative Extension network have a yet untapped opportunity to serve families in the military with practical, applicable education, since those Extension employees are also members of the communities in which they live, work and play,” said Rachel Brauner, AgriLife Extension military program specialist, Bryan-College Station.
The Cooperative Extension network can help meet the needs of the military community by sharing knowledge and bringing value to build the skills and practices of families in the military, she said.
“Many community providers are not trained or experienced in supporting the unique needs of the military community,” Brauner said. “This course will help bridge that gap in order to maximize the effectiveness of Extension services.”
OneOp, formerly the Military Families Learning Network, is a virtual professional development platform for providers who serve military families.
Course overview
Brauner and Andrew Crocker, AgriLife Extension senior program specialist for gerontology and health, Amarillo, are the authors of the program. Participants may learn at their own pace.
This course provides:
- Examination of personal, Extension and military cultures.
- A description of military organizational structure, rank, branches of service, core values and demographics.
- Identification of characteristics of military transitions from active duty, deployment and reintegration to civilian life.
- Information on best practices and resources in working with military service members, veterans and families.
- Guidance on how to create an action plan to offer Extension programming to military families.
- Insights on the unique needs of military families.
- Information on how Extension professionals can better understand how to recognize, engage, ask and deliver education in the community.
Continuing education
The course has been approved for 1.5 continuing education units for those certified in family and consumer sciences, certified nutrition and wellness educators, board-certified patient advocates and certified family life educators.
Certificates of attendance are also available for those interested in documenting professional development training activities.
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